daniel/factbase-ancient-history
1
0
Fork 0
Code Issues Pull Requests Actions Packages Projects Releases Wiki Activity

initial repo seedings

Browse Source
This commit is contained in:
daniel
2026-02-22 21:35:29 +00:00
parent a2864b3522
commit 23098547f1
80 changed files with 7486 additions and 0 deletions
Download Patch File Download Diff File Expand all files Collapse all files

105
battles/battle-of-actium.md Normal file
View File

@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
<!-- factbase:450ee0 -->
# Battle of Actium
# Battle of Actium
## Overview
The Battle of Actium (31 BCE) was the decisive naval engagement in which Octavian (later Augustus) defeated the combined forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII, ending the Roman Republic's civil wars and paving the way for the Roman Empire.
## Key Facts
- Date: 2 September 31 BCE
- Location: Ionian Sea, near Actium (western Greece)
- Belligerents: Octavian vs. Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII
- Commanders: Agrippa (for Octavian), Antony and Cleopatra
- Result: Decisive victory for Octavian [^1]
## The Battle
- Octavian's fleet: ~400 ships; Antony's fleet: ~230 warships + 60 Egyptian ships
- Antony's forces were weakened by desertion and disease during a prolonged blockade
- Cleopatra's squadron broke through and fled; Antony followed
- Remaining fleet surrendered; Antony's legions defected to Octavian
## Aftermath
- Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide in Alexandria (30 BCE)
- Egypt became a Roman province
- Octavian became sole ruler; Senate granted him the title Augustus (27 BCE) [^2]
---
[^1]: Plutarch, *Life of Antony*
[^2]: Lange, C.H. *The Battle of Actium 31 BC* (Cambridge, 2022)
---
## Review Queue
<!-- factbase:review -->
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Date: 2 September 31 BCE" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Location: Ionian Sea, near Actium (western Greece)" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Belligerents: Octavian vs. Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Commanders: Agrippa (for Octavian), Antony and Cleopatra" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 14: "Result: Decisive victory for Octavian [^1]" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Octavian's fleet: ~400 ships; Antony's fleet: ~230 warships + 60 Egyptian ships" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Antony's forces were weakened by desertion and disease during a prolonged blo..." - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Cleopatra's squadron broke through and fled; Antony followed" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 20: "Remaining fleet surrendered; Antony's legions defected to Octavian" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 23: "Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide in Alexandria (30 BCE)" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 24: "Egypt became a Roman province" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 25: "Octavian became sole ruler; Senate granted him the title Augustus (27 BCE) [^2]" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Date: 2 September 31 BCE" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Location: Ionian Sea, near Actium (western Greece)" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Belligerents: Octavian vs. Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Commanders: Agrippa (for Octavian), Antony and Cleopatra" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 17: "Octavian's fleet: ~400 ships; Antony's fleet: ~230 warships + 60 Egyptian ships" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Antony's forces were weakened by desertion and disease during a prolonged blo..." - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 19: "Cleopatra's squadron broke through and fled; Antony followed" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 20: "Remaining fleet surrendered; Antony's legions defected to Octavian" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 23: "Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide in Alexandria (30 BCE)" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "Egypt became a Roman province" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[ambiguous]` Line 12: "Belligerents: Octavian vs. Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII" - what does "VII" mean in this context?
>
- [ ] `@q[stale]` Line 25: "Octavian became sole ruler; Senate granted him the title Augustus (27 BCE) [^2]" - Lange source from 2022 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
>

