In 480 BCE Xerxes I took on the city states of Greece in two historic battles. In one, the Battle of Thermopylae, his (possibly) 300,000-strong army was triumphant, but at great cost and against what legend tells us was only 300 Spartans, led by King Leonidas (estimates vary, but 7,000 men seems more likely). Meanwhile, in the straits between the island of Salamis and the port of Piraeus, Xerxes’ navy was crushed by the Athenians at the Battle of Salamis. In neither battle did Xerxes himself take the field, but history records the names of very few of his commanders. One who stands out, having warned the emperor against a battle at sea with Athens and being one of the few to exit the conflict with any praise, is Queen…