Mardonius

Mardonius was a Persian military leader and a member of the Achaemenid royal family. He is best known as the commander-in-chief of the Persian army during the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC.

Mardonius was the son of Gobryas, who had been a close advisor to the Great King Darius I. Mardonius served as the satrap of Thebais, a region in ancient Greece, and is believed to have been instrumental in leading the Persian invasion of Greece in 480 BC.

Mardonius was appointed by King Xerxes I to lead the Persian army in its invasion of Greece. However, during the Battle of Plataea, the Persian army suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Greek coalition army, led by the Spartan general Pausanias. The defeat of the Persian army at Plataea marked the end of the Persian invasion of Greece and is widely regarded as a turning point in the history of the Greco-Persian Wars.

According to the historian Herodotus, Mardonius had died during the Battle of Plataea, and his body was not found among the dead. Mardonius was known for his bravery and military tactics, and his death was seen by the Persians as a great loss.

Mardonius's death marked the end of the Persian invasion of Greece, and the Greeks were able to celebrate their victory with the establishment of the Delphic Amphictyony. The Battle of Plataea is still studied by military historians and scholars today, providing valuable insights into the tactics and strategies employed by ancient armies.

The exact circumstances of Mardonius's death remain unclear, but it is widely accepted that he was a skilled and experienced military commander whose leadership was instrumental in launching the Persian invasion of Greece.