Leontiades

Family: Thebans · Role: polemarch · First appears: Book 5, section 2, part 2/3

At Thebes, Leontiades and Ismenias were rival polemarchs and heads of antagonistic political clubs. He persuaded Phoebidas to seize the citadel, offering to lead him in; after Phoebidas agreed, Leontiades led his soldiers into the Cadmeia and handed over the gate key. He then seized Ismenias and had him imprisoned, declaring, “I hereby seize the person of Ismenias as an arch-fomenter of war.” Another polemarch was chosen in Ismenias’s place.

In Book 5, section 4, Phyllidas and three others went to Leontiades’s house, where they killed him and silenced his wife with threats.

Relationship record

Life events

• Leontiades proposed that Phoebidas seize the citadel and bring Thebes under Lacedaemonian control.(Book 5, section 2, part 2/3 · 📍 Thebes)
  • With: Phoebidas
  • “Follow me with your hoplites, and I will introduce you into the citadel. That done, you may rest assured Thebes will be completely under the thumb of Lacedaemon and of us, your friends.”
• Phoebidas consented to Leontiades’ proposal to seize the citadel.(Book 5, section 2, part 2/3 · 📍 Thebes)
  • With: Phoebidas
  • “The consent of the Spartan secured, Leontiades bade him set his troops in motion, as if everything were ready for his departure.”
• Leontiades led Phoebidas and his soldiers into the citadel and gave him the gate key.(Book 5, section 2, part 3/3 · 📍 Cadmeia)
  • With: Phoebidas
  • “He turned him back, and led him without further delay into the acropolis. Having posted Phoebidas and his soldiers inside, he handed him the key of the gates”
• Leontiades seized Ismenias and had him imprisoned.(Book 5, section 2, part 3/3 · 📍 Cadmeia)
  • With: Ismenias
  • “I hereby seize the person of Ismenias as an arch-fomenter of war. I call upon you, sirs, who are captains of companies, and you who are ranked with them, to do your duty. Arise and secure the prisoner, and lead him away to the place appointed.”
• Another polemarch was chosen in place of Ismenias.(Book 5, section 2, part 3/3)
  • With: Ismenias
  • “Now that the transactions were concluded, another polemarch was chosen in place of Ismenias”
• Phyllidas and three of the band entered Leontiades's house and killed him.(Book 5, section 4, part 1/5)
  • With: Phyllidas
  • “They entered, slew Leontiades, and with threats silenced his wife.”

Book 5, section 2, part 2/3

• rivals with Ismenias “The two polemarchs in office, Ismenias and Leontiades, were diametrically opposed, being the respective heads of antagonistic political clubs.”
• with Phoebidas (Leontiades proposed that Phoebidas seize the Theban citadel.) “Follow me with your hoplites, and I will introduce you into the citadel.”

Book 5, section 2, part 3/3

• with Phoebidas (Leontiades led Phoebidas into the acropolis.) “He turned him back, and led him without further delay into the acropolis.”
• with Ismenias (Leontiades arrested Ismenias.) “I hereby seize the person of Ismenias as an arch-fomenter of war.”

Book 5, section 4, part 1/5

• with Phyllidas (Phyllidas and his companions killed Leontiades.) “That over, Phyllidas, with three of the band, set off to the house of Leontiades. Arrived there, he knocked on the door, and sent in word that he had a message from the polemarchs. Leontiades, as chance befell, was still reclining in privacy after dinner, and his wife was seated beside him working wools. The fidelity of Phyllidas was well known to him, and he gave orders to admit him at once. They entered, slew Leontiades, and with threats silenced his wife.”

Book 5, section 4, part 2/5

• enemies with Melon (Melon led an insurrection against Leontiades and his party.) “the two generals who had been privy to the insurrection of Melon against Leontiades and his party had to suffer”

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Extracted from the original text of Hellenica. Made with Rho MD.