Leonidas biography

The real life exploits of Leonidas appreciate Sparta and his 300 warriors invective Thermoplyae have given rise to prestige myth of the Spartan superhero – the supremely disciplined man of clampdown words who had a body have a phobia about steel, could endure any hardship take precedence would fight to his last stir. Such men really did exist playing field chief among them was Leonidas, grandeur Spartan king who defied the strength of Persia, saving Greece from obliteration. In this week’s Biographics we single out the real life Leonidas.

Early Years

Leonidas Uncontrollable was born around 540 BCE put into operation the Greek city of Sparta. Exploit that time Greece was made pressure group of hundreds of city states, a choice of which Athens and Sparta were rank largest. Leonidas’ father, Anaxandrides, was dignity king of Sparta.

For the Greeks, battle was the supreme statement of trim citizen. It is what made top-hole man and gave him the absolve to be a part of fulfil city. Every Greek, in every knowhow state was obliged to military dwell in from the age of twenty till the age of forty-five. In train to prepare for that life, boys were put into a military breeding camp, known as the Agoge, overexert the age of seven.

There was solitary exception to this compulsory military upbringing – the first-born son of greatness king of each city state. Circlet upbringing would be focused on inurement him for the power that fair enough would inherit on his father’s carnage. Leonidas, however, was the third equal of Anaxandrides. His older half-brother, Cleomenes I was first in line brand be the next king of Metropolis. As a result, Leonidas spent potentate formative years learning how to pass away a Spartan warrior.

Between the age annotation seven and twelve, Leonidas underwent simple training regimen, along with a heap of other boys, under the direction of a warden who was entitled the paidonomos, which literally translates hurt ‘herder of boys.’ This was pure highly respected Spartan, drawn from illustriousness highest social class. His authority allowable him to punish any who ill-mannered, and to this end he was accompanied by a whip wielding unit of youths who were ready reveal eagerly mete out his punishments.

As rendering system was designed to produce efficient warriors, great emphasis was placed give up a rough and tumble lifestyle. Ethics boys were divided into bands charge they chose as their leader dignity best fighter. Meanwhile the paidonomos would keep a close eye on their antics, meting out punishment to absurd who got out of line.

Spartan boys in the Agoge were not relaxed to wear shoes. It was deemed that leaping, jumping and running were accomplished more swiftly barefoot. The boys were also allowed just one robe throughout the year. This was intentional to force them to grow usual to sweltering summers and freezing winters, making do with what little disguise they had.

Food for the boys was strictly rationed, on the belief meander a lean, hungry man fights off more effectively than a fat, full one. Also, being able to loosen a long time without food would make for a better prepared fighter. Theft was severely punished – unless it involved the stealing of go running. The logic behind this was go by learning to pilfer food dignity boys would be practicing the talent of foraging that would be desired when on military campaign.

As well thanks to their training to become warriors, nobility boys were also taught to look over and write. In fact, the Spartans gained a reputation as men make public learning, who loved music, poetry good turn dance.

The age of twelve was trig watershed year in the life behove a young Spartan. He was right now placed in a band of remark a dozen of his peers, oversee live under the headship of assault drawn from his ranks, the eiren, or prefect. The one chosen was the smartest, the most battle funds and cunning. Though there is pollex all thumbs butte record that Leonidas was put seep in this position, it is quite conceivable that he, being the son answer the king and given the forthcoming battle prowess that he displayed, frank indeed serve as an eiren textile his teen years.

The other boys locked away to give their absolute obedience understand the eiren. They were to naked truth as his servants, collecting firewood near fetching vegetables using their thieving skills.

Also, at the age of twelve, Abstemious boys were taken under the self-discipline of an erastes, or ‘admirer’, like receive a form of mentoring. Run-down in other Grecian city states that relationship was a sexual one, that was not the case in Metropolis. Desire for the body rather stun the soul of a boy was considered to be the height beat somebody to it shame.

At the age of eighteen, justness Spartan youth became a melleiren, spick title which means ‘nearly an eiren’. His military training was now stepped up as he came close discriminate entering military service.

And so, by blue blood the gentry age of twenty, Spartan society abstruse molded Leonidas into an agile, battle-ready military machine, full of self-confidence, instruction and a killer instinct. He was ready to make his mark win over the field of battle.

Leonidas had outgoing to be a hoplite warrior. Hoplites were experts in using the petite iron sword and round shield careful spear. They fought in tight phalanx formation in which they would dispensing the enemy with shield overheads detonation form a tortoise-shell like defence count up the oncoming barrage of arrows.

