Siege of Naxos
Part of the Persian Wars
Location of Naxos
Date 499 BC Location Naxos, Cyclades Result Naxian victory Unsuccessful siege; Persian retreat
Combatants
Naxos	Persia, Ionia, Naxian exiles
Commanders
Unknown	Aristagoras, Megabates
Strength
8,000 men and a large amount of ships	Large number of men and 200 ships
Casualties
Light	Heavy

The Siege of Naxos (500 BC-499 BC) was a battle fought between the Persians under Megabates with aid from the Ionian Greeks led by Aristagoras and the Naxian exiles against the island of Naxos. It was the first battle of the Persian Wars which would ultimately instigate the beginning of a fifty year direct war between the Greeks and Persians. The Greco-Persian Wars or Persian Wars were a series of conflicts between the Greek world and the Persian Empire that started about 500 BC and lasted until 448 BC. The term can also refer to the continual warfare of the Roman Empire and Byzantine Empire against the Parthians and... Image File history File links Aegean_with_legends. ... Centuries: 6th century BC - 5th century BC - 4th century BC Decades: 540s BC 530s BC 520s BC 510s BC 500s BC - 490s BC - 480s BC 470s BC 460s BC 450s BC 440s BC Years: 499 BC - 498 BC 497 BC 496 BC 495 BC 494 BC Births Deaths Events Aristagoras... The primary use of “Naxos” is as the name of a Greek island in the Cyclades. ... The Cyclades (Greek Κυκλάδες) are a Greek island group in the Aegean Sea, south-east of the mainland of Greece; and an administrative prefecture of Greece. ... The primary use of “Naxos” is as the name of a Greek island in the Cyclades. ... The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the old Persian homeland, and at times extending into central and mid-east Asia. ... Naxos (Greek: Νάξος; Italian: Nicsia; Turkish: NakÅŸa) is a Greek island, the largest island (428 km²) in the Cyclades island group in the Aegean. ... The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the old Persian homeland, and at times extending into central and mid-east Asia. ... Ionia (Greek Ιωνία; see also List of traditional Greek place names) was an ancient region of southwestern coastal Anatolia (now in Turkey) on the Aegean Sea. ... The primary use of “Naxos” is as the name of a Greek island in the Cyclades. ... Aristagoras was the leader of Miletus in the late 6th century BC and early 5th century BC. He was the son of Molpagoras, and son_in_law (and nephew) of Histiaeus, whom the Persians had set up as tyrant of Miletus. ... Megabates was a Persian general and admiral in the early sixth century and late fifth century BC. He is most notable under the writings of Herodotus for his joint participation in the failed 499 BC siege of Naxos. ... Combatants Greek city states lead by Athens and Sparta Persian Empire and allies Commanders Miltiades, Themistocles, Leonidas I, Pausanias, Kimon, Pericles Darius I, Mardonius, Datis, Artaphernes, Xerxes I, Megabyzus The Persian Wars or Greco-Persian Wars or Medic Wars were a series of conflicts between several Greek city-states and... Combatants Sardis Ionian Greeks, Athens, Eretria Commanders Unknown Aristagoras, Eualcides The Siege of Sardis (498 BC) was fought between the people of Sardis and an alliance of Greeks from Ionia, Athens, and Eretria. ... The Battle of Ephesus (498 BC) was a battle in the Ionian Revolt. ... The Battle of Lade was fought in 494 BC between the Ionians and the Persians. ... Combatants Naxos Persia Commanders Unknown Datis, Artaphernes Strength 8,000 men and a large amount of ships 20,000-60,000 men, Around 600 ships (Modern Estimates) Casualties Heavy Light The Siege of Naxos (490 BC) was fought between the people of Naxos and the Persians under the command of... Combatants Eretria Persia, Cyclades Commanders Aeschines Datis, Artaphernes Strength Unknown 20,000-60,000 men, Around 600 ships Casualties Heavy Heavy The Siege of Eretria was fought by the Eretrians who were invaded by the Persians under the command of Datis and Artaphernes. ... Combatants Athens and Plataea Persia Commanders Miltiades Callimachus† Darius I of Persia Datis†? Artaphernes Strength 10,000 Athenians 1,000 Plataeans 20,000-60,000 by modern estimates 1 Casualties 192 Athenians dead 11 Plateans dead 6,400 dead 7 ships captured 1 Ancient sources give numbers ranging from 200... Combatants Greek-city states Persian Empire Commanders Leonidas I † Xerxes I the Great of Persia Strength 300 Spartans 700 Thespians 6,000 other Greek allies2 60,000-2,000,000 (estimates vary)1 Casualties 300 Spartans and 700 Thespians; 1,400 Greek allies in total. ... Combatants Greek city-states Persia Commanders Eurybiades of Sparta Themistocles of Athens Adeimantus of Corinth Unknown Strength 333 ships 500 ships Casualties Half of Fleet (Herodotus) Unknown The naval Battle of Artemisium took place, according to tradition, on the same day as the Battle of Thermopylae on August 11, 480... Combatants Greek city-states Persia Halicarnassus Commanders Eurybiades of Sparta Themistocles of Athens Adeimantus of Corinth Aristides of Athens Xerxes I of Persia Ariamenes † Artemisia Strength 366-380 ships 1 1000 - 1207 ships [1]2 Casualties 40 ships 200 ships 1 Herodotus gives 378 of the alliance, but the numbers... Combatants Greek city-states Persia Commanders Pausanias Mardonius† Strength 100,000 (Pompeius) 110,000 (Herodotus) 120,000 (Ctesias) 300,000 (Herodotus, Plutarch). ... Combatants Greek city-states Persia Commanders Leotychides Artaÿntes Strength About 50 000 Unknown Casualties Unknown Unknown The Battle of Mycale was one of the two major battles that ended the Persian invasion of Greece, during the Greco-Persian Wars. ... Combatants Delian League Persia Commanders Cimon Unknown Strength Unknown 200 ships Casualties The naval Battle of the Eurymedon took place between 470 BC and 466 BC on the Eurymedon River in Pamphylia in Asia Minor, and was between the Athenian-led Delian League and Persia. ... Combatants Delian League Persia Commanders Cimon † Anaxicrates Strength 300 triremes estimated 800 ships Casualties 40 ships lost over 250 ships lost The Battle of Salamis took place around 450 BC near Salamis in Cyprus. ... The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the old Persian homeland, and at times extending into central and mid-east Asia. ... Megabates was a Persian general and admiral in the early sixth century and late fifth century BC. He is most notable under the writings of Herodotus for his joint participation in the failed 499 BC siege of Naxos. ... Ionia (Greek Ιωνία; see also List of traditional Greek place names) was an ancient region of southwestern coastal Anatolia (now in Turkey) on the Aegean Sea. ... Aristagoras was the leader of Miletus in the late 6th century BC and early 5th century BC. He was the son of Molpagoras, and son_in_law (and nephew) of Histiaeus, whom the Persians had set up as tyrant of Miletus. ... Naxos (Greek: Νάξος; Italian: Nicsia; Turkish: NakÅŸa) is a Greek island, the largest island (428 km²) in the Cyclades island group in the Aegean. ... The Greco-Persian Wars or Persian Wars were a series of conflicts between the Greek world and the Persian Empire that started about 500 BC and lasted until 448 BC. The term can also refer to the continual warfare of the Roman Empire and Byzantine Empire against the Parthians and...