105
battles/battle-of-adrianople.md Normal file
View File

@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
<!-- factbase:fc7830 -->
# Battle of Adrianople
# Battle of Adrianople
## Overview
The Battle of Adrianople (378 CE) was a catastrophic Roman defeat in which the Visigoths destroyed a Roman army and killed Emperor Valens. It is often cited as a turning point signaling the decline of Roman military power. @t[=378]
## Key Facts
- Date: 9 August 378 CE @t[=378]
- Location: Adrianople (modern Edirne, Turkey)
- Belligerents: Eastern Roman Empire vs. Visigoths
- Commanders: Emperor Valens (Rome, killed), Fritigern (Visigoths)
- Result: Decisive Visigothic victory [^1]
## The Battle
- Valens attacked without waiting for Western reinforcements under Gratian
- Roman cavalry was routed by a surprise Gothic cavalry charge
- Roman infantry was surrounded and annihilated
- ~20,000 Roman soldiers killed, including Valens himself
## Significance
- Demonstrated the vulnerability of Roman legions to heavy cavalry
- Led to the Treaty of 382 CE: Visigoths settled within the empire as *foederati* @t[=382]
- Often considered a harbinger of the fall of the Western Roman Empire [^2]
---
[^1]: Ammianus Marcellinus, *Res Gestae* 31.12–13
[^2]: Burns, T.S. *Barbarians Within the Gates of Rome* (1994)
---
## Review Queue
<!-- factbase:review -->
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Location: Adrianople (modern Edirne, Turkey)" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Belligerents: Eastern Roman Empire vs. Visigoths" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Commanders: Emperor Valens (Rome, killed), Fritigern (Visigoths)" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 14: "Result: Decisive Visigothic victory [^1]" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Valens attacked without waiting for Western reinforcements under Gratian" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Roman cavalry was routed by a surprise Gothic cavalry charge" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Roman infantry was surrounded and annihilated" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 20: "~20,000 Roman soldiers killed, including Valens himself" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 23: "Demonstrated the vulnerability of Roman legions to heavy cavalry" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 25: "Often considered a harbinger of the fall of the Western Roman Empire [^2]" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 7: Malformed temporal tag @t[=378] — see docs for valid syntax
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: Malformed temporal tag @t[=378] — see docs for valid syntax
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 24: Malformed temporal tag @t[=382] — see docs for valid syntax
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Date: 9 August 378 CE @t[=378]" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Location: Adrianople (modern Edirne, Turkey)" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Belligerents: Eastern Roman Empire vs. Visigoths" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Commanders: Emperor Valens (Rome, killed), Fritigern (Visigoths)" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 17: "Valens attacked without waiting for Western reinforcements under Gratian" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Roman cavalry was routed by a surprise Gothic cavalry charge" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 19: "Roman infantry was surrounded and annihilated" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 20: "~20,000 Roman soldiers killed, including Valens himself" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 23: "Demonstrated the vulnerability of Roman legions to heavy cavalry" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "Led to the Treaty of 382 CE: Visigoths settled within the empire as *foederat..." - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[stale]` Line 25: "Often considered a harbinger of the fall of the Western Roman Empire [^2]" - Burns source from 1994 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
>

