The Glory of Sparta
If you take a moment to think of the greatest military battles in history, those that come to mind may not include the one that went down between Sparta and Persia in 480 BC. In fact, some may recall it as legend, but this battle is an actual part of Greek history, and was indeed an incredible battle… A PLACE IN HISTORY
War is an important part of history – whether in victory or defeat, nations change, communities learn to overcome great odds and develop resilience. War is not a new phenomenon, but one that can be traced back to almost the beginning of time.
One of the most memorable and historically significant wars that took place thousands of years ago was the Battle of Thermopylae. The battle occurred during the Persian’s invasion of Greece. The Spartans was extremely patriotic to their native land and decided to stand up against the Persians, led by King Xerxes I, despite the huge disparity in numbers between their army and Persia’s. Led by King Leonidas, the battle took place at the narrow coastal path of Thermopylae (also known as ‘The Hot Gates’) and lasted for three days.
THE IGNITING SPARK
It was Leonidas and one of his guards who made the battle inevitable. The Persian army had sent a messenger to negotiate with Sparta and offer them another land to move to, but Leonidas refused to relent and even challenged the Persians.
Before going into battle, Leonidas consulted the Ephors, a special elected group of leaders, outlining his plan to sandwich the Persians between rocky terrain and the sea. However, the Ephors discouraged Leonidas and advised him not to go into battle with the Persians at that time. Furthermore, Leonidas wanted to carry out the attack during a religious festival called Carnea and an oracle had forewarned that the battle was not in Sparta’s favour. Nevertheless, Leonidas wanted to protect Sparta and decided that waiting for an attack by the Persians was not an option for his people. He paid no attention to the suggestion and proceeded with his plan of attack.
THE BATTLE
Leonidas went to battle against Xerxes and the Persians with a band of 300 warriors, and some additional soldiers from other areas of Greece. Yet, even with the additional warriors, they were still clearly outnumbered by the Persians. However, for what the Spartans lacked in numbers was made up for with their bravery. They were truly courageous to go up against the Persian army that consisted of up to 200,000 men. (Scholars today believe that the number of Persian warriors was somewhere between 50,000 and 200,000.)
Although Xerxes waited for four days before going into battle at Thermopylae, Leonidas did not waver in his determination and courage. During the first two days of battle, Leonidas and his troop killed thousands of Persians, but they also lost thousands of their own men. It was only on the final day that Xerxes unleashed an elite force called “The Immortals”. They found a way to reach Leonidas and his troop through a back route and were then able to kill all of them. In some records, it was said that even after their swords broke, the Spartans never gave up and resorted to fighting off the Persians with their bare hands and teeth.
LEGENDARY COURAGE
Before all of his men were killed, it is believed that Leonidas sent his own Spartans away, and was going to let just the other Greek soldiers, the Thespians and Helots fight the battle. This would have been an attempt to hold back his own men for their safety and, ultimately, for glory. But, things did not go as planned, and bloodshed was inevitable. The fatalities included
Leonidas himself. It is also believe that Xerxes had planned to destroy Leonidas by having his body crucified and having his head cut off, but that did not happen because some of Leonidas men were able to get his body and protect it from being defiled in any way.
This famous battle has been a great hallmark in military history, having been referenced by many great leaders throughout time. The intrigue around the battle, its leaders, and the strategies used still inspires many till today.