Miltiades was an aristocrat from a major family of Athens who died around 488 BC. He served Athens as a general. While leading a military expedition to the Crimean peninsula (a major source of grain for the Athenians) he married Hegesipyle, the daughter of Olorus the King of Thrace. Their son Cimon was a major figure of the 470s and 460s.
Miltiades was elected one of the 10 generals (strategoi) for 490/489, and is often credited with the tactics that defeated the Persians in the Battle of Marathon that year.