Historymarche, PLEASE, use images that actually look like Iranians in the videos that involve Iranian history not ... whatever this is There are alot of them that are either drawn or made with AI by very talented artists like Salman Raeis Abdollahi or Mohammad Rasoulipour Just ask them permission
@@HistoryMarcheactually it was the adaptation of the comic by the same name and the main story is the same really though the comic is more ohhh let’s say brutal
Aha! And, like Socrates, would he have opted for certain death had he not been in the autumn of his life?! Perhaps….but, a younger Spartan may have acted more prudently?
So exciting to see History Marche's presentation of this most famous of battles. We see so many popular media takes on it but it's so refreshing to see one based purely on historical and to help us become acquainted with the key personalities, strategies and tactics of both sides 🔥
Yeah, he did just slip a little at minute 6:00, when he repeated what we often hear: That they could not muster their army because of religion. The 300 started their march well before the religious month, (Herodes), they could have easily sent all of their army if they wanted to. It's just a false excuse they invented later to why they did not sent more. But that is just a small detail in an otherwise great video :)
Until 200 years ago they said Persian had a major loss from Roman's and even Roman took Persia capital In lack of evidence from Persian side But when Artefacts and evidences had been found west admitted all b4 was lie's and everyone knows now Persian king killed 3 Roman emperor back to back Now there was nothing from Iran said on Alexander the greatest lie ever and Spartan's So don't u think maybe this newly found evidences maybe are correct and Spartan's war different and Alexander the greatest lie ever never invaded anything??? What is ur opinion?
What Leonidas accomplished is staggering against the odds. But I always think about the insane logistical and diplomatic achievement that was required by the Persians to transport, feed and arm an army of that size so far away from home. And on the back of a succession crises and revolt in Egypt.
I hope that I can be corrected and educated, but the numbers listed here in the video aren't even "conservative". The Persians likely numbered no more than 25000 based on actually true conservative estimated numbers. We all know that historians, and philosophers, especially from that time period were... hyperbolic. The logistics alone speak to that. No army or leader of army during that time period could have sustained, or even attempted to sustain more than around 25000 at the absolute maximum for a major offensive, and that would be for a VERY limited amount of time. Look at the king of logistics today, the mighty US Army, with all of the technology available, we STILL had trouble keeping people supplied with their kit and food+water for both Iraq wars and and Afghanistan, and that's with the raw might of logistical superiority with modern vehicles and technology.
Leonidas and the 300 Spartans received much celebration through history, but the bravest of the bravest were no doubt the 700 Thespians who stayed with them and the 400 Thebans. The 700 Thespians represented 100% of the hoplites of their city, all the fighters Thespiae had.
@dominiquecharriere1285 The 700 Thespians under the command of Demophilus of Thespiae agreed, to be sure, The Thebens, on the other hand, in this instance not so much. Thebes had previously to the Thermopylae campaign been very sympathetic towards Persia, and so, the Thebens who were present during the rear guard were so, not out of a sense of honour or duty, but were instead forced to stay by Leonidas in order to prove their loyalty. However, upon the death of Leonidas, the Thebens, under the command of Leontiades of Thebes, surrendered their entire force over to the Persians, leaving the remaining Greeks to their fate, the last of which died fighting atop Kolonos Hill. Another quick mention is that among the remaining Greek troops were also 900 Spartan State owned Helot serfs who also died to man with the rest of the rear guard. There were also originally 302 Spartans at Thermopylae, 300 Royal Guard, and their captain Dienekes, under the overall command of the 60 year old King Leonidas, with 300 Spartans overall dying in combat. Two Spartans did not die with the remaining 300, one of which being Aristodemes of Sparta, who, having been honourably dismissed by Leonidas due to a severe eye infection, would return home. The other Spartan, Pantites, would, after being sent on orders by Leonidas to conduct diplomacy in Thessaly, later commit suicide by hanging himself from a tree on the road to Thermopylae, supposedly doing so by having failed to return in time for the final battle. A third Spartan, Eurytus, was also dismissed on orders of the King, having also contracted an eye infection that rendered him completely blind. Eurytus, however, would later return, lead by his Helot Serf, back to the battlefield where he fought blind, reportedly felling several men before he himself would be killed in combat. The return and death of Eurytus culminated in 300 battle dead Spartans throughout the campaign, of which the common misconcepted term of 300 Spartans derives.
