Leonidas

Family: Spartan · Role: king and military leader · First appears: Book 5 · §36–44

Leonidas was born to Anaxandrides, after Dorieos and before Cleombrotos; some accounts said he and Cleombrotos were twins. After his older brothers Cleomenes and Dorieos died, Leonidas became king of Sparta. He went to Thermopylai with the chosen three hundred and other troops, summoned the Thebans to decide whether they would send troops or renounce the Hellenic alliance, and received their troops despite their other intentions.

At Thermopylai, Leonidas chose to remain at the pass and send messengers for help. According to one account, he dismissed allies who were unwilling to face the danger, while the Thespians willingly stayed and the Thebans remained against their will as hostages. The Phokians guarded the mountain path, and Leonidas also tried to dismiss the soothsayer Megistias. When Xerxes’ forces advanced, Leonidas and the Greeks went out to meet them; Leonidas fell fighting, and a great struggle arose over his body. Xerxes ordered his head cut off and his corpse crucified.

Leonidas was married to Gorgo, and his son Pleistarchos was still a boy when Pausanias was appointed his guardian and cousin. Later, Pausanias said Leonidas had already been avenged and honoured by the many lives taken at Thermopylai.