What did Xerxes demand from Leonidas and the Greeks?

Xerxes, the Persian king, demanded that Leonidas and the Greeks surrender and submit to Persian rule, offering them a chance to join his forces in exchange for their safety. He sought their weapons and insisted on their loyalty, aiming to subdue the Greek city-states through intimidation. Leonidas famously refused, choosing instead to fight for Greek freedom and honor, which led to the historic Battle of Thermopylae.