The Persian Prince’s Oath
The grand palace of Persepolis sparkled in the morning sun. Young Prince Xerxes stood at his window, watching soldiers train in the courtyard below. His heart felt heavy.
"My prince," a servant called softly. "The king requests your presence."
Xerxes found his father, King Darius, slumped on his golden throne. The king's face showed deep worry lines that hadn't been there before.
"Come closer, my son," Darius said. His voice trembled slightly. "I must tell you about Marathon."
Young Xerxes listened as his father described the battle. The Greeks had been clever. They waited until just the right moment, then charged down the hill at the Persian army. Many brave Persian soldiers died that day.
"But father," Xerxes said, "why didn't our huge army win? We had so many more soldiers!"
Darius shook his head sadly. "Sometimes, son, having more soldiers isn't enough. The Greeks fought for their homes. They fought with their whole hearts."
Xerxes felt his face grow hot with anger. "This isn't right! Nobody should beat Persia. We are the strongest!"
"My thoughts exactly," Darius smiled weakly. "That's why I want you to promise me something."
A Sacred Promise
The king stood up slowly and placed his hands on Xerxes' shoulders. The young prince could feel how important this moment was.
"Promise me you will make things right," Darius said. "Promise me you will show Greece the true power of Persia."
Xerxes stood tall and proud. "I promise, father. When I am king, I will build the biggest army ever seen. I will conquer all of Greece!"
Planning Begins
That very day, Xerxes started learning everything he could about:
• War planning
• Ship building
• Army training
• Greek lands
• Battle tricks
He spent hours with the wisest teachers in Persia. They taught him how to lead armies and make battle plans.
"Your highness," his favorite teacher said one day, "you must think big! No one has ever gathered an army as large as what you want."
Xerxes smiled. "That's exactly why it will work. The Greeks won't expect it."
Dreams of Victory
At night, Xerxes would dream about marching into Athens. He could see himself standing on top of the Acropolis, the great hill in the middle of the city. Persian flags would wave in the wind. Everyone would know that Persia was the strongest empire in the world.
"I will make you proud, father," he whispered to himself. "I will make all of Persia proud."
As days passed into months, and months into years, Xerxes grew stronger and wiser. He never forgot his promise. Every morning, he would look at his maps of Greece and plan his great victory.
The young prince was becoming a mighty king. Soon, very soon, all of Greece would learn to fear the name Xerxes.
Building the Greatest Army
The morning sun cast long shadows across the Persian desert. King Xerxes stood on a hill, watching thousands of soldiers march into his camp. Warriors came from every corner of his mighty empire.
The Great Gathering
“Look, my king!” General Mardonius pointed to the horizon. “The Immortals are arriving!”
Xerxes smiled as he watched his best warriors march in perfect rows. The Immortals were his special army of 10,000 men. They got their name because whenever one soldier fell, another would take his place – like they could never die! ⚔️
“How many soldiers do we have now?” Xerxes asked.
Mardonius checked his counting tablets. “Over 100,000 warriors, my king. And more arrive every day!”
Building Amazing Things
But Xerxes knew soldiers weren’t enough. He needed special buildings too. He called his best builders together.
“We must build a bridge across the sea,” he told them. “And dig a big canal for our ships!”
The builders looked worried. “But king,” one said, “nobody has ever built such things before!”
Xerxes stood tall. “Then we will be the first! My father always said Persians can do anything.”
The Bridge Across the Sea
Hundreds of workers started building the biggest bridge ever seen. They tied boats together with strong ropes. Then they put wooden boards across the top.
“This bridge will be so strong, our whole army can walk across the sea!” Xerxes declared proudly.
Training the Army
While the builders worked, Xerxes watched his soldiers train. Every day they:
• Practiced fighting moves
• Learned to work together
• Got stronger and faster
• Learned about Greek fighters
• Prepared their weapons
Xerxes walked among his troops, talking to them and sharing meals. He wanted every soldier to feel special.
“My brave warriors,” he would say, “soon we will show Greece how strong we are!”
Getting Ready to March
After many months, everything was ready. The bridge stood strong across the sea. The canal was deep enough for ships. The army was trained and eager to fight.
“Tomorrow,” Xerxes announced to his generals, “we begin our march to Greece!”
That night, Xerxes couldn’t sleep. He thought about his father and the promise he made. He thought about the great battles ahead.
“Watch me, father,” he whispered. “I have built the biggest army ever seen. Greece will never forget the day Xerxes came to their lands!”
