Table of Contents
What was Themistocles accused of?
Themistocles was the man of the hour. Even the Spartans, traditional hated rivals of Athens, foisted honors upon him. But Themistocles’ glory was short-lived. Only four years after his landmark victory, Themistocles was accused of being thirsty for power and riches and was exiled by his fellow Greeks.
How did Themistocles trick the Persians to win one of the battles in the war?
He sent a loyal slave to Xerxes’ camp with a message. The message said that Themistocles wanted to change sides and join the Persians. If Xerxes attacked now, it said, half the Greek sailors would surrender. Xerxes fell for the trick.
What battle was Themistocles responsible for winning?
Due to his subterfuge, the Allies successfully lured the Persian fleet into the Straits of Salamis, and the decisive Greek victory there was the turning point of the war. The invasion was conclusively repulsed the following year after the Persian defeat at the land Battle of Plataea….
| Themistocles | |
|---|---|
| Rank | Strategos |
Did Themistocles win?
Though never himself defeated, Themistocles must have been attacked repeatedly; he was the man accused by his enemies of being a danger to the established order. Nonetheless, in 483 he won his greatest triumph.
Why is Themistocles important?
He is remembered as a people’s leader, challenging the elite powers and opening the democracy to the commoners. His greatest legacy came through the military. In response to the threat of Persian invasion, Themistocles orchestrated the building of the first truly massive navy in Athenian history.
How did Themistocles win the Battle of Salamis?
However, Themistocles argued in favour of an offensive strategy, aimed at decisively destroying the Persians’ naval superiority. He drew on the lessons of Artemisium, pointing out that “battle in close conditions works to our advantage”. He eventually won through, and the Allied navy remained off the coast of Salamis.
How did Xerxes lose to Themistocles?
The Battle of Salamis (/ˈsæləmɪs/ SAL-ə-miss) was a naval battle fought between an alliance of Greek city-states under Themistocles and the Persian Empire under King Xerxes in 480 BC. It resulted in a decisive victory for the outnumbered Greeks.
Who sent Themistocles to Xerxes?
The Greeks – Themistocles. With his plan under threat, Themistocles was forced to take the initiative. By night he sent a messenger to the Persian king, Xerxes, informing him that the Greeks intended to flee. Unless he acted now, Xerxes would lose the opportunity to defeat the Greeks in one fell swoop.
Why was Themistocles a hero?
Themistocles: Naval Hero of Ancient Greece. One of the most famous naval heroes in Greek history was Themistocles, whose forward thinking and strategic mind saved Athens from destruction during the Greco-Persian Wars.
Why was Themistocles a good leader?
Themistocles was the son of a middle-class Athenian father and a non-Athenian mother. Ability alone made him influential. He advocated resistance to Persia when some wanted appeasement, and he urged the development of Athens’s navy when most trusted in its army.