Family
editMiltiades was a well-born Athenian, and was accounted as a member of the Aeacidae,[1]
His family was prominent, due in large part to their success with Olympic chariot-racing.[2][3] Plutarch claimed that Cimon, Miltiades' father, was known as "Coalemos", meaning "simpleton", because he had a reputation for being rough around the edges,[4] (I cannot seem to find the version used, this etymology not mentioned in the North and Thevet 1676 version. How should I proceed?) , but whose three successive chariot-racing victories at the Olympics made him popular, so popular in fact that, Herodotus claims, the sons of Peisistratos murdered him out of jealousy.[5]
Tyrant of the Thracian Chersonese
editAround 555 BC, Miltiades the Elder left Athens to establish a colony on the Thracian Chersonese (now the Gallipoli Peninsula), setting himself up as a semi-autonomous tyrant under the protection of Athens.[6] (Does it make sense to replace this reference source, I am not sure it can be considered a primary source?)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Thracian_chersonese.png (Picture does not have a reference in the caption and no listed author, I have not yet found the source for this picture.)
Meanwhile, contrary to what one would expect from a man whose father was rumored to have been murdered by the city leaders, Miltiades the Younger rose through the ranks of Athens to become eponymous archon under the rule of the Peisistratid tyrant Hippias in 524/23 BC.[7]
Miltiades the Elder was childless, so when he died around 520 BC,[8] his nephew, Miltiades the Younger's brother, Stesagoras, inherited the tyranny of the Chersonese.
Stesagoras' reign had been tumultuous, full of war and revolt.[9]
In around 513 BC, Darius I, the king of Persia, led a large army into the area, forcing the Thracian Chersonese into submission and making Miltiades a vassal of Persian rule. (Pending Refence)Miltiades joined Darius' northern expedition against the Scythians, and was left with other Greek officers to guard a bridge across the Danube, which Darius had used to cross into Scythia. Miltiades later claimed that he had tried to convince the other officers to destroy the bridge and leave Darius and his forces to die, but the others were afraid, and Darius was able to recross,[10]( Again I cannot locate this book by this author, however various of the previously mentioned also mention this, e.g. Creasy.)
Return to Athens
editThe Athens to which Miltiades returned was no longer a tyranny, but had overthrown the Peisistratids and become a democracy 15 years earlier. Thus, Miltiades initially faced a hostile reception for his tyrannical rule in the Thracian Chersonese. His trial was further complicated by the politics of his aristocratic rivals (he came from the Philaid clan, traditional rivals of the powerful Alcmaeonidae) and the general Athenian mistrust of a man accustomed to unfettered authority. (pending reference) However, Miltiades successfully presented himself as a defender of Greek freedoms against Persian despotism. He also promoted the fact that he had been a first-hand witness to Persian tactics, which was useful knowledge considering the Persians were bent on destroying the city. Thus, Miltiades escaped punishment and was allowed to rejoin his old countrymen.[11]
Battle of Marathon
editMiltiades, who had the most recent previous experience with Persian military strategy and tactics, was firm in insisting that the Persians be fought immediately, as a siege of Athens would lead to its destruction. He convinced Callimachus to use his decisive vote in favor of a swift attack.[12][n 1] He is quoted as saying "I believe that, provided the Gods will give fair play and no favor, we are able to get the best of it in the engagement."[12]
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Testa_di_stratega_detto_milziade%2C_copia_romana_da_orig._attico_del_500-480_ac_ca.jpg/150px-Testa_di_stratega_detto_milziade%2C_copia_romana_da_orig._attico_del_500-480_ac_ca.jpg (reference needs to be added to caption)
- ^ Creasy (1880) pg. 9
- ^ Creasy (1880) pg. 9
- ^ Herodotus. (2009). The landmark Herodotus : the histories. Strassler, Robert B., 1937-, Purvis, Andrea L. (First Anchor books ed.). New York: Anchor Books. p. 6.35. ISBN 9781400031146. OCLC 264043716.
- ^ Plutarch "Lives" William and Joseph Neal edition, (1836), p.338
- ^ Herodotus. (2009). The landmark Herodotus : the histories. Strassler, Robert B., 1937-, Purvis, Andrea L. (First Anchor books ed.). New York: Anchor Books. p. 6.103. ISBN 9781400031146. OCLC 264043716.
- ^ Debra Hamel (2012) "Reading Herodotus: A Guided Tour Through the Wild Boars, Dancing Suitors, and Crazy Tyrants of 'The History'" JHU Press, p.182
- ^ C.W.J.Elliot and Malcolm F. McGregor (1960) "Kleisthenes: Eponymous Archon 525/4 BC" Phoenix, Vol 14, No. 1
- ^ Hamel (2012) ibid
- ^ "Waterloo (1815)". 100 Decisive Battles: 297–302. 2000. doi:10.5040/9798400605147.0073.
- ^ Rice, Earle (15 September 2011). The Battle of Marathon. Mitchell Lane Publishers, Inc. ISBN 9781612281599 – via Google Books.
- ^ Herodotus, lib vi, c.104
- ^ a b Herodotus vi.109.
- ^ Herodotus VI, 110
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