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f his friend； carried him with the rest of the court to Susa。 This apparently trivial circumstance was attended with important consequences to the Persian empire and to the whole Grecian race。
For the next few years everything remained quiet in the Greek cities of Asia； but about B。C。 502 a revolution in Naxos； one of the islands in the AEgean Sea； first disturbed the general repose； and occasioned the war between Greece and Asia。 The aristocratical exiles； who had been driven out of Naxos by a rising of the people； applied for aid to Aristagoras； the tyrant of Miletus and the son…in…law of Histiaeus。 Aristagoras readily promised his assistance； knowing that； if they were restored by his means； he should become master of the island。 He obtained the co…operation of Artaphernes； the satrap of western Asia by holding out to him the prospect of annexing not only Naxos； but all the islands of the AEgean sea； to the Persian empire。 He offered at the same time to defray the expense of the armament。 Artaphernes placed at his disposal a fleet of 200 ships under the command of Megabates； a Persian of high rank； but Aristagoras having affronted the Persian admiral； the latter revenged himself by privately informing the Naxians of the object of the expedition； which had hitherto been kept a secret。 When the Persian fleet reached Naxos they experienced a vigorous resistance； and at the end of four months they were compelled to abandon the enterprise and return to Miletus。 Aristagoras was now threatened with utter ruin。 Having deceived Artaphernes； and incurred the enmity of Megabates； he could expect no favour from the Persian government； and might be called upon at any moment to defray the expenses of the armament。 In these difficulties he began to think of exciting a revolt of his countrymen； and while revolving the project he received a message from his father…in… law； Histiaeus； urging him to this very step。 Afraid of trusting any one with so dangerous a message； Histiaeus had shaved the head of a trusty slave； branded upon it the necessary words； and as soon as the hair had grown again sent him off to Miletus。 His only motive for urging the Ionians to revolt was the desire of escaping from captivity at Susa； thinking that Darius would set him at liberty in order to put down an insurrection of his countrymen。 The message from Histiaeus fixed the wavering resolution of Aristagoras。 He forthwith called together the leading citizens of Miletus； laid before them the project of revolt； and asked them for advice。 They all approved of the scheme； with the exception of Hecataeus； one of the earliest Greek historians。 Aristagoras laid down the supreme power in Miletus； and nominally resigned to the people the management of their own affairs。 A democratical form of government was established in the other Greek cities of Asia； which thereupon openly revolted from Persia （B。C。 500）。
Aristagoras now resolved to cross over to Greece； in order to solicit assistance。 The Spartans； to whom he first applied； refused to take any part in the war； but at Athens he met with a very different reception。 The Athenians sympathised with the Ionians as their kinsmen and colonists； and were incensed against the satrap Artaphernes； who had recently commanded them to recall Hippias。 Accordingly they voted to send a squadron of twenty ships to the assistance of the Ionians； and in the following year （B。C。 499） this fleet； accompanied by five ships from Eretria in Euboea； crossed the AEgean。 The troops landed at Ephesus； and； being reinforced by a strong body； of Ionians； marched upon Sardis。 Artaphernes was taken unprepared； and not having sufficient troops to man the walls； he retired into the citadel； leaving the town a prey to the invaders。 Accordingly they entered it unopposed； and while engaged in pillage； one of the soldiers set fire to a house。 As most of the houses were built of wickerwork and thatched with straw； the flames rapidly spread； and in a short time the whole city was in flames。 The Greeks； on their return to the coast； were overtaken by a large Persian force and defeated with great slaughter。 The Athenians hastened on board their ships and sailed home。
When Darius heard of the burning of Sardis； he burst into a paroxysm of rage。 It was against the obscure strangers who had dared to burn one of his capitals that his wrath was chiefly directed。 〃The Athenians！〃 he exclaimed； 〃who are they？〃 Upon being informed he took his bow； shot an arrow high into the air； saying； 〃Grant me； Jove； to take vengeance upon the Athenians！〃 And he charged one of his attendants to remind him thrice every day at dinner 〃Sire； remember the Athenians。〃 Meantime the insurrection spread to the Greek cities in Cyprus； as well as to those on the Hellespont and the Propontis； and seemed to promise permanent independence to the Asiatic Greeks； but they were no match for the whole power of the Persian empire； which was soon brought against them。 Cyprus was subdued； and siege laid to the cities upon the coast of Asia。 Aristagoras now began to despair； and basely deserted his countrymen； whom he had led into peril。 Collecting a large body of Milesians； he set sail for the Thracian coast； where he was slain under the walls of a town to which he had laid siege。 Soon after his departure； his father… in…law； Histiaeus came down to the coast。 The artful Greek not only succeeded in removing the suspicions which Darius first entertained respecting him； but he persuaded the king to send him into Ionia； in order to assist the Persian generals in suppressing the rebellion。 Artaphernes； however； was not so easily deceived as his master； and plainly accused Histiaeus of treachery when the latter arrived at Sardis。 〃I will tell you how the facts stand〃 said Artaphernes to Histiaeus； 〃it was you who made the shoe； and Aristagoras has put it on。〃 Finding himself unsafe at Sardis； he escaped to the island of Chios； but he was regarded with suspicion by all parties。 At length he obtained eight galleys from Lesbos； with which he sailed towards Byzantium； and carried on piracies as well against the Grecian as the barbarian vessels。 This unprincipled adventurer met with a traitor's death。 Having landed on the coast of Mysia； he was surprised by a Persian force and made prisoner。 Being carried to Sardis； Artaphernes at once caused him to be crucified； and sent his head to Darius； who ordered it to be honourably buried； condemning the ignominious execution of the man who had once saved the life of the Great King。
In the sixth year of the revolt （B。C。 495）； when several Grecian cities had already been taken by the Persians； Artaphernes laid siege to Miletus by sea and by land。 A naval engagement took place at Lade a small island off Miletus； which decided the fate of the war。 The Samians deserted at the commencement of the battle； and the Ionian fleet was completely defeated。 Miletus was soon afterwards taken； and was treated with signal severity。 Most of the males were slain； and the few who escaped the sword were carried with the women and children into captivity （B。C。 494）。 The other Greek cities in Asia and the neighbouring islands were treated with the same cruelty。 The islands of Chios； Lesbos； and Tenedos were swept of their inhabitants； and the Persian fleet sailed up to the Hellespont and Propontis； carrying with it fire and sword。 The Athenian Miltiades only escaped falling into the power of the Persians by a rapid flight to Athens。
The subjugation of Ionia was now complete。 This was the third time that the Asiatic Greeks had been conquered by a foreign power： first by the Lydian Croesus； secondly by the generals of Cyrus； and lastly by those of Darius。 It was from the last that they suffered most； and they never fully recovered their former prosperity。
Darius was now at liberty to take vengeance upon the Athenians。 He appointed Mardonius to succeed Artaphernes as satrap in western Asia； and he placed under his command a large armament； with injunctions to bring to Susa those Athenians and Eretrians who had insulted the authority of the Great King。 Mardonius； after crossing the Hellespont； commenced his march through Thrace and Maced