Xerxes' invasion

Xerxes' invasion refers to the military campaign led by the Persian king Xerxes I against Greece around 480 BCE during the Greco-Persian Wars. After earlier conflicts, Xerxes aimed to expand his empire and punish Athens for its role in the uprising against Persian rule. His forces, possibly numbering over a million troops, crossed the Hellespont and engaged in key battles, such as the famous stand of the Spartans at Thermopylae. Ultimately, despite initial successes, Xerxes' invasion ended in defeat, notably at the naval Battle of Salamis, marking a turning point in Greek resistance against Persian dominance.