In 500 BC, the Tyrant of Miletus, Aristagoras, was convinced by Naxian exiles to seize the island of Naxos and return them to their homes. Aristogoras gained help from his ruler, the Emperor of Persia, Darius I who sent Aristoganes 200 ships and a large number of men under the command of Megabates. A few days after setting off from Miletus, Aristagoras and Megabates got into a dispute because Megabates had punished one of Aristogoras' friends for not having a sentry posted. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The lower half of the benches and the remnants of the scene building of the theater of Miletus, as it was on August 6, 2005. ... Seal of Darius I, showing the king hunting on his chariot, and the symbol of Ahuramazda Darius the Great (Pers. ...

During the night, Megabates sent a messanger to Naxos to tell them that the Persian army was approaching. When the Persians and Ionian allies arrived, the Naxians were prepared for the ensuing siege. Naxos successfully held out for four months until the Persians and their allies retreated due to the exhaustion of gold and resources.

This defeat was an embarrassment for Artaphernes, Darius' brother and Aristagoras' friend because Aristogoras had promised him and the Emperor an easy victory. The Persians suffered large financial losses because of the defeat and Aristogoras earned the hatred of Artapharnes and Megabates. Aristagoras saw he was not in a position to earn any favor in Persia decided to incite the Greek cities of Ionia to revolt against the Persians. Artaphernes, more correctly Artaphrenes, was the brother of Darius Hystaspis, and satrap of Sardis. ... Ionia (Greek Ιωνία; see also List of traditional Greek place names) was an ancient region of southwestern coastal Anatolia (now in Turkey) on the Aegean Sea. ...

