Miltiades

Miltiades, a celebrated Athenian general, who was tyrant of a colony in the Thracian Chersonesus, took part with Darius Hystaspes against the Scythians, and, when Attica was threatened by the great Persian invasion, was chosen one of the ten generals. He prevailed upon the polemarch Callimachus to give his casting vote in favour of risking a battle, and when his turn came to command drew up his army on the famous field of Marathon. The victory of the Athenians and one thousand Plataeans over the Persian host of Datis and Artaphernes is justly counted one of the decisive battles of the world. Miltiades, being entrusted anew with the command of an armament, made an attack on the island of Paros in order to gratify a private enmity, but, failing in the attempt, was on his return to Athens condemned to pay a fine of fifty talents as an indemnity for the expenses of the expedition. Being unable to do this, he was thrown into prison, where he died of a wound received at Paros. The fine was exacted after his death from his son Cimon.