e Hellespont--not only
those of Asia but likewise those of Europe--the Carians and Caunians of
the south-western coast--even the distant Cyprians broke into rebellion;
the Scythians took heart and made a plundering raid through the Great
King's Thracian territories;4 vassal monarchs, like Miltiades, assumed
independence, and helped themselves to some of the fragments of the
Empire that seemed falling to pieces. If a great man, a Miltiades or
a Leondias, had been at the head of the movement, and if it had been
decently supported from the European side, a successful issue might
probably have been secured.

But Aristagoras was unequal to the occasion; and the struggle for
independence, which had promised so fair, was soon put down. Despite a
naval victory gained by the Greeks over the Phoenician fleet off Cyprus,
that island was recovered by the Persians within a year. Despite a
courage and a perseverance worthy of a better fate, the Carians were
soon afterwards forced to succumb. The reduction of the Hellespontine
Greeks and of the AEolians followed. The toils now closed around Ionia,
and her cities began to be attacked one by one; whereupon the incapable
Aristagoras, deserting the falling cause, betook himself to Europe,
where a just Nemesis pursued him: he died by a Thracian sword. After
this the climax soon arrived. Persia concentrated her strength upon
Miletus, the cradle of the revolt, and the acknowledged chief of the
cities; and though her sister states came gallantly to her aid, and a
fleet was collected which made it for a while doubtful which way victory
might incline, yet all was of no avail. Laziness and insubordination
began and treachery completed the work which all the force of Persia
might have failed to accomplish; the combined Ionian fleet was totally
defeated in the battle of Lade; and soon after Miletus herself fell.
The bulk of her inhabitants were transported into inner Asia and settled
upon the Persian Gulf. The whole Ionian coast was ravaged, and the
cities punished by the loss of their most beautiful maidens and youths.
The islands off the coast were swept of their inhabitants. The cities on
the Hellespont and Sea of Marmora were burnt. Miltiades barely escaped
from the Chersonese with the loss of his son and his kingdom. The flames
of rebellion were everywhere ruthlessly trampled out; and the power
of the Great King was once more firmly established over the coasts and
islands of the Propontis and