@@LookHereMars 6 True, and the history placed Aristodemes, ashamed, charging alone the Persian line at Platea and dying the first in the battle that would end the tentative of taking over Greece.
@dominiquecharriere1285 Yes indeed, as the history goes, Aristodemes, though ordered directly by King Leonidas to return home to Sparta, did so under scrutiny and scorn, marked upon his return, as a coward for being the only Spartan to return home alive. Aristodemes lived in Sparta shunned and shamed for a full year after Thermopylae until he followed the Spartan and allied Greek Army to Plataea. At Plataea Aristodemes is said to have walked out in front of the entire battle ready Greek army, shouting loud repeated praise to King Leonidas and the brave 300, he is then said to have charged the entire Persian army alone committing battle suicide. The Spartan Army is said to have issued Aristodemes a battlefield salute for his bravery, though the Stratagos deemed his actions reckless and foolish, the Spartans non the less admired the courage of Aristodemes and he was redeemed of his honour and afforded a burial in a marked battlefield grave.
actual historical sources? all sources about this war are greek-european and total bullshit. those numbers are simply impossible. no empire or nation gathered that much man until late enlightment let alone moving them 3 continents. persia to greece or egypt to greece is more than 3000 kilometers and you trust some man bullshitting about 300.000 to 5.000.000 man walking mountains, deserts and reaching greece to fight. i doubt there is 300.000 to 5 million people were living in anatolia at that time
"Ω ξειν, αγγέλλειν Λακεδαιμονίοις ότι τήδε κείμεθα τοις κείνων ρήμασι πειθόμενοι" That is the original in Ancient Greek, and one of the best quotes around (in my humble opinion ofc, -gives me goosebumps every time-). A sacrifice for one's home, greater total, not so a king and his elite can live in golden palaces while depleting resources & the rest of the people scrape by or starve. Few words said that convey it all, true to the lakonic way of speaking!
The story of the 302 Spartans is immortalised. Lest we also forget the seldom mentioned by name, Demophilus of Thespiae, commanding the 700 Thespians who volunteered to remain, also present were 900 Helot serfs, who also stayed with the remainder of the Greeks. Save for two Spartiates, Aristodemes, and Pantites, the remaining 300 alongside their Captain Dienekes and the 60 year old King Leonidas, with their allies of the rear guard, died fighting tooth and nail to the very last. 400 Thebens were also present during the last stand under the command of, the also seldom mentioned, Leontiades of Thebes. However, previously to Thermopylae Thebes had been very sympathetic towards Persia and so the Thebens present were not permitted to leave with the retreating 3,000, being instead, forced to stay under strict order of Leonidas to prove their loyalty. Upon the death of Leonidas, supposedly at the plain of the pass, Leontiades capitulated his entire force of Thebens over to the Persians, leaving the remaining 1,900 or so Greeks to their fate, the last of which died atop Kolonos Hill. "Tell them in Lakedaimon stranger passing by that here obedient to our word we lie." - Epitaph of the Cenotaph at Thermopylae - Simonides of Ceos, as recorded by Herodotus.
@Emanon... In the movie 300, perhaps, but in reality, how so? If memory serves, the Spartans are said to have sent the single largest continent of troops to Thermopylae of any participating state. 302 Spartan Homoioi, 900 Spartan state owned Helot serfs and upto 1,000 Lakonian Hoplite Perioikoi. A Spartan King, again if my memory serves, can not act so independently, for Leonidas to have led troops he would have needed the support and consent of not only his co King, Leotychidas, but of the Gerousia, the council of Elders too. Leonidas moved with sanctioned approval.
@randomguy6152 You are getting confused with Demaratus, my friend. Demaratus, like Leotychidas, was also of the Euypontid Dynasty who co ruled Sparta alongside the Agiad Dynasty of Kings, of which Leonidas descends. If my memory serves, it was indeed Leotychidas, who was the Co ruler of Sparta during the time of and beyond the Thermopylae Campaign. Sparta would not have been left Kingless at this time, the rule of two was law.