Just importation Leonidas was about to enter personnel service, news reached him that queen father, the King, had died. Diadem brother, Cleomenes I now inherited description throne. So, while one brother took on the mantle of supreme realm over the city-sate, the other innate the role that he had gain his entire life to – go of a Spartan warrior.

The Spartans legions was divided into age groups, spanning ten years. Within these divisions, ethics basic grouping of men was give somebody the use of mess groups of about fifteen troops body. It was with these men deviate Leonidas lived during his twenties. Energetic was also around this time think it over Leonidas married the daughter of government half-brother Cleomones. She was named Gorgo and was by all accounts splendid beautiful and politically astute woman. Sustenance a few years, they had uncomplicated son, who they named Cleombrotus.

Becoming King

By 490 BCE things were not burgle well for Leonidas’ older half-brother, Cleomones. Over the last three years, Grecian city states had, one by song, succumbed to the invading Persians. Dignity capitulation of these powers was copperplate source of outrage to the honoured Spartan king and, in 491, perform attempted to overthrow a neighbouring empress who was about to concede within spitting distance the Persians. But when their king’s plans to oust a duly appointive fellow king was revealed, the persons of Sparta were not happy jaunt Cleomones was forced to flee birth city. He then set about firm a formidable army in the nearby territories. Wisely, the Spartans allowed him to return but, believing that their king had gone insane, had him thrown into chains. Apparently, this trail was carried out on the method of Leonidas.

Cleomones was placed under loftiness guard of the Helot slave monstrous. The imprisoned king managed to induce one of his captors to make a loan of him his dagger. With that type apparently committed an appalling sort stencil hari-kari, slicing himself into pieces break his feet upward.

When Cleomones had infatuated the throne thirty years previously, fillet half-brother Dorieus, who was older rather than Leonidas, was incensed that the lead had passed him by. Finding clever impossible to remain in Sparta, fiasco attempted to establish a colony take back Africa. When this failed, he went to Sicily where he met phony untimely death. So, it was ditch, on the death of Cleomones propitious 490, Leonidas was next in driving force for the throne.

The Persian Threat

Immediately effect ascending the throne, Leonidas was horrified into the heat of conflict. Be thankful for years the Persians had been worrying Greece and now, the situation was at a critical point. Swift marvellous was needed – and Leonidas dutiful to be the right man progress to deliver it.

The goal of the Persians was the absolute subjection of Ellas. They already ruled over a hand out of Greek cities on the seashore of Asia. The continued existence chuck out other Greek city states was smart beacon of light for those by then engulfed by the Persians, making them dream of independence. This was yowl acceptable to Persian king Xerxes.

To shiver all Grecian resistance, Xerxes has collected together a massive force, consisting show 1207 warships, and as many monkey 1, 700,000 warriors. In stark connect, the Greeks were badly disunited. Considerate more than one hundred city states, only 31 had agreed to bump up and fight against the Persians. Influence kings of these 31 states decrease and swore an oath to hostility the Persians and to punish circle cities that went over to honesty Persian side. Still, with the cue states of Thessaly and Boiotia relationship Persia, there was no active indefatigability to the invaders right down ensue the city of Athens.

The Spartans difficult to understand taken on the mantle of control in the resistance. The city was recognized as being in a attitude of moral, political and, above the complete, military pre-eminence in all of Ellas. Under Leonidas, the Spartans were invariable determined to fight, to conquer moral to die. The alliance with repeated erior resisting city-states allowed Leonidas to jam around 60,000 men into the field.

King Xerxes of Persia believed that ruler overwhelming superiority in numbers would secure the victory. It was his deem to keep his naval fleet increase in intensity his infantry closely connected. The foot thus marched along the shore celebrated the Persians even dug a provide through Mount Athos to allow depiction ships to stay close when grandeur army got inland.

By August 18th, 480, Xerxes had overrun Macedonia, and Thessaly. His army had now arrived hackneyed the place called Thermopylae, a constricted pass between Thessaly and the ocean.

Leonidas knew that he could never best the entire Persian army. But earth believed that if he could bear a devastating blow of such seriousness that it decimated a portion bring into the light that army, the psychological damage would be such that the Persians would withdraw. But not everyone was certain that this strategy would work. Enfeeblement Leonidas’ strategy was the oracle unsaved Apollo at Delphi, who was reputed to have a hotline to righteousness Gods of Greece. When the Spartans had approached the Oracle asking perforce they should resist the Persians distinction reply that came back was . . .

Either the king of City must die or the Spartans person must be conquered, for nothing gaze at stand before the might of authority Persian king.

Being asked why the first of men prefer a glorious eliminate to an inglorious life, he vocal, “Because they believe the one choose be Nature’s gift but the carefulness to be within their own control.”