As the stars twinkled above his tent, the mighty king dreamed of victory. Soon, very soon, his great adventure would begin.
The Great March Begins
The sun had not yet risen when Xerxes gave the order. Thousands of torches lit up the darkness as his mighty army began to cross the bridge over the sea.
Crossing the Bridge
“Look at our mighty bridge!” Xerxes said proudly to his generals. “It’s like a road made of boats!”
The soldiers marched in rows across the wooden planks. Their feet made a thunder-like sound: *boom* *boom* *boom*
“Be careful, my warriors!” Xerxes called out. “Walk slowly and steady!”
Meeting New Friends and Enemies
As they entered Greek lands, some cities welcomed them with open arms. Other cities closed their gates and said “No!” to Xerxes.
“Join us,” Xerxes would say to each city. “Be part of our big family of nations!”
Many smaller cities agreed. They gave Xerxes gifts of earth and water to show they would be his friends. But the bigger cities, like Athens and Sparta, sent back angry messages.
The First Test
One day, a scout rushed to Xerxes’ tent. “My king! The Greeks are gathering soldiers at a place called Thermopylae!”
Xerxes looked at his map. Thermopylae was a narrow path between tall mountains and the sea. Only a few soldiers could walk through it at once.
“They think they can stop us there,” General Mardonius said. “What should we do?”
Xerxes stood up tall. “We will show them how strong we are! Get the army ready to march!”
Getting Ready for Battle
The Persian army prepared for their first big fight. Here’s what they did:
• Sharpened their swords and spears
• Put on their best armor
• Gathered their arrows
• Fed and watered their horses
• Said prayers for victory
The Night Before
That evening, Xerxes climbed a hill to look at the Greek position. In the distance, he could see their campfires burning.
“Tomorrow,” he thought, “we will meet these brave Greeks who dare to stand against us.”
A cool wind blew across the camp as soldiers tried to sleep. Some told stories about home, while others sang quiet songs. Everyone knew that tomorrow would bring their biggest test yet.
Xerxes sat in his golden tent, planning with his generals. Maps spread out before them showed the narrow pass of Thermopylae.
“The Greeks think this place will protect them,” Xerxes said. “But they don’t know how strong we are. Tomorrow, we will show them!”
As night fell, both armies waited for the morning sun. The great battle of Thermopylae was about to begin! ⚔️
The Stand at Thermopylae
The morning sun sparkled on bronze shields as King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans stood ready. Their muscles were strong, and their spears were sharp. ️
The Brave Spartans
“Hold the line!” King Leonidas shouted. His voice was loud and brave. “Remember your training!”
The Spartans locked their shields together like a wall. They knew this small pass was the perfect place to stop Xerxes’ big army.
The First Attack
Xerxes sat on his golden throne and watched. “Go forward!” he ordered his soldiers. “Push through that tiny gap!”
The Persian warriors ran at the Spartans. But something amazing happened:
• The Spartans didn’t move one inch
• Their shield wall was too strong
• The Persian soldiers couldn’t get through
• Many Persian soldiers fell back
Three Days of Fighting
“This is impossible!” Xerxes said, jumping up from his throne. His face was red with anger.
“My king,” said a general, “these Spartans are the best warriors in all of Greece. They train for battle their whole lives!”
For three days, the fighting went on. The Spartans fought like lions. They pushed back every attack Xerxes sent at them.
The Secret Path
Then one night, a Greek man named Ephialtes came to Xerxes’ tent.
“My king,” he whispered, “I know a secret path. It goes around the mountain. Your soldiers can use it to surprise the Spartans from behind!”
Xerxes smiled. This was the chance he had been waiting for!
The Last Stand
The next morning, King Leonidas saw Persian soldiers coming from both sides. He knew what had happened.
“Brave Spartans!” he called out. “Today we fight for glory!”
The Spartans fought harder than ever. They knew this would be their last battle, but they weren’t scared. They wanted to show everyone how brave Spartans could be.
Victory at a Price
When the fighting was over, Xerxes had won. But he wasn’t happy. The bravery of the Spartans had shocked him.
“These Greeks,” he said to his generals, “they fight like tigers for their land.”
That night, Xerxes couldn’t sleep. He kept thinking about the brave Spartans. He had won the battle, but something told him that winning all of Greece wouldn’t be easy.
