Datus (Greece)

Datus was an ancient Persian general who served under King Darius I during the First Persian invasion of Greece in 490 BC. He is primarily known for his role in the campaign that culminated in the Battle of Marathon.

Datus, along with Artaphernes, was entrusted with leading the Persian expedition across the Aegean Sea. Their forces targeted various Greek islands, including Naxos and Delos, before landing on the plain of Marathon. The specific details of his command structure and tactical decisions are limited in surviving historical accounts, which primarily come from Greek sources such as Herodotus.

Despite the lack of extensive biographical information, Datus's involvement in the Marathon campaign secures his place in the historical narrative of the Greco-Persian Wars. His presence signifies the scale and ambition of the Persian empire's initial attempts to exert control over mainland Greece. Following the Persian defeat at Marathon, Datus disappears from historical record, and his fate remains unknown. His importance lies in representing a key figure in the initial Persian offensive against Greece.