OTL, 300 Spartans, and a bunch of other Greeks, held the mountain pass of Thermopylae for three days against Xerxes, but the Persians found a way around and flanked them, going on to burn Athens, but lose the war in the end. What if they didn't find their way around, or the other pass had been defended as well? Would the Persians have been held off forever, broken through eventually, or taken another route? How will history change?
Greeks hold Thermopale
- Thread starter El Speculador
- Start date
This might be accomplished if the Spartans actually commit the forces they promised to commit. OTL they promised to commit several thousand men, but only sent Leonidas and 300 men because they still believed the best chance was to defend the Isthmus of Corinth. They claimed Leonidas's force was only an advance force, but in reality, the rest of the Spartan army was busy constructing fortifications along the Corthinian Isthmus. Have Sparta send all those men, and they might have enough to hold the pass.
Now, the problem arises with the Greek fleet. The Persians, if they can't fight their way through Thermopylae, can simply sail around the pass. That's why the Greek fleet was stationed along the coast there. IOTL however, after the Battle of Artemisium, the Greek fleet was forced to withdraw to Salamis. This itself would be enough to allow the Persians, after failing to break through at Thermopylae, to simply sail around it. Now part of the reason the Greek fleet withdrew after the battle was because of the defeat of the army at Thermopylae, but still they sustained heavy losses that they simply couldn't afford. Their chances of winning in a straight up engagement against the Persians at sea are very slim, and in any attritional naval battle like Artemisium, the Persians can simply afford to lose far more ships than the Greeks.
Now, the problem arises with the Greek fleet. The Persians, if they can't fight their way through Thermopylae, can simply sail around the pass. That's why the Greek fleet was stationed along the coast there. IOTL however, after the Battle of Artemisium, the Greek fleet was forced to withdraw to Salamis. This itself would be enough to allow the Persians, after failing to break through at Thermopylae, to simply sail around it. Now part of the reason the Greek fleet withdrew after the battle was because of the defeat of the army at Thermopylae, but still they sustained heavy losses that they simply couldn't afford. Their chances of winning in a straight up engagement against the Persians at sea are very slim, and in any attritional naval battle like Artemisium, the Persians can simply afford to lose far more ships than the Greeks.