109
battles/battle-of-cannae.md Normal file
View File

@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
<!-- factbase:05754a -->
# Battle of Cannae
# Battle of Cannae
## Overview
The Battle of Cannae (216 BCE) was Hannibal Barca's masterpiece — a devastating double envelopment of a much larger Roman army during the Second Punic War. It remains one of the most studied tactical victories in military history.
## Key Facts
- Date: 2 August 216 BCE
- Location: Cannae, Apulia (southeastern Italy)
- Belligerents: Carthage vs. Roman Republic
- Commanders: Hannibal Barca (Carthage), Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius Terentius Varro (Rome)
- Result: Decisive Carthaginian victory [^1]
## The Battle
- Romans: ~86,000; Carthaginians: ~50,000
- Hannibal placed his weakest troops in a convex center, with veteran infantry and cavalry on the flanks
- Roman advance pushed the center back into a concave shape, drawing them in
- Carthaginian flanks and cavalry closed the trap in a complete double envelopment
- Roman losses: ~50,000–70,000 killed — the worst single-day defeat in Roman history [^2]
## Legacy
- Hannibal's double envelopment became the gold standard of tactical warfare
- Despite the victory, Hannibal could not take Rome itself
- Rome eventually adopted Fabian attrition strategy and won the war
---
[^1]: Polybius, *Histories* 3.107–117
[^2]: Goldsworthy, A. *Cannae: Hannibal's Greatest Victory* (2001)
---
## Review Queue
<!-- factbase:review -->
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Date: 2 August 216 BCE" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Location: Cannae, Apulia (southeastern Italy)" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Belligerents: Carthage vs. Roman Republic" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Commanders: Hannibal Barca (Carthage), Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius Tere..." - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 14: "Result: Decisive Carthaginian victory [^1]" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Romans: ~86,000; Carthaginians: ~50,000" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Hannibal placed his weakest troops in a convex center, with veteran infantry ..." - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Roman advance pushed the center back into a concave shape, drawing them in" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 20: "Carthaginian flanks and cavalry closed the trap in a complete double envelopment" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 21: "Roman losses: ~50,000–70,000 killed — the worst single-day defeat in Roma..." - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 24: "Hannibal's double envelopment became the gold standard of tactical warfare" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 25: "Despite the victory, Hannibal could not take Rome itself" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 26: "Rome eventually adopted Fabian attrition strategy and won the war" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Date: 2 August 216 BCE" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Location: Cannae, Apulia (southeastern Italy)" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Belligerents: Carthage vs. Roman Republic" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Commanders: Hannibal Barca (Carthage), Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius Tere..." - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 17: "Romans: ~86,000; Carthaginians: ~50,000" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Hannibal placed his weakest troops in a convex center, with veteran infantry ..." - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 19: "Roman advance pushed the center back into a concave shape, drawing them in" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 20: "Carthaginian flanks and cavalry closed the trap in a complete double envelopment" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "Hannibal's double envelopment became the gold standard of tactical warfare" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 25: "Despite the victory, Hannibal could not take Rome itself" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 26: "Rome eventually adopted Fabian attrition strategy and won the war" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[stale]` Line 21: "Roman losses: ~50,000–70,000 killed — the worst single-day defeat in Roma..." - Goldsworthy source from 2001 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
>

