Aristagoras was
looking after Miletus, a small city on the Ionian coast as their
King Histiaeus was currently in Susa. Long standing friends who
had just become exiles from Naxos spoke to him to ask for help.
If they could reclaim Naxos they would willingly fall under the
yoke of Darius and the Persian
rule. (up until this time the Cyclades
were free from Persian rule) The
exiles had no money but would more than compensate if they got
control of Naxos
This sounded very intriging
to Aristagoras who likened the idea of being lord of Naxos. He organised
the son of Histiaeus to go to Darius
and ask for 100 ships saying that he would pay for the war. The
message came back that he could have 200.
All seemed well with all on
board and Megabates in command.
Things started to go sour
when on their way to Naxos Aristagoras and Megabates didn't get on and
the power struggle between them only fueled the fire. More problems
arose when they landed on Naxos and everybody had fled behind
the city walls ready for a seige when Aristagoras and the exiles were
hoping for a surprise landing. Needless to say, the Naxians didn't
greet them or the exiles with open arms
After four months of siege
warfare the Persian supplies began to run out, they hadn't planned
on this. Now the situation began to hit Aristagoras, the expedition had
failed, they returned unseccessful.
