The Legendary Spartan King Leonidas

Without Leonidas’ great stand and self-sacrifice in the battle against the Persian invaders, most probably Ancient Greece as we know it today with its important cultural legacy would not exist.

The battle of Thermopylae, even if it ended in defeat for the Spartan leader and his 300 Spartiates (elite Spartan forces), would prove to be decisive for the survival of the Greek World, because it offered precious time for the remaining free Greek City-States to organize an effective resistance against the invading forces led by King Xerxes I.

King Leonidas (son of the lion) was the son of the great Spartan leader Anaxandridas II (560-520 B.C) and half-brother of King Cleomenes I.

Being the leader of Sparta and a Central figure of the Peloponnesian league meant that he could use his immense reputation and prestige to try to organize a united Greek front for the big fight against the Persians.

That is what exactly Leonidas manage to achieve, in 481 B.C, Sparta along with Athens organized a Congress in which other 29 city-states participated. The main result of this Congress, which probably took place in the city of Corinth, was the foundation of the Hellenic League.

The Hellenic League was the first time in the History of Ancient Greece, when the many City-States tried to rally under a single banner.

Because Sparta held military supremacy on land, it was decided that Leonidas would be the supreme commander of the united Greek forces, while Athens would focus its efforts on building a massive naval force to counter the Persians at sea.

Being a skilled military commander, Leonidas realized that the only chance for the united Greek army to be able to hold against the Persians was to organize a solid defensive line by using the favorable terrain as best as possible.

The location chosen for the decisive battle was the Thermoylae pass.

According to Herodotus, Leonidas was commanding a united force of approximately 6000 troops: the 300 Spartiates were supported by 1000 Peloponnesian perioikoi, 500 Tegeans, 500 Mantineans, 1.200 troops from Arkadia, 400 Corinthians, 200 Phlians, and 80 Mycenaeans. These are according to Herodotus the Peloponnesian units of the combined Greek army.

These units were joined by 700 Thespians, 400 Thebans and 1000 Phocians.

As we all know, the Thermopylae pass and Leonidas skill in building a massive shield wall blocked the advance of Xerxes forces for 3 days.

Leonidas could’ve hoped to hold the Persian troops for many more days, unfortunately for the Spartan leader and his troops, the Persians with the help of a Greek local, manage to find a way to flank their position.

The fate of the Greek troops was now sealed, the main force decided to pull back, while the 300 Spartiates along with the Thespians, Thebans and Mykenaians forces decided to stay and fight to the end.

Leonidas’ mission now dramatically changed, from holding against Xerxes I to inflicting as much damage as possible to the Persian forces before dying.

Leonidas and his forces fought valiantly until the end, and even after he fell in battle, his loyal Spartans fought to retrieve his body four times after repulsing the Persian attacks.

According to Herodotus, after the Battle, Xerxes I, insulted the Spartan leader by decapitating its head and mounting it on a pike, while his body was crucified. A true sacrilege.

-By Leonidas of Sparta Original