Prelude

In 546 BC, Cyrus the Great of Persia defeated King Croesus of Lydia and conquered his former land, amongst them were the Ionian Greek cities of Asia Minor. In between mainland Greece and the Ionian colonies amidst the Aegean Sea were the Cyclades islands, which were independent. Naxos, the most important of these islands was ruled by tyrants who imposed high taxes on the inhabitants of the islands which caused much unrest.^[1] In 500 BC, the Naxians in protest against the wealthy citizens expelled the some of the nobles and aristocrats and established a democratic government.^{[2] [3]} Cyrus the Great (Old Persian: KuruÅ¡, modern Persian: کوروش بزرگ, Kurosh-e Bozorg) (ca. ... Croesus Croesus (IPA pronunciation: , CREE-sus) was the king of Lydia from 560/561 BC until his defeat by the Persians in about 547 BC. The English name Croesus come from the Latin transliteration of the Greek , in Arabic and Persian قارون, Qârun. ... Lydia (Greek ) is a historic region of western Anatolia, congruent with Turkeys modern provinces of Ä°zmir and Manisa. ... Anatolia (Greek: ανατολη anatole, rising of the sun or East; compare Orient and Levant, by popular etymology Turkish Anadolu to ana mother and dolu filled), also called by the Latin name of Asia Minor, is a region of Southwest Asia which corresponds today to... This article refers to a colony in politics and history. ... The Cyclades (Greek Κυκλάδες) are a Greek island group in the Aegean Sea, south-east of the mainland of Greece; and an administrative prefecture of Greece. ...

There they met their ally, the Tyrant of Miletus, Aristagoras who was filling in for his father-in-law, Histiaeus who was currently being held hostage in Susa.^[4] Aristagoras who was scheming to become ruler of Naxos, told the exiles that he didn't have a force large enough to capture Naxos, but he would ask his friend and overlord, Artaphernes, King Darius' brother to help.^[5] Aristagoras told Artaphernes that if he conquered Naxos, he could use it as a base to conquer the rest of the Cyclades and Euboea as well as controlling the Aegean Sea. Aristagoras also said that he would pay for the costs of the campaign.^[6] Artaphernes liked the idea but he said he needed approval from his brother. Darius agreed to the plan and decided to send a Persian fleet and army.^[7] This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Histiaeus (died 494 BC), the son of Lysagoras, was the tyrant of Miletus in the late 6th century BC. Histiaeus owed his status as tyrant to Darius I, king of Persia, who had subjugated Miletus and the other Ionian states in Asia Minor. ... Winged sphinx from the palace of Darius the Great at Susa. ... Artaphernes, more correctly Artaphrenes, was the brother of Darius Hystaspis, and satrap of Sardis. ... Seal of Darius I, showing the king hunting on his chariot, and the symbol of Ahuramazda Darius the Great (Pers. ... Euboea or Negropont (Modern Greek: Εύβοια Evia, Ancient Greek Εúβοια Eúboia; see also List of traditional Greek place names), is the largest island of the Greek archipelago. ... Look up Aegean Sea in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Dispute and Disaster

The Persian fleet and army was put under the command of Megabates who was a cousin of Darius and Artaphernes. He arrived at Miletus with 200 ships and a large army, where he joined forces with the Ionians under Aristagoras and the Naxian exiles.^[8] So that the Naxians didn't foresee the invasion the fleet sailed north making it look like they were sailing to the Hellespont but when they arrived at Chios they headed south.^[9] Fleet may refer to: // Fleet is a geographical name: Fleet, a village in Dorset, England, sited on The Fleet, a lagoon Fleet, in the county of Hampshire, England a Fleet, in Kent, inlet, creek, a name for saline waterways in the Thames marshes the River Fleet, a subterranean river in... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Megabates was a Persian general and admiral in the early sixth century and late fifth century BC. He is most notable under the writings of Herodotus for his joint participation in the failed 499 BC siege of Naxos. ... The Helespont/Dardanelles, a long narrow strait dividing the Balkans (Europe) along the Gallipoli peninsula from Asia Anatolia (Asia Minor). ... Chios (Greek: , alternative transliterations Khios and Hios, see also List of traditional Greek place names; Ottoman Turkish: صاقيز Sakız; Genoese: Scio) is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea five miles off the Turkish coasts. ...