115
battles/battle-of-gaugamela.md Normal file
View File

@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
<!-- factbase:2eca19 -->
# Battle of Gaugamela
# Battle of Gaugamela
## Overview
The Battle of Gaugamela (331 BCE) was the decisive battle in which Alexander the Great defeated the Persian King Darius III, effectively ending the Achaemenid Persian Empire.
## Key Facts
- Date: 1 October 331 BCE
- Location: Gaugamela (near modern Erbil, Iraq)
- Belligerents: Macedon vs. Persian Empire
- Commanders: Alexander the Great vs. Darius III
- Result: Decisive Macedonian victory [^1]
## The Battle
- Alexander: ~47,000 troops; Darius: ~50,000–100,000 (ancient sources claim up to 1 million)
- Darius prepared the battlefield with scythed chariots and leveled ground for cavalry
- Alexander used an oblique advance, drawing the Persian line apart
- Led a cavalry charge through a gap directly at Darius, who fled
- Persian army collapsed after Darius' flight
## Aftermath
- Alexander captured Babylon, Susa, and Persepolis
- Darius III was later murdered by his own satrap Bessus (330 BCE)
- Marked the end of the Achaemenid dynasty after ~220 years [^2]
---
[^1]: Arrian, *Anabasis of Alexander* 3.8–15
[^2]: Heckel, W. *The Conquests of Alexander the Great* (Cambridge, 2008)
---
## Review Queue
<!-- factbase:review -->
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Date: 1 October 331 BCE" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Location: Gaugamela (near modern Erbil, Iraq)" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Belligerents: Macedon vs. Persian Empire" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Commanders: Alexander the Great vs. Darius III" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 14: "Result: Decisive Macedonian victory [^1]" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Alexander: ~47,000 troops; Darius: ~50,000–100,000 (ancient sources claim u..." - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Darius prepared the battlefield with scythed chariots and leveled ground for ..." - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Alexander used an oblique advance, drawing the Persian line apart" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 20: "Led a cavalry charge through a gap directly at Darius, who fled" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 21: "Persian army collapsed after Darius' flight" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 24: "Alexander captured Babylon, Susa, and Persepolis" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 25: "Darius III was later murdered by his own satrap Bessus (330 BCE)" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 26: "Marked the end of the Achaemenid dynasty after ~220 years [^2]" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Date: 1 October 331 BCE" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Location: Gaugamela (near modern Erbil, Iraq)" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Belligerents: Macedon vs. Persian Empire" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Commanders: Alexander the Great vs. Darius III" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 17: "Alexander: ~47,000 troops; Darius: ~50,000–100,000 (ancient sources claim u..." - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Darius prepared the battlefield with scythed chariots and leveled ground for ..." - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 19: "Alexander used an oblique advance, drawing the Persian line apart" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 20: "Led a cavalry charge through a gap directly at Darius, who fled" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 21: "Persian army collapsed after Darius' flight" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "Alexander captured Babylon, Susa, and Persepolis" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 25: "Darius III was later murdered by his own satrap Bessus (330 BCE)" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[ambiguous]` Line 13: "Commanders: Alexander the Great vs. Darius III" - what does "III" mean in this context?
>
- [ ] `@q[ambiguous]` Line 25: "Darius III was later murdered by his own satrap Bessus (330 BCE)" - what does "III" mean in this context?
>
- [ ] `@q[stale]` Line 26: "Marked the end of the Achaemenid dynasty after ~220 years [^2]" - Heckel source from 2008 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
>

108
battles/battle-of-kadesh.md Normal file
View File

@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
<!-- factbase:f6391a -->
# Battle of Kadesh
# Battle of Kadesh
## Overview
The Battle of Kadesh (~1274 BCE) was fought between the Egyptian Empire under Ramesses II and the Hittite Empire under Muwatalli II near the city of Kadesh on the Orontes River (modern Syria). It is the earliest battle for which detailed tactical accounts survive from both sides.
## Key Facts
- Date: ~1274 BCE
- Location: Kadesh, on the Orontes River (modern Tell Nebi Mend, Syria)
- Belligerents: Egypt vs. Hittite Empire
- Commanders: Ramesses II (Egypt), Muwatalli II (Hittites)
- Result: Tactically indecisive; both sides claimed victory [^1]
## The Battle
- Largest chariot battle in history (~5,000–6,000 chariots total)
- Ramesses was ambushed after receiving false intelligence from Hittite spies
- Egyptian camp nearly overrun before reinforcements arrived
- Ramesses personally led a counterattack
## Aftermath
- Led to the Treaty of Kadesh (~1259 BCE), the earliest known international peace treaty
- Egypt retained influence in Canaan; Hittites kept Syria
- Ramesses commissioned extensive propaganda reliefs at Abu Simbel, Karnak, and the Ramesseum [^2]
---
[^1]: Spalinger, A. *War in Ancient Egypt* (Blackwell, 2005)
[^2]: Kitchen, K.A. *Pharaoh Triumphant* (1982)
---
## Review Queue
<!-- factbase:review -->
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Date: ~1274 BCE" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Location: Kadesh, on the Orontes River (modern Tell Nebi Mend, Syria)" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Belligerents: Egypt vs. Hittite Empire" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Commanders: Ramesses II (Egypt), Muwatalli II (Hittites)" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 14: "Result: Tactically indecisive; both sides claimed victory [^1]" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Largest chariot battle in history (~5,000–6,000 chariots total)" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Ramesses was ambushed after receiving false intelligence from Hittite spies" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Egyptian camp nearly overrun before reinforcements arrived" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 20: "Ramesses personally led a counterattack" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 23: "Led to the Treaty of Kadesh (~1259 BCE), the earliest known international pea..." - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 24: "Egypt retained influence in Canaan; Hittites kept Syria" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 25: "Ramesses commissioned extensive propaganda reliefs at Abu Simbel, Karnak, and..." - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Date: ~1274 BCE" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Location: Kadesh, on the Orontes River (modern Tell Nebi Mend, Syria)" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Belligerents: Egypt vs. Hittite Empire" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Commanders: Ramesses II (Egypt), Muwatalli II (Hittites)" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 17: "Largest chariot battle in history (~5,000–6,000 chariots total)" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Ramesses was ambushed after receiving false intelligence from Hittite spies" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 19: "Egyptian camp nearly overrun before reinforcements arrived" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 20: "Ramesses personally led a counterattack" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 23: "Led to the Treaty of Kadesh (~1259 BCE), the earliest known international pea..." - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "Egypt retained influence in Canaan; Hittites kept Syria" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[ambiguous]` Line 13: "Commanders: Ramesses II (Egypt), Muwatalli II (Hittites)" - what does "II" mean in this context?
>
- [ ] `@q[stale]` Line 14: "Result: Tactically indecisive; both sides claimed victory [^1]" - Spalinger source from 2005 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
>
- [ ] `@q[stale]` Line 25: "Ramesses commissioned extensive propaganda reliefs at Abu Simbel, Karnak, and..." - Kitchen source from 1982 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
>