As the Persian army marched forward, they left behind a story that people would tell forever – the story of 300 brave Spartans who stood against the mightiest army in the world. ⚔️
Battles on the Sea
The salty breeze whipped across Xerxes’ face as he watched his mighty ships float on the blue waters. After winning at Thermopylae, he was ready for his next big fight.
The First Sea Battle
“Our ships are ready, great king,” Admiral Artemisia said. She was one of Xerxes’ bravest commanders. “The Greek ships are hiding near Artemisium.”
Xerxes nodded. “Then let’s show them the power of Persia on the waves!”
Storm and Strategy
But Mother Nature had other plans! A huge storm came up, with waves as tall as houses. ️
“The gods are angry!” some sailors cried as their ships crashed against the rocks.
The storm destroyed many Persian ships. The Greek ships, which were smaller and faster, knew the waters better. They stayed safe in their hidden bays.
The Battle Dance
When the storm cleared, the real battle began. The ships moved like dancers on the water:
• Persian ships tried to surround the Greeks
• Greek ships darted in and out like fish
• Arrows flew through the air
• Brave sailors jumped from ship to ship
Clever Themistocles
The Greek leader Themistocles had a clever plan. “Let them follow us into the narrow waters near Salamis,” he told his captains.
“But why?” they asked.
“Because their big ships will get stuck there!” Themistocles smiled. “Our smaller ships can move better in tight spaces.”
The Trap at Salamis
Xerxes watched from a golden throne on a hill. His ships sailed into the narrow strait, just as Themistocles hoped they would.
Suddenly, the Greek ships attacked from all sides! The Persian ships were too big to turn around. They bumped into each other like toys in a bathtub.
“No!” Xerxes shouted. He could only watch as his mighty fleet got trapped.
A Hard Choice
Admiral Artemisia fought bravely, but even she knew this battle was lost. Many Persian ships sank beneath the waves.
“Great King,” she said to Xerxes that night, “perhaps we should think about going home.”
Xerxes looked out at his broken ships. The Greeks had proved stronger than he thought. Maybe it was time to make a new plan.
Lessons on the Waves
As the moon rose over the quiet sea, Xerxes learned an important lesson. Sometimes the biggest army doesn’t always win. Sometimes the cleverer plan is better than the stronger force.
The battle of Salamis changed everything. The mighty Persian navy had met its match in the clever Greek sailors. And now, Xerxes had to decide what to do next.
But that’s a story for another time… ⚓
The Price of Pride
The sun set blood-red over the Persian camp. Xerxes sat alone in his tent, his golden crown feeling heavier than ever.
A Quiet Talk
“My king,” Artemisia spoke softly as she entered. “The soldiers are waiting to hear what we’ll do next.”
Xerxes looked up, his eyes tired. “When I was a boy, I thought being a great king meant winning every battle.”
“Sometimes being great means knowing when to stop,” she answered wisely.
The Hard Truth
Outside, the camp was quiet. Many soldiers were gone. Some had died in battle. Others had gotten sick or hurt. The mighty army that had crossed the bridge of boats was now much smaller.
“We came to conquer Greece, but Greece taught us something instead,” Xerxes said. “They taught us that a small group fighting for their home can be stronger than a huge army.”
The Journey Home
As the stars came out, Xerxes made his choice. “Tomorrow, we go home.”
The army packed up their tents. They gathered their shields and spears. The long walk back to Persia began.
Looking Back
Things that Xerxes learned from his big adventure:
• Sometimes the bravest thing is knowing when to stop
• Big doesn't always mean better
• Home is worth fighting for
• Pride can be dangerous
• True strength comes in many forms
A Different Kind of Victory
Back in Persia, Xerxes became a different kind of king. He built beautiful gardens instead of armies. He made art and poetry instead of war.
“Tell me about Greece,” his children would ask.
“It’s a land of brave people,” he would answer. “They taught me that the greatest conquest is learning to be wise.”
The Story Lives On
Many years later, people still tell stories about Xerxes and his mighty army. They tell about the brave Greeks who defended their home. They talk about the battles on land and sea.
But most importantly, they tell about how a proud king learned that true greatness isn’t about conquering others – it’s about conquering yourself. ⭐
And somewhere in Greece, the waves still crash against the shores of Salamis. The wind still whispers through the pass at Thermopylae. The land remembers the story of how a small group of brave people stood up to the biggest army in the world.
As for Xerxes? He found his own kind of victory – not in conquest, but in wisdom. And that’s a victory that lasts forever.