The Ionian Revolt, Why Persia Wanted to Conquer Greece

The Ionian revolt was started in 499 BC by a Tyrant ruler of Miletus. Aristagoras gained control of the city in modern day Turkey during the reign of King Darius I of Persia. The former ruler of the city becoming an advisor to Darius. Though not recognized as the ruler of the city Aristagoras hoped that by helping to quell a revolt on the island of Naxos he would be granted that honor by the Persians. The plan failed however when he began quarreling with the admiral of the Persian fleet that was on its way to stop the rebellion.

Aristagoras after his alliances with the Persians fell apart began planning a revolt with other Ionian cities. After gaining the support of the citizen of Miletus and forming a democracy in the city which quickly spread to other Ionian cities Aristagoras went to Sparta and Athens to gain support for his rebellion from the Persians.

The Spartan King refused to help Aristagoras but the citizens of the Athenian democracy rallied around his cause and began fighting with him. While the Satrap of Lydia Artaphernes (who had previously been Aristagoras' main Persian ally) dispatched troops to attack Miletus, Aristagoras and the Athenians attacked Sardis where Artaphernes lived. While the Greeks weren't able to take the city they were able to plunder it and eventually burnt it to the ground.

It is from the burning of Sardis by the Athenians that prompted Darius I to pay attention to the Greeks. It is rumored that 3 times a day he had a servant whisper into his ear "remember the Athenians".

The rebellion gained strength after the burning of Sardis though the size and strength of the Persian army quickly managed to put it down. The rebellion came to an end after only 6 years after Miletus was captured. Aristagoras however after realizing the hopeless position he was in fled to the relative safety of Thrace, after attempting to establish a colony though he was kill by the Thracians.