A Decisive Battle That Changed History of Greece - Battle of Plataea 479BC Full
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00:00 Intro
00:57 The Battle
19:17 Aftermath
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A Decisive Battle That Changed History of Greece - Battle of Plataea 479BC Full. When the Persians came knocking, it wasn’t just a casual visit; it was part of their grand plan to expand their empire and tighten their grip on the Greek city-states, who had been resisting Persian influence for quite some time. King Xerxes I, keen on avenging his father Darius’s failed attempt and showing off the might of the Persian Empire, launched a massive campaign to bring Greece under Persian control.
In response, the Greek city-states realized they had no choice but to unite. They formed what was known as the Hellenic League, a crucial alliance designed to pool their resources and military might against this overwhelming threat. This wasn’t just about throwing together a quick military coalition; it was a delicate web of agreements and negotiations between city-states that often had conflicting interests.
A Decisive Battle That Changed History of Greece - Battle of Plataea 479BC Full. Athens, despite its long-standing rivalry with Sparta, recognized that unity was their only chance to fend off the Persian menace. They knew that standing together was their best bet for survival. But that alliance was as fragile as a house of cards in a windstorm. Keeping it from falling apart required painstaking diplomacy and compromise. Each city-state had its own priorities and concerns. Balancing these differences while keeping a united front against the Persian invasion was no small task.
One of the biggest issues was deciding who would command the army. Sparta, with its well-earned military reputation, naturally took the lead on land. But Athens wasn’t just along for the ride—they played a crucial role with their powerful navy. Their fleet had helped turn the tide in key battles, such as at Salamis, which greatly contributed to the overall Greek strategy.
A Decisive Battle That Changed History of Greece - Battle of Plataea 479BC Full. They agreed to combine their resources, which meant sharing troops, supplies, and intelligence. Sparta would lead the land forces while Athens took charge of the navy. But to make this alliance truly effective, they had to ensure their strategies were in sync. Regular communication and joint planning were crucial so that their land and sea operations didn’t step on each other’s toes.
Sparta and Athens, despite their differences, understood that they had to make this work. There were plenty of internal rivalries and political differences to deal with. Both states had to navigate these rough waters, making the necessary compromises to keep their eyes on mutual foe.
Mardonius, the Persian general, knew that the rugged terrain of Attica wasn’t going to do him any favors, especially after learning his lesson from the Battle of Marathon, where Persian forces had struggled on the rough, uneven ground. With that in mind, he decided to pull his troops out of Attica and head to Boeotia, where the land was flat and wide open—the perfect battlefield for his cavalry to shine.
Boeotia wasn’t just chosen for the terrain. Mardonius was smart enough to pick a spot near Plataea, where he could count on the support of Thebes, a Greece city that had thrown in its lot with the Persians. He even went the extra mile, clearing out the trees to build a fortified camp. He wasn’t taking any chances—if things didn’t go his way, he wanted a solid fallback plan.
From there, Pausanias led the allied forces across the passes of Mount Cithaeron, eventually descending onto the plains of Plataea. They set up on higher ground, fully aware that the Persians would struggle to attack them there, especially with their cavalry pretty much nullified by the terrain.
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