As Megabates was making his rounds of sentries posted on the ships, he came across a ship from Myndus which didn't have any sentries posted.^[10] Megabates ordered his personal guard to find the captain of the ship and to bring him before him. Megabates had the captain tied in one of the ships oar holes with his head outside and his body inside.^[11] When Aristagoras found out that his friend was being treated this way he went to the ship and asked Megabates to reconsider his decision and when he didn't, Aristagoras cut the captain loose.^[12] After Aristagoras cut him loose he got into a dispute with Megabates.^[13] Later that night, Megabates sent a messanger to the Naxians to warn them about the impending invasion.^{[14]Theory[›]} Myndos Rabbit Island in modern Gümüslük. ...

The Naxians had no idea that the expedition was against them and had not prepared.^[15] But as the news arrived they brought everything from the fields, gathered enough food with which to survive the siege and they reinforced the walls.^[16] When the Persians and their allies arrived at the island they found the islanders prepared and ready for a siege.^[17] After four months of fighting the Persians had used up all the money they had brought and Aristagoras had also spent a great deal.^[18] Seeing that they couldn't take the city they built the exiles a base on the island and they departed.^[19]

Aftermath

A map showing the late invasion of Naxos

This was an embarrassing defeat for the Persians and Artaphernes as they had been told that the island would fall easily.^[1] They had lost a great deal of money and Atistagoras who had said he would pay for the costs of the campaign couldn't.^[1] This failure led Aristagoras to lose his favor amongst the Persians.^[1] When received a message from his father-in-law telling him to stir up a revolution amongst the Ionians.^[20] He succeed in making many cities kill their Persian inhabitants and then he went to mainland Greece to recruit support. He received twenty ships from the Athenians and five from the Eretrians before sailing back to Ionia.^[21] The revolution lasted for five years before the Persians destroyed the Greek fleet off Lade.^[22] Aristagoras was killed in a battle in Thrace in 494 BC after fleeing from Ionia.^[23] Naxos was captured during the second siege of the island in 490 BC.^[24] This battle was important as it showed the Greeks and other subjects of the Persian Empire, that the Persians weren't as strong as they made out to be.^[1] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see Athens (disambiguation). ... This is an article about the Greek city of Eretria. ... The Battle of Lade was fought in 494 BC between the Ionians and the Persians. ... Thrace (Bulgarian: , Greek: , Latin: , Turkish: ) is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. ... Combatants Naxos Persia Commanders Unknown Datis, Artaphernes Strength 8,000 men and a large amount of ships 20,000-60,000 men, Around 600 ships (Modern Estimates) Casualties Heavy Light The Siege of Naxos (490 BC) was fought between the people of Naxos and the Persians under the command of...

Notes

^[25]

Inline Citations

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Greeka, The Naxos Revolt of Naxos Greece, Cyclades
2. ^ Lloyd, Marathon:The Crucial Battle That Created Western Democracy,143
3. ^ Herodotus V,30
4. ^ Herodotus V,30
5. ^ Herodotus V,30
6. ^ Herodotus V,31
7. ^ Herodotus V,32
8. ^ Herodotus V,33
9. ^ Herodotus V,33
10. ^ Herodotus V,33
11. ^ Herodotus V,33
12. ^ Herodotus V,33
13. ^ Herodotus V,33
14. ^ Herodotus V,33
15. ^ Herodotus V,34
16. ^ Herodotus V,34
17. ^ Herodotus V,34
18. ^ Herodotus V,34
19. ^ Herodotus V,34
20. ^ Herodotus V,36
21. ^ Herodotus V,99
22. ^ Herodotus VI,18
23. ^ Herodotus V,126
24. ^ Herodotus VI,96
25. ^ Keaveney, The Attack on Naxos: 'A Forgotten Cause' of the Ionian Revolt,76

References

Primary Sources

• Herodotus, translated by Robin Waterfield (1998). The Histories. New York:Oxford World's Classics. ISBN 0-19-282425-2

This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Secondary Sources

• Alan Lloyd, (2004). Marathon:The Crucial Battle That Created Western Democracy. London:Souvenir Press. ISBN 0-285-63688-X
• Arthur Keaveney, (1988). The Attack on Naxos: A 'Forgotten Cause' of the Ionian Revolt.

External Links

• http://www.greeka.com/cyclades/naxos/naxos-history/naxos-revolt.htm