Xerxes (even with his reputed 2.6 million troops) went down to mortifyingly major defeat in t he Greek-Persian War of 480-479 B.C.(Uppity Women of Ancient Times, by Vicki Leon, 1995) OR "XERXES I"; GREAT KING OF PERSIA 486-485 BC; PRESENT AT BATTLES OF THERMOPYLAE AND SALAMI S 480 BC, AND PLATAEA AND MYKALE 479 BC; b. 521 BC-d. 8/465 BC