Xerxes led an invasion of mainland Greece to put an end to th Greekcities interfering in his empire.

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The Greek cities decided to first destroy the Persian fleet, as itsthreat to their cities made them keep their land forces at home, sostopping them from concentrating against the Persain army, whichcould then pick off the cities one at a time; so far, greatstrategy on both sides.

To force this sea battle, the Greek cities set up a blocking forceat the Thermopylai pass and the Greek fleet lay inwait in thestrait nearby at Artemesion for the Persian fleet to try tooutflank this blockage of the land route; good Greek strategy.

It went wrong when the Persian fleet defeated the Greek fleet. KingLeonidas of Sparta who commanded the blocking force at theThermopylai pass no longer had a job, and sent the Greekcontingents home. He remained behind with his 2,500-man Spartancontingent (plus the 700-man Thespian one) to continue holding thepass to let them get away inside the walls of friendly citiesbefore the Persian cavalry broke through and rode them down in opencountry. This stay-behind force made a noble sacrifice to helptheir fellow Greeks escape, going down to a man.

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