Last stand of the 300 - Battle of Thermopylae, 480 BC - The fight for Greece

📢 Narrated by David McCallion

🎼 Music:
Epidemic Sound
Filmstro
Impact Allegretto - Kev MacLeod

📚 Sources:
Thermopylae 480 BC, Last Stand of the 300, (2007) Nic Fields (Osprey Publishing). ISBN: 978 184176 180 0
Thermopylae: The Battle That Changed The World (2013) Paul Cartledge (Pan Books). ISBN: 978-0-330-47562-4

0:00 - Chapter 1
11:18 - Sponsored ad
13:10 - Chapter 2

#history #thermopylae #documentary

[aaropajari]

Incomplete...No mention of giant goat monsters and that guy with the crab arms.

[andrewkasma]

So you're telling me Xerxes didn't have that huge golden throne in 300? I am disappointed...

[johnbell]

They didn't need armor, they had six pack abs.

[GothPaoki]

Leonidas was a badass. In his late 50s almost 60 leading his men against impossible odds engraving his name in history and achieving immortality!

[JawsOfHistory]

What Leonidas accomplished is staggering against the odds. But I always think about the insane logistical and diplomatic achievement that was required by the Persians to transport, feed and arm an army of that size so far away from home. And on the back of a succession crises and revolt in Egypt.

[dominiquecharriere]

Leonidas and the 300 Spartans received much celebration through history, but the bravest of the bravest were no doubt the 700 Thespians who stayed with them and the 400 Thebans. The 700 Thespians represented 100% of the hoplites of their city, all the fighters Thespiae had.

[punishedvenomsnake]

So exciting to see History Marche's presentation of this most famous of battles.

We see so many popular media takes on it but it's so refreshing to see one based purely on historical and to help us become acquainted with the key personalities, strategies and tactics of both sides 🔥

[maveraunnehir]

"Come and get them" man, Leonidas already won his war.

[LookHereMars]

The story of the 302 Spartans is immortalised. Lest we also forget the seldom mentioned by name, Demophilus of Thespiae, commanding the 700 Thespians who volunteered to remain, also present were 900 Helot serfs, who also stayed with the remainder of the Greeks.
Save for two Spartiates, Aristodemes, and Pantites, the remaining 300 alongside their Captain Dienekes and the 60 year old King Leonidas, with their allies of the rear guard, died fighting tooth and nail to the very last. 400 Thebens were also present during the last stand under the command of, the also seldom mentioned, Leontiades of Thebes. However, previously to Thermopylae Thebes had been very sympathetic towards Persia and so the Thebens present were not permitted to leave with the retreating 3, 000, being instead, forced to stay under strict order of Leonidas to prove their loyalty. Upon the death of Leonidas, supposedly at the plain of the pass, Leontiades capitulated his entire force of Thebens over to the Persians, leaving the remaining 1, 900 or so Greeks to their fate, the last of which died atop Kolonos Hill.

"Tell them in Lakedaimon stranger passing by that here obedient to our word we lie." - Epitaph of the Cenotaph at Thermopylae - Simonides of Ceos, as recorded by Herodotus.

[Anima_Libera]

Go, tell the Spartans, stranger passing by
That here, obedient to their laws, we lie.

-Simonides

[Sanjn]

Here, commenting to help with the algorithm and also because I love History Marche videos.

[bryanreed]

This a fantastic representation of the actual historical sources. Really well done. Thank you!

[JayRappa]

One of those battles that never gets old to hear about. As always thanks for providing us with great and consistent content

[Anzec]

Steven E. Pressfield's "Gates of Fire" is one of my favorite books, telling the story of 300 Spartans the way they deserved. Really recommend this to anyone who is fascinated by this battle, truly one of the most heroic last stands of history.

[DrKarmo]

Great video as always y'all! You guys should consider doing a video on Plataea, for all of its importance its seldom talked about.

[Red_Snapper]

"The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant, that few stood against many, and before this battle was over, even a god-king can bleed" - Gerard Butler Scottish actor

[christosmerkouris]

The name of the traitor live until now. In modern Greek elfialtis mean nightmare

[michaelsendelback]

I thank you David and the History March team for incredibly boosting my love for military history. I actually listen to your videos when I go to the gym or before a boxing class to get my adrenaline firing and spirit fired up. Especially hearing Leonidas's reply to the Persion envoy "Come and get them." I feel ready to face a challenge. Keep it up you guys

[ldm]

Man when i think how much work y'all put in this. Creating the map, the animations, the research, great job and thank you for all the videos and making history more interesting for me.

[Krutchly]

This is probably the best description of the Battle of Thermopylae I have seen. Well done.