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The Battle of Marathon 490 B.C.

Nav Sci 421. The Battle of Marathon 490 B.C. Capt T. B. Pochop Marine Officer Instructor. Learning Objectives . Understand the battle of Marathon as it pertains to the Levels of War (Policy, Strategy, Operational, and Tactical).

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The Battle of Marathon 490 B.C.

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  1. Nav Sci 421 The Battle of Marathon490 B.C. Capt T. B. Pochop Marine Officer Instructor

  2. Learning Objectives • Understand the battle of Marathon as it pertains to the Levels of War (Policy, Strategy, Operational, and Tactical). • Understand the 4 types of amphibious operations and how they relate to the battle of Marathon. • Comprehend the conduct of the amphibious operation by the Persians, particularly the choice to land at Marathon. • Relate the conduct and success/failure of the battle to the 9 Principles of War and key terms of MCDP-1 Warfighting .

  3. General Significance • Classic examples of: • Land power vs. sea power. • Heavy infantry shock system vs. light cavalry missile power. • Policy, Strategy, Operational Levels of War. • 9 Principles of War. • 4 types of Amphibious Operations.

  4. Ancient Map Orientation

  5. Detailed Map Orientation Marathon

  6. Greek Hoplite Hoplon 32-40” diam. Hoplite Falcata Leaf blade ~2’

  7. Persian Armament

  8. Athenians Led by Miltiades & Callimachus 10,000 troops Phalanx formations Heavy Infantry Shock Action/No firepower No cavalry Unbreakable front, vulnerable flanks. Persians Led by Darius Datis - Army Cmdr Artaphernes - Navy Cmdr 600 galleys 10-15,000 troops Light force Primarily cavalry Missile power, no shock. Orientation

  9. Why invade the Athenians? • Punish Athenians for supporting the Ionian revolt in 499 B.C. • Secure west flank of Aegean Sea for Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC). • To secure south flank for attack on Scythians. • To build the Persian Empire. POLICY

  10. By land, supported logistically by the navy. Persian strength - Army Not limited on the number of troops Long, difficult, time consuming route. By sea, with an amphibious landing. Direct route Persia is not a naval power. Size of invasion force limited by transport capacity. How to get to the fight? Darius has 2 options: STRATEGIC

  11. Let’s Invade - Take 1 • 492 B.C. - Darius attacks by land, supported logistically by the Navy. • Movement halted when the navy is destroyed in a storm off of Mt Athos. STRATEGIC

  12. Let’s Invade - Take 2 • 490 B.C. - Darius decides to conduct an amphibious operation. Sack Eretria first. (Amphib Raid) STRATEGIC

  13. Why land Marathon? • Why land at Marathon, far from Athens? Why not land at Athens? • Intel from Hippias. • Unopposed Landing site. • Draw the garrison army out of Athens. • Conduct an amphibious envelopment on an unprotected Athens. • Marathon supposedly has good terrain for cavalry. Force the enemy to react to you. Amphib Operations as a form of envelopment. The influence of terrain and geography. OPERATIONAL

  14. What happened? Landing is rarely the key problem • Persians land unopposed at Marathon. • Stay on beach and bivouac. • Beach is not suitable for cavalry. • Athenians arrive from the inland route and observe Persians encamped on the beach. • Wait for Spartans to reinforce (~2 weeks), OR • Attack now, before Persian plans develop further. Seize the Initiative

  15. Conduct of the Battle • Athenians attack Persians on the beach. • They extend the phalanx, reinforce the flanks and thin their center. • They anchor the flanks along terrain obstacles. • Persians push through the weakened Greek center. • The strong Greek flanks destroy the lightly armed Persian flanks, and collapse on the Persian center (double envelopment). • Hand-to-hand combat = decisive victory for Athenians. Maneuver – put the enemy at a disadvantage. TACTICAL

  16. Conduct of the Battle Persians – Frontal Attack Athenians – Double Envelopment TACTICAL

  17. What happened next? • Persian forces still attempted an amphibious envelopment on Athens. • Successful Athenians returned to the city via inland, direct route • Spartan reinforcements arrived • Political intrigue did not manifest in fall of Athens • End result: Persians unable to land and conduct decisive battle

  18. Conclusions • Interesting attempt by Persians to use amphibious operations to draw the army out of Athens and then conduct and amphibious envelopment on Athens. • Darius had one land and one navy commander (Split Command). • Persian’s failure to move off the beach allowed the Athenians to seize the initiative, block exits, and choose the battlefield.

  19. Conclusions (cont.) • Athenians tactical control of the battle and initiative negated the strengths of the Persian army. • KIA: 192 Greeks to 6,400 Persians • Persians forced to conduct a difficult amphibious withdrawal.

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