102
battles/battle-of-marathon.md Normal file
View File

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
<!-- factbase:8dbea7 -->
# Battle of Marathon
# Battle of Marathon
## Overview
The Battle of Marathon (490 BCE) was a decisive Greek victory over the Persian Empire during the first Persian invasion of Greece. It demonstrated that the Persians could be defeated and became a symbol of Greek resistance.
## Key Facts
- Date: September 490 BCE
- Location: Plain of Marathon, ~40 km northeast of Athens
- Belligerents: Athens and Plataea vs. Persian Empire
- Commanders: Miltiades (Athens), Datis and Artaphernes (Persia)
- Result: Decisive Greek victory [^1]
## The Battle
- ~10,000 Athenians and ~1,000 Plataeans vs. ~25,000 Persians (estimates vary)
- Miltiades strengthened the flanks at the expense of the center
- Greek wings enveloped the Persian center in a double envelopment
- Persian losses: ~6,400; Greek losses: ~192
## Legacy
- Pheidippides' legendary run from Marathon to Athens (~40 km) inspired the modern marathon race [^2]
- Athenian burial mound (*soros*) still visible at Marathon
- Boosted Athenian confidence and democratic identity
---
[^1]: Herodotus, *Histories* 6.102–117
[^2]: Krentz, P. *The Battle of Marathon* (Yale, 2010)
---
## Review Queue
<!-- factbase:review -->
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Date: September 490 BCE" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Location: Plain of Marathon, ~40 km northeast of Athens" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Belligerents: Athens and Plataea vs. Persian Empire" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Commanders: Miltiades (Athens), Datis and Artaphernes (Persia)" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 14: "Result: Decisive Greek victory [^1]" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "~10,000 Athenians and ~1,000 Plataeans vs. ~25,000 Persians (estimates vary)" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Miltiades strengthened the flanks at the expense of the center" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Greek wings enveloped the Persian center in a double envelopment" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 20: "Persian losses: ~6,400; Greek losses: ~192" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 23: "Pheidippides' legendary run from Marathon to Athens (~40 km) inspired the mod..." - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 24: "Athenian burial mound (*soros*) still visible at Marathon" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 25: "Boosted Athenian confidence and democratic identity" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Date: September 490 BCE" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Location: Plain of Marathon, ~40 km northeast of Athens" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Belligerents: Athens and Plataea vs. Persian Empire" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Commanders: Miltiades (Athens), Datis and Artaphernes (Persia)" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 17: "~10,000 Athenians and ~1,000 Plataeans vs. ~25,000 Persians (estimates vary)" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Miltiades strengthened the flanks at the expense of the center" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 19: "Greek wings enveloped the Persian center in a double envelopment" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 20: "Persian losses: ~6,400; Greek losses: ~192" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "Athenian burial mound (*soros*) still visible at Marathon" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 25: "Boosted Athenian confidence and democratic identity" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[stale]` Line 23: "Pheidippides' legendary run from Marathon to Athens (~40 km) inspired the mod..." - Krentz source from 2010 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
>

