Xerxes: Hollywood’s Villain, History’s Strategist

History didn’t need a villain. Hollywood did. And they chose Xerxes I.

In 480 BCE, Xerxes ruled the largest empire the world had ever seen. From India to Egypt.

From Central Asia to the Aegean. This wasn’t chaos. It was control. Greece wasn’t his

equal. It was a fractured frontier. Athens had funded revolts inside Persian

lands. That made Greece a problem. Xerxes didn’t march west for glory.

He marched to enforce order. At Thermopylae, the Spartans fought bravely.

You already know that story. What you don’t hear is this. Persia won.

The pass fell. The road opened. Athens was captured and burned. The real mistake