I See Xerxes As An Effective King Or Bumbling Tyrant

Xerxes the Great, King of Persia and Media, Pharaoh of Egypt, the Great King, the King of Kings, and King of Nations. Throughout history, the view of Xerxes has varied, and depending on which historian you spoke to, and their context, you would hear a completely different story. Some said Xerxes signalled the downfall of the Persian empire, but others say he was an effective king marred by plain bad luck. It is my goal to delve into the vast range of sources on Xerxes and his reign, rise to prominence, and eventual assassination. From this I will not discover the definitive truth; only one interpretation of it. However, I will come to a conclusion as to whether I see Xerxes as an effective king or bumbling tyrant. Xerxes was the son of†¦show more content†¦His opponents, a group of allied Greek city states, appeared to be an easy target; as in the 10 years following the Ionian revolts, the Greeks did nothing to prepare or protect against future conflict which was clearly inevitable. Xerxes was also well aware of his vastly superior numbers. The leader of the aforementioned alliance, King Leonidas, whilst a Spartan, did not concern Xerxes to a great extent; as due to his own nation s unbending loyalty to its religious festivals, meant that their participation in warfare would be limited- and in the Battle of Thermopylae, it was estimated only 300 Spartans actually fought. (As a side note, modern historians such as (confirm source) attribute as many as 1000 Spartans to the battle of Thermopylae. As a whole, King Leonidas only contribution to the war was his death; and his efforts did little to improve Greece s position. [Hellespont/getting to greece] The second Persian invasion of Greece was an incredibly vast attack, featuring several battles; the most important of which being the battles of Thermopylae, Salamis, and Plataea. Xerxes spent three years preparing with patience, working through diplomatic and military preparations. His first act during the invasion which brings his ability into question was the crossing of the Hellespont. It is frequently used as evidence of Xerxes insanity, and his lust for conquering nature itself, potentially wanting to be seen as a god.