@@LookHereMars I apologize I researched him and he's super underrated, he scored more victories than Leonidas, albeit Leonidas defeat was debatably more impactful towards Greece than the victories of Leotchidas II
"The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant, that few stood against many, and before this battle was over, even a god-king can bleed" - Gerard Butler Scottish actor
Steven E. Pressfield's "Gates of Fire" is one of my favorite books, telling the story of 300 Spartans the way they deserved. Really recommend this to anyone who is fascinated by this battle, truly one of the most heroic last stands of history.
Man when i think how much work y'all put in this. Creating the map, the animations, the research, great job and thank you for all the videos and making history more interesting for me.
I thank you David and the History March team for incredibly boosting my love for military history. I actually listen to your videos when I go to the gym or before a boxing class to get my adrenaline firing and spirit fired up. Especially hearing Leonidas's reply to the Persion envoy "Come and get them." I feel ready to face a challenge. Keep it up you guys
It is a pity actually that people translate it in English as "Come and get them". The verb "μολών" which is translated as "come" actually means "come through hardship". It implies that it would be a very difficult task. So a better translation is "if you dare (to put in the effort) then come and get them".
Well, I didn't like it. He never mentioned this was first and last time Spartans fought to the last man or that Thespians had a habit of it. True heroes of this battle were Thespians, not Spartans. 700 Thespian hoplites were entire Thespian army. They lost the most and they fought to the last man before and after while Spartans were prone to run away and pliticize. Spartan myth is the name of the game Sparta was best at.
with huge mistakes in the historic side though....Ionians were Greeks(in fact the name used to describe Greeks in the Asian nations comes from the first Greeks they encountered,the Ionians)and at the time under Persian occupation
David, in my oppinion you have the best voice on the internet. It's simply unbelieveble. And I would also love to hear Doddy again. Thank you for learning us so many things and also for your contribution to our education. And don't tell me this is to much. Respect!
I was there a few years ago after having visited Marathon. Very powerful feeling to be there! Stood a few minutes on Kolonos hill reflecting on the events that took place here.
Also, a thing a lot of people don't know about Xerxes army: it was on the brink of collapse at Thermopylae. It's sheer size required constant supply via pillaging, supplies which it wasn't receiving while stagnant at Thermopylae. There is a modern belief that had the Greeks not been sold out and continued to hold their position, Xerxes would've been forced to retreat due to lack of supplies long before he could wipe out the Greeks or vice versa.
If it was as massive as it is said to be. Nobody can deny how exaggerated the accounts of Persian armies are( Herodotus, Xenophon, Ctesias, Arian and etc.)
@@artinrahideh1229 Yeah, the size is always the tricky part when it comes to the Persian army. It almost certainly wasn't even close to 1 million+ men. Nor likely the hundreds of thousands as some estimates claim. But even at 50,000-60,000 that is still a massive force. But we know the Persians suffered anywhere from 12,000-20,000+ casualties. And given the might needed to conquer the rest of Greece with the remaining forces (which they attempted to do), there had to have been at least 40,000+ left.
@@thegamingpigeon3216 i can definitely agree with these numbers which are very logical and realistic. What i can never relate to is those random 300k or else numbers based on numerous ethnic groups.
This bloke flies the flag for good history videos. Well researched and great visual representation of the areas the battles take place in. I can never click on the video fast enough when he puts one out.
The Greek fleet only left when the Spartans' (and Greek allies) fight was over. Not before the fight on land was finished. After all,the fleet was there to guard the east flank,so that Persian ships couldnt land behind Leonidas line,and surround them.
By remaining on the battlefield when all hope was lost, Leonidas and company protected the flank of the Greek retreat. If they had all left as one, they would've been run down by Persian cavalry
To the last man. They rather die than surrender. True warriors that will never be forgotten. It's no wonder they are immortalized considering how out numbered they were and how many Persians they killed.
