05-27-2005, 12:43 PM
I think I will agree with you Paul.
But I think you mistyped the dates.
490. 2 Persian Generals fail in Marathon. They could be blamed for incompetence at no expense for the crown.
483. Mardonious gets a bloody nose from the Vrigoi from poor security measures, and has 2 years savage campaigning to pacify the Thracian coast.
480. The Empire strikes back in full pomp and splendor. Lots of things depend on the fleet. The unpleasant experience of Thermopylae and the bad supply situation worsened after Salamis makes the "Shach an Shach" to think that he missed his harem in Sousa. He leaves Mardonius who was ardent supporter of the campaign to deal with it. I don't think he leaves him the best troops but the king can do no wrong and if something is not OK it will be Mardonius fault.
So Mardonius laden with unreliable levies and allies casts his die in Platea.
Is seems if we believe Herodotus that he could not coordinate his forces and the Greek troops got the time to correct their tactical mistakes. Bravery was poor substitute for coordination and Mardonius death sealed the fate of the army. With the exception of the Thebans, the other Greek levies bolted and I think yo are right when you said that the retreat of the Platea survivors was a nightmare. The terrain that they had to negotiate on the way back was ambush country and they were not now numerous enough to make impression. I feel that their forage parties must had it awful.
I think Xerxes took almost all his fleet and his bodyguard. Having wrecked Thessaly and Fthiotis the only place that could he find food were the islands outside Thessaly but they couldn't feed 100000 men. His only chance was to go back to the Thracian coast. If he had started with 450000 he must have reached Thermopylae 400000 because of decease. 380000 after Thermopylae casualties. If supply was deteriorating and decease was rife it must have been 300000 left after Salamis. Chances are that he left half of them with Mardonius or 2/3 of them. Greeks were apprehensive in Plataea so Mardonius must have at least 150000 to make an impression.
If after Salamis Xerxes was left with 700 ships he could transfer around 70000 excluding the oars men by sea but overcrowding would make things worse and the voyage from Rafina to Thrace took a good 50 days at that time.
The extrication from Greece must have been a nightmare indeed.
Kind regards
Stefanos
But I think you mistyped the dates.
490. 2 Persian Generals fail in Marathon. They could be blamed for incompetence at no expense for the crown.
483. Mardonious gets a bloody nose from the Vrigoi from poor security measures, and has 2 years savage campaigning to pacify the Thracian coast.
480. The Empire strikes back in full pomp and splendor. Lots of things depend on the fleet. The unpleasant experience of Thermopylae and the bad supply situation worsened after Salamis makes the "Shach an Shach" to think that he missed his harem in Sousa. He leaves Mardonius who was ardent supporter of the campaign to deal with it. I don't think he leaves him the best troops but the king can do no wrong and if something is not OK it will be Mardonius fault.
So Mardonius laden with unreliable levies and allies casts his die in Platea.
Is seems if we believe Herodotus that he could not coordinate his forces and the Greek troops got the time to correct their tactical mistakes. Bravery was poor substitute for coordination and Mardonius death sealed the fate of the army. With the exception of the Thebans, the other Greek levies bolted and I think yo are right when you said that the retreat of the Platea survivors was a nightmare. The terrain that they had to negotiate on the way back was ambush country and they were not now numerous enough to make impression. I feel that their forage parties must had it awful.
I think Xerxes took almost all his fleet and his bodyguard. Having wrecked Thessaly and Fthiotis the only place that could he find food were the islands outside Thessaly but they couldn't feed 100000 men. His only chance was to go back to the Thracian coast. If he had started with 450000 he must have reached Thermopylae 400000 because of decease. 380000 after Thermopylae casualties. If supply was deteriorating and decease was rife it must have been 300000 left after Salamis. Chances are that he left half of them with Mardonius or 2/3 of them. Greeks were apprehensive in Plataea so Mardonius must have at least 150000 to make an impression.
If after Salamis Xerxes was left with 700 ships he could transfer around 70000 excluding the oars men by sea but overcrowding would make things worse and the voyage from Rafina to Thrace took a good 50 days at that time.
The extrication from Greece must have been a nightmare indeed.
Kind regards
Stefanos
HOPLITE14GR (aka Stefanos)
Phokean Ekdromos
http://hetairoi.de/
http://hoplomachia.gr
http://stefanosskarmintzos.wordpress.com
Phokean Ekdromos
http://hetairoi.de/
http://hoplomachia.gr
http://stefanosskarmintzos.wordpress.com
