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The battle of Salamis, in c.497, was a land
and sea battle on Cyprus, won by the Persians on land and the Cypriotes and
their Ionian allies at sea. In 499 the Greek cities of Ionian revolted against
Persian authority. Early in the campaigning season of 498 they attacked and
burnt Sardis, the capital of the satrapy of Lydia, and although they were then
forced to retreat and suffered a defeat near Ephesus (498 BC), the daring
attack helped convince other Greek cities to join the revolt. Amongst them were
the Greek kingdoms of Cyprus, led by Onesilus of Salamis. After the outbreak of
the Ionian revolt he had overthrown his brother Gorgus, king of Salamis, who
had refused to risk taking on Persia, and convinced most of the rest of Cyprus
to join the revolt. He then began a siege of Amathus, the only important city
that hadn't joined the revolt. Control of Cyprus was essential to Persian naval
operations in the eastern Mediterranean. The Persians sent an army and a
Phoenician fleet to re-conquer the island. Onesilus responded by sending
appeals for help to each of the Ionian cities, and the Ionians decided to sent
a fleet to support their fellow rebels. The result was a land and sea battle,
probably fought in the summer of 497 BC. The Persians landed on Cyprus and
marched across the island towards Salamis. This probably forced the rebels to
lift the siege of Amathus, and they concentrated their forces at Salamis. The
Ionian fleet had also arrived, and the Cyprians offered them the choice of
where they wanted to fight, on land or at sea. The Ionians chose to fight at
sea. The two battles had very different results. At sea the Ionians won a major
victory, with the Samians getting a special mention in Herodotus. This victory
eliminated Persian naval power for a few years, and probably played a part in
the duration of the revolt. On land the rebels made a stand on the plain of
Salamis. They placed their best troops, from Salamis and Soli, opposite the
Persian troops, while the remaining Cyprian troops faced the other contingents
in the Persian army. Onesilus deliberately placed himself opposite the Persian
commander Artybius. According to Herodotus Onesilius successfully killed
Artybius, while his esquire killed the Persian general's horse. However
elsewhere on the field the Cyprian army was undermined by treachery. Stesenor,
tyrant of Curium, who commanded one of the larger contingents, turned traitor.
He was followed by the war chariots from Salamis, suggesting that Onesilius's
control over his own city had never been very secure. With two important
contigents of their own army turning against them the rebels suffered a very
heavy defeat. Onesilus was amongst the dead, as was Aristocyprus, king of Soli.
This battle gave the Persians the edge on Cyprus. Salamis welcomed Gorgus back
into power, and the other Greek cities were soon under attack. The Ionians were
unable to offer any more help, while the Persians had the support of the
Phoenician cities of Cyprus. The war on Cyprus turned into a series of sieges,
ending with the fall of Paphos and Soli (c.497).
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