Persia: The Battle of Thermopylae was fought between the invading Persian army under the command of the Persian King, Xerxes. Click Here to read more about the Persian history and the army Xerxes bought on the invasion of Greece leading up to the Battle of Thermopylae.
	Greek Alliance: Upon the launch of the invasion of Greece King Xerxes had sent diplomatic envoys to all the principle Greek city states offering them the option of peacefully joinning the Persian Empire as subjects or face invasion by his army. Most states in the north did just that, but Athens, Sparta and a coalition of other city states would not bow and chose to fight instead. Click Here to read about the advance army the coalition put together to fight the Persians at the Battle of Thermopylae.