Mardonios

Family: Persian · Role: son of Gobryas · First appears: Book 6 · §42–49

At the beginning of spring, Mardonios, son of Gobryas, set out with a large army and fleet, newly married to Artozostra, daughter of Dareios. In Ionia he deposed the despots and established popular governments; his forces subdued the Thasians and made the Macedonians their servants. Near Mount Athos, a violent north wind wrecked many of his ships, and Brygian Thracians attacked his army at night, wounding Mardonios. He later subdued them and made them subject to the Persians. After this expedition went badly, Dareios removed him from command.

In time, Mardonios persuaded his cousin Xerxes to undertake an expedition against Hellas. On the campaign, he was among the commanders of the foot army, and Xerxes later assigned him and Masistes to lead the division that accompanied the fleet along the coast. After the defeat at sea, Mardonios urged Xerxes either to attack the Peloponnese or let him continue the campaign. He sent Mys to consult oracles, then dispatched Alexander (son of Amyntas) to seek Athenian support; the Athenians refused an agreement. Mardonios marched from Thessaly to Athens, found it deserted, and sent Morychides to Salamis with proposals. When the Athenians rejected them, he burned what remained of the city and retreated through Megara and Boeotia to a fortified camp by the Asopos.

There Mardonios continued the campaign, sending Masistes and the cavalry against the Hellenes; after Masistes was killed, the army and Mardonios mourned him. Mardonios hired Hegesistratos to sacrifice for his cause, and, despite Artabazos’s advice against battle, chose to fight. At Plataia, Mardonios was slain by Arimnestos, and his death was followed by the Persian forces giving way.