PropertyValue
rdf:type
rdfs:label
  • Siege of Eretria
rdfs:comment
  • The Siege of Eretria took place in 490 BC, during the first Persian invasion of Greece. The city of Eretria, on Euboea, was besieged by a strong Persian force under the command of Datis and Artaphernes. After Eretria, the Persian force sailed for Athens, landing at the bay of Marathon. An Athenian army marched to meet them, and won a famous victory at the Battle of Marathon, thereby ending the first Persian invasion.
owl:sameAs
Strength
  • Unknown
  • c. 25,000 men
  • Ancient sources: 100,000-300,000 men, 10,000 Persian Immortals, 600 ships
dcterms:subject
dbkwik:military/property/wikiPageUsesTemplate
Partof
  • The Greco-Persian Wars
Date
  • 490
Commander
map caption
  • Location of the Siege of Eretria
map size
  • 390
Caption
  • A map showing the invasion of 490 BC
Result
  • Persian victory
combatant
Latitude
  • 38.392801
map type
  • Greece
Place
  • Eretria, Euboea
Longitude
  • 23.794298
map relief
  • yes
Conflict
  • Siege of Eretria
abstract
  • The Siege of Eretria took place in 490 BC, during the first Persian invasion of Greece. The city of Eretria, on Euboea, was besieged by a strong Persian force under the command of Datis and Artaphernes. The first Persian invasion was a response to Greek involvement in the Ionian Revolt, when the Eretrians and Athenians had sent a force to support the cities of Ionia in their attempt to overthrow Persian rule. The Eretrian and Athenian force had succeeded in capturing and burning Sardis, but was then forced to retreat with heavy losses. In response to this raid, the Persian king Darius I swore to have revenge on Athens and Eretria. Once the Ionian revolt was finally crushed by the Persian victory at the Battle of Lade, Darius began to plan to subjugate Greece. In 490 BC, he sent a naval task force under Datis and Artaphernes across the Aegean to subjugate the Cyclades, and then to make punitive attacks on Athens and Eretria. Reaching Euboea in mid-summer after a successful campaign in the Aegean, the Persians proceeded to put Eretria under siege. The siege lasted six days before a fifth column of Eretrian nobles betrayed the city to the Persians. The city was plundered, and the population enslaved on Darius's orders. The Eretrian prisoners were eventually taken to Persia and settled as colonists in Cissia. After Eretria, the Persian force sailed for Athens, landing at the bay of Marathon. An Athenian army marched to meet them, and won a famous victory at the Battle of Marathon, thereby ending the first Persian invasion.