ORDER OF BATTLE // -489 BCE
Siege of Eretria
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
1 sides catalogued · combined 100,000–300,000 estimated
Achaemenid Empire
100,000–300,000
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Siege of Eretria took place in 490 BCE during the first Persian invasion of Greece, forming part of the Achaemenid campaign commanded by Datis and Artaphernes. The city of Eretria, situated on the island of Euboea, was targeted by a substantial Persian force estimated between 100,000 and 300,000 troops. Eretria's fate was a direct objective of the Persian expedition, which sought to punish Greek cities that had supported the Ionian Revolt. The siege represented a significant early action in the first Persian invasion, demonstrating the reach and ambition of Achaemenid power projected into the Aegean.
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