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Leonidas I (/ l i ˈ ə n aɪ d ə s,-d æ s /; Greek: Λεωνίδας) (born c. 540 BC; died 11 August 480 BC) was a king of the Greek city-state of Sparta, and the 17th of the Agiad line, a dynasty which claimed descent from the mythical demigod Heracles.
Dec 2, 2009 · Learn about Leonidas, the Spartan king who led 300 hoplites to fight and die at the Battle of Thermopylae against the Persian army in 480 B.C. Find out how he became king, how he trained as a warrior and how he was honored as a hero.
Leonidas, Spartan king whose stand against the invading Persian army at the pass of Thermopylae in central Greece is one of the enduring tales of Greek heroism, invoked throughout Western history as the epitome of bravery exhibited against overwhelming odds.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
May 12, 2013 · Leonidas was the Spartan king who famously led a small band of Greek allies at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE where the Greeks valiantly defended the pass through which the Persian king Xerxes sought to invade Greece with his massive army.
- Mark Cartwright
Nov 16, 2019 · Its fame is derived from being one of the most courageous last stands by the vastly outnumbered defending army of Greek city states, led by King Leonidas of Sparta, against the invading Persians under King Xerxes.
- Dhwty
As king, Leonidas inherited a state that was a key player in the ongoing power struggles between Greek city-states and the expanding Persian Empire. Leonidas' rule thus began at a time of growing tensions and impending conflict, setting the stage for his pivotal role in the Greco-Persian Wars.
Learn about the life and death of Leonidas, the Spartan king who led 300 soldiers to fight against the Persian army at Thermopylae in 480 BC. Discover his historical phrase, his family, his tomb and his legacy in Greek culture.
