The+War+of+Thermopylae+Brandon+Ready

__The War of Thermopylae__

The War of Thermopylae took place on August 7 or September 8-11, 480 BC.

This war was in Thermopylae, Greece.

It was a war for territory.

The Spartans joined an alliance with some greek city-states and the atheneians. These people were lead by the knight, [|Leonidas I], against the Persian army. The Persians were lead by thier king [|Xerxes I]. The Persians king, Xerxes, wanted to get more revenge on the Greeks for his father losing in the Battle of Marathon. This is where the race marathon found its name, because [|Pheidippides]ran about 140 miles back to Greece to tell their king that they had won the battle. Weaponry: Spartans:sword, shield, spears, armor, and the [|xiphē] Persians:bows and arrows, light, heavy armor, spears, and small shields

On the first day, Xerxes sent his [|Medes]. They failed in the attempt of defeating the 300 Spartans. After this Xerxes sent out his most powerfull soilders, the [|Immortals], an army of 10,000 warriors. They also failed. With the Spartans smart strategy of going to the small pass on the mountain, none of the Persians would proceed.

On the second day, Xerxes thought that since his enemies were wounded they could not resist. The Persian empire faces the same result as the first day. Xerxes finally receded back to his camp, totally perplexed. Later [|Trachinian] traitor named [|Ephialtes] came adn informed him about the path around the mountain. [|Hydarnes] brought an army of 20,000 men with him around the mountain to surprise the Spartans. It branched with one path leading to Phocis and the other down to the Malian Gulf at Alpenus, first town of [|Locris].

On the third day, 300 spartans were able to hold of the thousands of Persian warriors trying to get through them. Not even archers could get them. Since the Phocians were worried about their lives and home being taken over, they fled leaving the back way wide open, allowing the Persians to sneak around. The Spartans fought and fought until their spears and shields were breaking, so they had to change to the xiphē (short sword in the pouch in their boots). The Persian archers returned and sent a flock of arrows heading right for the defenseless Spartans, and, where scientists say, hit Leonidas in the neck. Leonidas dying body was being protected. He watched his comrads fall and try to protect him against the Persian empire, but they fell, one by one. He finally died and was taken back to sparta to be buried. The path lead