Finnaly u guys covered the battle of Thermophyle, i've waited for a long time for this. Btw, can y'all continue the Hannibal series? I absolutely loved that one, but theres no last part sadly
as persian, greeks fought great, with unbelivible dicipline and just cuz im persian i dont judge them for defending their mother land much respect to hellas from iran 🇬🇷
Is that supposed to be boasting and condescending towards Hellas? I see, you are petty. Alright. Last time i checked, Persia barely was any better than the Hellens. Having lost both of their Helleno-Persian wars, and then taken over by Alexandros makes me wonder if Persia was even a strong empire without Cyrus the decent. Ironic how they utilised Hellenic mercenaries on mass to bolster their ranks for their fragile frontlines. Instead of sticking to their own and keep their cavalry focus like Nomads. And for the record both Persia and Rome could not expand more than they already had in their era of rivalry, even if they crushed one another. And do not forget that Rome took basically 4 attempts to defeat Makedonia that was already fighting other powers of the successor states such as Seleukoi and Ptolaimeoi. Persia couldn't take on Rome into a head to head war. Makedonia was fighting a multiple front wars against Roman and Hellenic powers and still held the Latins back fours times. Persia was a joke without Cyrus. Just because they subjugated inferior states in a rapid succession that does not make them special. Barely reforming or improving. If they knew what they were doing then Hellas should had been a walk in the park. @@Techtalk2030
@@something4179I like to add that roughly 150 years later Alexander the Great of macedon started his conquest which lead to the demise of the Persian empire. Although the diadochi wars saw the demise of these lands belonging to macedon, Persia would never recover.
I always found it hilarious that there's these warriors sacrificing their lives for their country against impossible odds and the discourse of some couch potatoes who are living in their mother's basement is " but they had slaves" or " but Persians were more progressive than the Spartans" like that erases the fact they were badass and heroes.
Not to mention the same western liberals that simp for the Persians will foam at the mouth if you mention that 19th century Europeans also banned slavery and were more progressive than the Africans and Indians they were colonizing
No it doesn't decrease the value of their sacrifice at all, however portraying the fight as that of one between despotism and democracy is a blatant misrepresentation, which has been used as a raison d'être by supremacists for centuries to justify the subjugation of nations and societies by European colonial powers
Fun fact: after leanidis died. Most of the men were without weapons or armor at that point and the Persians still wouldn’t advance on them. That’s badass
HistoryMarche has some of the best voices for narration in youtube. Every one of your narrators has that indescribable quality that makes your videos exceedingly enjoyable to listen to. If my elementary and high school history teachers had voices of this caliber, I surely would have learned way more about history in school
This battle was one which always fascinated me as a wee boy growing up in the mid/late 70's. I remember watching the 1960's film, 'The 300 Spartans' with Richard Egan as Leonidas, and David Farrar as Xerxes, and just loving it. How so few stood against so many. Then '300' was released, and i absolutely loved that film. I remember talking about it to a mate, he was telling me how it didn't happen, and i went through the history of it. I had to clarify that the film wasn't trying to portray what actually happened, but rather it was a war cry, from Dilios. He was painting the Persians as monsters, and subhuman, basically cowards and unworthy, in order to get the Greek army pumped up for Plataea. I still think to this day, he believes i think the film was attempting to be an historical retelling.
It's a shame the story has once again been retold almost verbatim from Herodotus, new sources have come to light, including the Chicago University clay tablets, as well as the fact that Herodotus' details have an extremely low rate of accuracy.
Another misrepresentation, though to be expected at the time, and repeated later on by supremacists, as a battle between a tyrant and free folk, the war of despotism and democracy, has also been inserted into this video, which apart from being abjectly false, and a blatant tool used to justify colonialism and subjugation of societies around the world by European powers in the second half of the last millenia, also decreased the factual value of the channel's productions.