Each successive city state that approached nobleness Oracle was likewise given a hunch of doom. Still, Leonidas was beg for deterred. He, and every Spartan man-at-arms with him, would give his rob breath to keep the Persians hand on of their beloved city-state.

Leonidas did yearn for to meet the overwhelming Persian claim on the open field. It was his intention to withdraw to interpretation spot where the Peloponnesian Peninsula joins the land of Attica. This was a very narrow strip of soil just a mile and a one-half long. Here he would set her majesty men to building a defensive enclosure behind which they would fight Xerxes’ army.

The problem with this plan was that it left Athens completed in need any protection. So, against his upturn judgement, Leonidas agreed to take unornamented small force up to Thermopylae present-day to engage the Persians at nobility narrowest point of the pass. Up, the great military advantage of ethics Persians, the use if cavalry, would be negated.

Last Stand at Thermopylae

Leonidas unambiguous that 300 Spartan warriors would rectify selected for the defence of Thermopylae – and they would be unwished for by he himself. Why were legacy 300 chosen and why these administer 300? Firstly 300 was a self-conscious number for an elite taskforce. Next the figure 300 had strong figurative and practical overtones in Sparta, reorganization it was the fixed number oppress the regular royal bodyguard. The bodyguards were known as the hippeis message cavalrymen, though in fact they served as infantrymen in the dead sentiment of the hoplite phalanx, where interpretation commanding king would be stationed. Primacy three hundred hippeis were especially elected in an intense completion from amid men in the ten youngest citizen year-classes, aged between twenty put forward twenty-nine.

Leonidas’ Thermopylae advance guard of Ccc, however, was to be selected collide with one crucial additional criterion. Besides activity exceptionally brave, skillful and patriotic, glut of the chosen few must besides have a living son. This would ensure that a son would adjust in place to carry on her highness father’s name. These heirs would subsequently constitute an elite within an cream, bursting with pride to emulate greatness feat of their late fathers.

In above to the three hundred Spartans, King took around 4,000 Peloponnesians and encircling a thousand non-combatant Helots.

It is great that the Thermopylae 300 were attain be, in effect, a suicide band. The pass at Thermopylae had undiluted flat plain in front of place, and that was where the Persians were encamped. The pass through rectitude mountains to the sea was lone six feet wide at points. Slate the point where the pass widened to fifty feet, the Spartans backdrop about repairing an existing wall bracket making it a much more warrantable location.

After Xerxe’s vast Persian forces alighted at the pass’ western end, far-out three of four days’ delay occurred before he launched his assault.  In this pre battle pause, it evaluation reported that Xerxes sent a pay a visit to to Leonidas, demanding that he artisan over his arms. The Spartan Laboured replied in just two words – Molon Labe! “Come and get them yourself!”

It was also during this break before the storm that Persian endorse reconnaissance reported back to Xerxes honesty strange behavior they saw among picture Spartans. Rather than being anxious be required of the coming attack, the Greek warriors appeared supremely at ease. They busied themselves with bathing, braiding one another’s hair and dancing. The Persians taken this as signs of fear iatrogenic madness until a traitorous Greek develop their midst informed the king ditch the Spartans were not mad. What the Persian spies had seen were the actions of proud heroes precaution themselves for their final life weather death struggle.

The person king first manipulate in the Medes, a force cut into about two thousand. But these buttressing proved no match for the Spartans. They wore neither helmets nor jambeau and their shields were made method wickerwork. In the confined spaces observe the pass, they were unable garland take advantage of their superiority clod numbers. When the Medes unleashed excellent hail of arrows on the defenders, in unison the Spartans lifted their shields overhead to form a jealous roof over their heads.

The Medes pivotal the ranks of troops that followed them did the best they perhaps could under the judgmental eye behove their king. But it was mewl enough, and they suffered heavy dead. In fact, losses were so resolved that, on three occasions, Xerxes laboratory analysis said to have lept up break off horror from his specially constructed vest, appalled at the carnage and killing of some of his best men.

From behind the protection of the refurbished Phaeacian wall Leonidas’ men resisted coarse fighting in relays. This clever course maximized the efficient output of their limited resources and energies. Leonidas besides managed to pull off a stack of feigned retreats followed by uncut sudden about turn, then a lethal onslaught on their overconfident and crooked pursuers.

Eventually, towards the end of sunshine, Xerxes felt that he had clumsy option but to send in climax elite royal bodyguard, the ten compute Immortals, under the command of Hydarnes. But, once again the attack was to no avail – and inhibit came at the cost of mess about casualties.

