Datis

<p>Datis or Datus  was a <a href="/facts/Media_(region)/PNxgSflJ">Median</a> <a href="/facts/Nobility/WLPIA8GT">noble</a> and <a href="/facts/Admiral/yVklo91m">admiral</a> who served the <a href="/facts/Achaemenid_Empire/avlzWxF0">Persian Empire</a> during the reign of <a href="/facts/Darius_the_Great/SnfdjGyK">Darius the Great</a> (522–486 BC). He is known for his role in leading the Persian amphibious expedition against Greece in 490 BC during the <a href="/facts/Greco-Persian_Wars/avlfmxyh">Greco-Persian Wars</a>. Along with Darius's nephew <a href="/facts/Artaphernes/02eVVevV">Artaphernes</a>, he was tasked with subduing <a href="/facts/Eretria/dQwcRSmG">Eretria</a> and <a href="/facts/Athens/mBxlp8X1">Athens</a>, succeeding the previously defeated <a href="/facts/Mardonius_(nephew_of_Darius_I)/nmL6MS0Q">Mardonius</a>.
</p><p>While some later sources claim Datis died during the <a href="/facts/Battle_of_Marathon/mjCJpGoG">Battle of Marathon</a> (490), this is not corroborated by other evidence. His later career is largely unknown except that his sons served as cavalry leaders under <a href="/facts/Xerxes_I/477I20nQ">Xerxes I</a> (486–465 BC). Datis was familiar with Greek affairs, maintained connections with Greek officials, respected Greek deities, and even attempted to speak Greek.
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Datis open-in-new

Datis