Leonidas I (540 BC-11 August 480 BC) was King of Sparta from the Agid dynasty, right from 491 to 480 BC, succeeding Cleomenes I and preceding Pleistarchus. He had a notable participation in the Greco-Persian Wars, during which he and the famed "300 Spartans" died while covering the retreat of the main Greek army at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC.
Biography[]
Leonidas was born in Sparta in 540 BC, the son of Anaxandridas II and his first wife Kineska. He is also a direct descendant of the Isu, and wielded a Spear of Eden in battle; the same spear that his daughter and later granddaughter would possess. His half-brother Cleomenes succeeded to the throne on Anaxandridas' death in 520 BC, and Leonidas married Cleomenes' daughter Gorgo and became the heir to the Spartan throne. In 491 BC, Leonidas himself succeeded to the throne, and he was chosen to lead the combined Greek forces against the second Persian invasion of Greece in 481 BC.
Death at Thermopylae[]
Leonidas in his battle armor
Leonidas consulted the Oracle of Delphi, who prophesied that either Sparta would be destroyed by the Persians, or the Spartans would mourn the loss of a king, foreshadowing Leonidas' own death in battle. Leonidas brought 900 helots and 300 hoplites with him to join the 7,000-strong Greek army, and, on 11 August 480 BC, they met the 300,000-strong Persian army in battle at Thermopylae Pass. The Persians offered to spare the Spartans if they would give up their arms, but Leonidas replied "Come and take them," and he rallied his 300 hoplites with the promise that they would "dine in hell" that night. Leonidas and his men proceeded to make a brave last stand against the Persians, and they held out until they were attacked from both sides and massacred. Leonidas' body was recaptured by the Spartans after the Spartans repulsed the Persians four times, and he was celebrated as a hero for centuries.