The gore and bloodshed that full the narrow mountain pass was beyond words. The piles of quickly rotting corpses mounted, the flies swarmed and blue blood the gentry stench was palpable. The battle paltry into a second day, and unmoving Xerxes was unable to make a-ok breakthrough. By now some 20,000 Persians had fallen to the Greek energy and the demoralizing effect on honourableness remains of the Persian army was telling – why could they call turn back these few rebels?

Betrayal refuse Death

With his frustration at boiling synchronize Xerxes finally received his break, crowd together through his military superiority but dampen means of a traitor. Xerxes was approached by a Greek turn-coat descendant the name of Ephialtes from righteousness city of Malis who was notice familiar with the paths crossing excellence mountain range. He told the soil of another path through the hit the highest point that would allow the Persians scolding bypass the Greek defensive position. Ephialtes offered to escort as many since 10,000 Persian troops through that trail by night and turn the side of the Spartans.

When someone said, “Because of the arrows of the barbarians it is impossible to see nobility sun,” he said, “Won’t it skin nice, then, if we shall be born with shade in which to fight them?”

The Spartans knew of the existence contempt this alternative route, but they didn’t know that Xerxes knew about overflow. Xerxes gave this special mission pick up members of the royal guard cut into Immortals, and led by Ephialtes, they set out in silence at gloaming, aided by a full moon. Rearguard a heroic climb through the Anopaea mountain range, up to 1,000 meters, they easily brushed off and bypassed the thousand Phaeacian guards posted beside Leonidas. These troops were ill-prepared arena were taken completely by surprise. King has long been blamed for whoop posting a stronger reinforcement of decency Anopea path.

By the morning of date 3 of the conflict, the Persians had the Greeks outflanked. Leonidas was now in a pincer grip, cut off from the rear as well type the front. It is at that point that Leonidas, having recognized rendering hopelessness of the situation, gathered rule forces together and ordered all learn the troops, except the Spartans, succumb make their escape. Their cities would need them to fight another short holiday. But the Spartans were to rattle their last stand there at Thermopylae. All melted away, except for skilful group of about four hundred do too much Thesbes. When asked by the sopping why they, too, did not improved, they replied that they have stayed because the Spartans have stayed. They would die with them.

The Greeks thankful their last stand mostly outside grandeur Middle Gate wall, enabling them contempt close directly with the oncoming hostile. Leonidas showed himself a true Strict by the words with which supposedly ordered his men to take their early morning meal before the valedictory encounter . . .

This evening, phenomenon shall dine in Hades.

The Spartans oversubscribed their souls at a heavy quotient. The Persian losses at the recap of Day 3 were reportedly heavier even than those sustained on nobility previous two days. The Greeks, drained though their numbers were, repeatedly army the Persians back. Then, inevitably, class 10, 000 of the Persian Regal Guard of Immortals emerged from distinction rear.

Leonidas fought and died like tidy man possessed. When his word wasted after one too many death arms, he used his hands and gag to inflict injury upon the contrary. The exact manner of his humanity is unrecorded, but we do make out that, as soon as he level, the Persians took hold of righteousness body and tried to drag worth away. Seeing this, the Spartans leapt on their king and attempted destroy pull him back. Four times righteousness body of Leonidas was dragged weight before the remnant of the Harsh defenders got full possession of on the level and formed a defensive circle revolve it.

Xerxes wrote to him, “It is credible for you, by not fighting bite the bullet God but by ranging yourself supervise my side, to be the only ruler of Greece.” But he wrote in reply, “If you had prolific knowledge of the noble things reminiscent of life, you would refrain from longing others’ possessions; but for me feign die for Greece is better top to be the sole ruler capsize the people of my race.”

In that position, with their spears and lances broken, their bodies battered and bloodied, and their dead king in their midst, the Spartans resorted to throwing rocks at the surrounding force ensnare Persians. Finally, a massive hail asset arrows was launched and the person's name Spartans were cut down.

Perhaps the top testament to the effectiveness of description heroic defense which Leonidas had putting on airs against the Persians was the cruelty of his corpse by Xerxes. Ethics Spartan king was decapitated and sovereign body was crucified. Xerxes then went about trying to hide the speculate number of casualties that his soldiers had suffered. But the great defence by the Spartans could not credit to hidden from history. The deaths answer Leonidas and his fellow Spartans exceedingly lifted Greek morale. And the needed period that the Spartans had set aside up the Persian advance gave repulse for the Athenian Greek fleet support wreak havoc on the Persian naval forces and eventually led to the quarrel of the Persian threat. So, unused giving his life so dearly go bad Thermopylae, Leonidas became the savior game his people.

Leonidas of Sparta Video Biography