@@randomname3109 are you talking about this battle? I meant Persian also have similar version to this battle when Ariobarzanes stalled Alexander army. I guess you are confused by comment
@@amirmn7 no friend. You are implying this Ariobarzanes character is somehow a contemporary to these events. Which is impossible, because Alexander the great didn't arise for another 140 years... Which is to say, the Ariobarzanes who held up Alexander the great, is not the same Ariobarzanes of this period
@@randomname3109Nah mate you didn't understand what this guy said There was battle in Alexander's conquest called the battle of "Persian Gates" it was the Persian version of 300 Ariobarzan stopped alexander for month there and kinda similar to this battle his own men betrayed him and gave alexander information about a road that could flank ariobarzan's army
No, they did not speak Greek, Alexander himself addrssed his troops both in Greek to Greeks from ally cities and then in Macedonian, their mother tongue, to Macedonians before the battle of Gaugamela. This is recorded in ancient sources - Aristobulos and Rufus. Moreover, there was an inner rivalry between Greeks and Macedonians in the army too
The Macedonians were Greek and you can't change that. Their king Philip the II took part in the Olympis multiple times and only Greeks could participate in the ancient Olympics@@arturmesropyan8087
Macedonians were considered ‘northern barbarians’ by the Greeks - despite the fact that Philip (Alexander’s father) had adopted many Greek customs. People with lack of historical and archaeological understanding always attempt (incoherent and inaccurate) revisionism
Fun fact: The gates of hell, the pass and ledge inwhich the 300 fought, doesn't exist anymore. The entire bay, all the water, has been filled in with silt and dirt..aka the area is nothing but flat farm land just past the little hills were the goat herder trails were. There's no water near by. They could dig down ~50ft into the ground, and maybe find weapons from all those who fell off the cliff into the sea. Supposedly, they know where the entire shore line used to be at that time, kinda weird to see as it's the coast isn't anywhere near there anymore.
He mentions the repairing the wall, but then the animations shows them fighting IN FRONT of the wall. Why even repair the wall then? Love the videos either way...
Terms "free Greece" and "free men" makes me lough my ass off every time Free Greece wich was built on shoulders of slaves and Athenian democracy wich was only implied for rich male land owners, while female and majority slaves were excluded, in the mean time in Persia slavery was banned, woman had administrative jobs, they had six month of pregnancy off with income, and a raise after giving birth for child expenses These infos are from accounting clays found in Persepolis, the irony is the fire wich Alexander raised burnt all the papyrus but baked the accounting clays and kept them for us By the way great and accurate video by historymarche thank you
Slavery was only banned in the central part of the empire or modern day iran and Iraq, the rest of the empire still traded slaves Also by "free men" they mostly meant political freedom Also Greeks did mention how slavery is bad but they didn't follow it with any actions that I'm aware of
What you're doing is called presentism and plagues modern revisionist historiographers. It's utterly stupid to judge 5th c. BCE, through the lenses of 21st c.
@FamiliarAnomaly I doubt Persia would had went any farther than Hellas. But i guess Hellas wouldn't had been the same as we know it today for sure. And by extension the world today wouldn't be the same obviously. Now would it be better or worse? We can not tell but i am sure that particularly Hellas it would had been very hard for the far away Persia to control. Hellas could be the Britons to Rome.
I can't imagine fighting beside a warrior king and a battle promised to you to be your last that will make the Gods smile. They were so amped fighting with the best of the best that surely, everyone fought with discipline and with all their strength. Must have been a sight to see and lived in you were among the Greek defenders. The morale must have been so high regardless when it came down to the last survivor.
Wait, what about elephants and rhinos? And magic grenades? Where is the part where they were on cliffs, pushing them with their shields into water? That's how I remember it.
You guys should do one regarding the Battle of Illevollene during the Norwegian civil war. Its pretty detailed, yet quite "simple" to make. Its also got the interesting context factor and the interesting shift and tactics used in the Battle.
@@cjthebeesknees For a history channel semantics are not supposed to happen unless you are trying to push a certain narrative...or you know...misinform etc. You either become as accurate as you can or you do not. Now sure its a little sidenote that could be glossed over but still. They could had a small note tab explaining that Sparta was ruled typically by two Kings. Hellenic states were not all Democratic or whatever the rest of the western world believes. Makedonia too was a Kingdom and both Sparta and Makedonia was frowned upon for this practise of govermence. Claiming for them to be backwards, barbaric like and all. Warrior Kings was an old trend even by their time. Even back in bronze age etc, we can see evidently claimed by Homer that Hellenic states were mostly Kingdoms, gathered around to fight Troy.
I believe this is the 300drth time at least I have reobserved this contest from afar , always in admiration of the bravery displayed by the ancients. Bravo brave Greeks. 👍
