479: Thrace appears | 479: Achaemenid Empire leaves Athens | 479: Epirus is embryonic civilisation

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The Persian Retreat from Athens (479 BCE) - The End of the Greco-Persian Wars

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In 479 BCE, the mighty Achaemenid Empire, under King Xerxes I, suffered a decisive defeat in Greece, marking the end of Persia's second invasion of the Greek mainland. Following their catastrophic losses at the Battle of Plataea (on land) and the Battle of Mycale (at sea), Persian forces were forced to withdraw from Athens and mainland Greece, effectively ending their ambitions of conquest in the region.

Background: The Persian Wars

The conflict between Persia and the Greek city-states had begun in 499 BCE with the Ionian Revolt, when Greek cities in Asia Minor rebelled against Persian rule. In retaliation, Darius I launched the First Persian Invasion (492-490 BCE), which ended in Persian defeat at Marathon (490 BCE). His son, Xerxes I, sought revenge and launched the Second Persian Invasion (480-479 BCE) with a massive army and navy.

The Sack of Athens (480 BCE)

In 480 BCE, Persian forces captured and burned Athens after the Greeks evacuated the city. However, the Persian fleet suffered a devastating defeat at the Battle of Salamis later that year, forcing Xerxes to retreat to Asia, leaving his general Mardonius in command of a reduced occupying force.

The Turning Point: Battle of Plataea (479 BCE)

In 479 BCE, a united Greek army led by Sparta (Pausanias) and Athens (Aristides) confronted Mardonius' forces at Plataea in Boeotia. Despite being outnumbered, the Greeks achieved a crushing victory, killing Mardonius and scattering the Persian army. Around the same time, the Greek fleet destroyed the remaining Persian navy at the Battle of Mycale off the coast of Ionia.

The Persian Withdrawal

With their forces defeated on both land and sea, the Persians had no choice but to abandon their occupation of Athens and mainland Greece. The remaining Persian garrisons withdrew, and the Greek city-states regained their independence.

Aftermath {content}amp; Legacy

The Greek victories at Plataea and Mycale marked the end of Persia's attempts to conquer Greece.
Athens emerged as a dominant naval power, leading to the formation of the Delian League (478 BCE) to counter future Persian threats.
The Greco-Persian Wars became a defining moment in Greek history, symbolizing the triumph of democracy (Athens) and disciplined militarism (Sparta) over imperial autocracy.

This retreat in 479 BCE was not just a military withdrawal but a turning point that shaped the future of Western civilization, ensuring the survival of Greek culture and political ideals.