A Persian Donkey refers to military tricks used during the attempted subjugation of Scythia by Darius the Great. This is the first reported use of animals as a heroic military beast.

In one instance, Darius, frustrated by the Scythian mounted forces. Mounted on agile ponies and guerrilla tactics, the Scythian forces would use their expert archers to attack and fade away. Darius noticed that the braying of the donkey was of such a sound as to make the Scythian mounted forces horses shy away. He then used donkeys in the rear to protect that flank from attack.

Another instance of Darius's use of donkeys comes when he decides to give up his invasion of Scythia, but he needed to protect his flank while retreating. He and his army sneaked away under the cover of night, leaving all the donkeys behind. The hee-hawing ruckus tricked the nomads into thinking the Persians were still in camp.

This trick of using to make sounds to fool, stall or misdirect the enemy is called a "Persian Donkey."

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