After the battle of Salamis the Persian fleet was defeated but not destroyed, and the army of Persians remained the same and does without any losses. However, the king of the Persians (Xerxes) was scared. He was afraid to lose the war and decided to quit and the army and return to Asia to avoid personal injury. Xerxes is a big part of the Army he returned to Persia. The remainder in Greece army of Persians and their allies began to lead Mardonius.
Mardonius retreated into Thessaly, wintered there, and in the spring again invaded Greece. I must say that despite the withdrawal of significant forces, the army of Persians are still much higher than that of its Greek population. Simultaneously with the appearance of the Persians in Central Greece, and moved towards them Greek army under the command of the Spartan commander Pausanias. According to the testimony of ancient historians, the Greek forces reached 100 thousand and 150 thousand Persians. The two armies met near the village board in August of 479 bc, followed by a fierce battle, which began unexpectedly on both sides. Outcome of the battle decided the personal courage of the Greeks, who stood up under fire from archers Persians, and withstood the onslaught of their cavalry. In addition Mardonius was killed during one attack. News of the death of their commander led the Persians to retreat to their camp, which was then taken by storm. Remnants of the Persian army retreated to the Hellespont. Battle of Plataea is considered one of the key history of wars of the Greeks and Persians. After it, the Persians were finally driven out of Greece.