102
battles/battle-of-thermopylae.md Normal file
View File

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
<!-- factbase:49cfd2 -->
# Battle of Thermopylae
# Battle of Thermopylae
## Overview
The Battle of Thermopylae (480 BCE) was a famous last stand by a Greek force led by King Leonidas I of Sparta against the massive Persian army of Xerxes I during the second Persian invasion of Greece.
## Key Facts
- Date: August 480 BCE (three days)
- Location: Thermopylae pass ("Hot Gates"), central Greece
- Belligerents: Greek alliance vs. Persian Empire
- Commanders: Leonidas I (Sparta), Xerxes I (Persia)
- Result: Persian victory, but costly delay [^1]
## The Battle
- ~7,000 Greeks initially held the narrow pass against ~100,000–300,000 Persians (numbers debated)
- Greeks exploited the narrow terrain to negate Persian numerical advantage
- Betrayed by Ephialtes, who revealed a mountain path to outflank the Greeks
- Leonidas dismissed most allies; ~300 Spartans, ~700 Thespians, and ~400 Thebans fought to the death
## Legacy
- Epitaph by Simonides: "Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here obedient to their laws we lie" [^2]
- Bought time for the Greek fleet at Artemisium and the subsequent victory at Salamis
- Became the archetypal story of sacrifice against overwhelming odds
---
[^1]: Herodotus, *Histories* 7.201–233
[^2]: Cartledge, P. *Thermopylae: The Battle That Changed the World* (2006)
---
## Review Queue
<!-- factbase:review -->
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Date: August 480 BCE (three days)" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Location: Thermopylae pass ("Hot Gates"), central Greece" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Belligerents: Greek alliance vs. Persian Empire" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Commanders: Leonidas I (Sparta), Xerxes I (Persia)" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 14: "Result: Persian victory, but costly delay [^1]" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "~7,000 Greeks initially held the narrow pass against ~100,000–300,000 Persi..." - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Greeks exploited the narrow terrain to negate Persian numerical advantage" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Betrayed by Ephialtes, who revealed a mountain path to outflank the Greeks" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 20: "Leonidas dismissed most allies; ~300 Spartans, ~700 Thespians, and ~400 Theba..." - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 23: "Epitaph by Simonides: "Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here o..." - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 24: "Bought time for the Greek fleet at Artemisium and the subsequent victory at S..." - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 25: "Became the archetypal story of sacrifice against overwhelming odds" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Date: August 480 BCE (three days)" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Location: Thermopylae pass ("Hot Gates"), central Greece" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Belligerents: Greek alliance vs. Persian Empire" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Commanders: Leonidas I (Sparta), Xerxes I (Persia)" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 17: "~7,000 Greeks initially held the narrow pass against ~100,000–300,000 Persi..." - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Greeks exploited the narrow terrain to negate Persian numerical advantage" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 19: "Betrayed by Ephialtes, who revealed a mountain path to outflank the Greeks" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 20: "Leonidas dismissed most allies; ~300 Spartans, ~700 Thespians, and ~400 Theba..." - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "Bought time for the Greek fleet at Artemisium and the subsequent victory at S..." - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 25: "Became the archetypal story of sacrifice against overwhelming odds" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[stale]` Line 23: "Epitaph by Simonides: "Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here o..." - Cartledge source from 2006 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
>