Which Greek naval victory later in 480 BC destroyed much of the Persian fleet?

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The Greek naval victory that destroyed much of the Persian fleet later in 480 BC was the Battle of Salamis.

Fought in the narrow straits between the island of Salamis and mainland Attica, the battle pitted a Greek alliance led at sea by Themistocles against the fleet of Persian king Xerxes I. The Greeks were heavily outnumbered, but confined waters prevented Persia from using its numerical advantage effectively.

Themistocles reportedly used deception to persuade Xerxes that the Greek fleet was trapped and vulnerable. When Persian ships entered the straits, their formation became disorganized, allowing the more maneuverable Greek triremes to ram and board them. The victory forced Xerxes to withdraw much of his army from Greece, although fighting continued into 479 BC.

Salamis is often confused with Plataea and Mycale. Plataea was a land battle that helped end the invasion, while Mycale was a later Greek naval victory against remaining Persian forces. Salamis was the decisive naval turning point in 480 BC.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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