Darius
Darius was the father of Xerxes and king of Persia from 558-486 B.C. He hated the Greeks for their revolt against persian rule. He started the Persians Wars and died at the battle of marathon
Xerxes
In 485 B.C., Xerxes was chosen over his brother to be king. He decided to turn back on his allies and make it so that he was th ultimate ruler of Persia. Xerxes had a burning hatred for Greece because of his father's death. So, he started what is known as the Battle of Thermoplaye
Battle of Thermopyle
Xerxes decides to invade greece in what will be the most know war in Greek history. Xerxes devised a plan to cross the sea using a mile long bridge formed by a series of boats connected together by planks of wood. This required a very calm sea in order for it to work. The seas were not calm and broke the bridge many times. Xerxes was so frustrated with the sea that he demanded it was whipped with a chain 300 times and then, the sea was calm. A traitor named Ephialtes told Xerxes a way around Greek forces. The Greeks new they were doomed so they decided to evacuate. They had 300 spartans stay back and fight the entire persian army to buy them some time. The spartans killed all of the persians at the battle of Salamis.