Hello and welcome to Screwball Psyche today we are going to be talking about
the real King Leonidas. Much of the story of King Leonidas is lost in time. As
history.com states almost the entire history has been written by Greek
historian herodotus. Leonidas was born into royalty as a son of Spartan King
Anaxandridas. This meant that Leonidas as the third born son was trained from a
young age to become a warrior and battle tactician. However
his older half-brother Cleomenes took the throne when their father died around 520
BC. In 490 BC after being exiled and imprisoned by his own brothers he died
mysteriously. It was said that he ended his own life in a bout of insanity.
However, many modern historians are skeptical of this. His younger brother
then became King Leonidas after taking the throne. He then took Cleomenes's
daughter as a bride to solidify Royal bloodlines.
His reign began in the midst of a fragile and hostile history between
Greece and Persia. Persian king Darius had previously invaded Greece but was
crushed by the Athenian army. He planned to avenge the defeat but died in 486 BC
while quashing a rebellion in his own Empire. His death brought a new nemesis
against Greece and Sparta. King Xerxes took control of the Persian Empire and
was inspired to complete his father's mission of conquering Greece. Much like
the movie 300 the Persian army was massive in size. but according to
Britannica the enormous size of Xerxes army was initially a disadvantage. The
army was slow in travelling, allowing Greece to prepare for invasion. Much of
Greece unified in alliance under the command of Sparta and King Leonidas. The
command of the Navy was given to Athens. Historian Herodotus estimated
the invading force to be in the millions, but as Ancient Origins published the
number is more likely to be in the range of two hundred thousand. It has been
stated that before battle Leonidas consulted Oracle Delphi. She gave the following
prophecy: "for you inhabitants of wide-wayed Sparta. Either your great and
glorious city must be wasted by Persian men, or if not that then the bound of
Lacedaemon must mourn a dead king from Heracles Line.
The might of bull or lions will not restrain him with opposing strength, for
he has the might of Zeus. I declare that he will not be restrained until he utterly
tears apart one of these. After hearing this, Leonidas believed he was heading
for certain death in battle against Persia. For him this was a suicide
mission for the good of Sparta. His Spartan force was formed with the same principle
in mind, he only recruited soldiers that had a living son so that if they died
could carry on the name. These 300 spartans were the very best, of the elite
spartan infantry. The spartan forces led an army of 7,000 men to Thermopylae a
crucial passage to the heart of Greece. In august 480 ad the two forces met.
Xerxes sent a message to Leonidas demanding he hand over his arms.
The response was: "come and get them yourself" After this it was on and battle
commenced. Xerxes army was weakened as many were lost during the long travel.
The attack started on the Seas. After failing to take the element of surprise
and attack the Greek Navy, the Persian Navy was wiped out by a storm. The Greeks
were safely harbored in port. The advancing Persian army were funneled
into the narrow path of Thermopylae and for two days they were slaughtered. The
tight defense of the Spartan hoplite shell made a near impregnable defense.
The narrow path also meant that the Persian cavalry could not be used.
The path was said to be as thin as six feet wide in some parts. With cliffs on
one side and the sea on the other. Leonidas
tactical brilliance was shown in the battle. He would feign retreat tricking the
opposing forces to march into the jaws of waiting fighters,
who would counter-attack. Xerxes also deployed a secret weapon his own Royal
Bodyguard the 10,000 immortals famed for their ability in battle. They were cut
down by the superior Spartan and Greek forces. According to biographics after
the first day twenty thousand Persians had been killed. But, the Greeks were
betrayed by a Greek traitor named Ephialtes. Imagining rich rewars for his
betrayal he led Persians to a secret path over the mountains.
The remaining immortals traveled this path, defeating the guards by surprise
attack and flanked the Greeks from behind.
Leonidas perhaps with the Oracles words in mind, ordered the remaining Greeks to
escape. All but the remaining Spartans. They would get the last dying breath to
fight Xerxes army. Bravely enough 700 Thesbians decided to
stand and fight also. 400 Thebans were said to have stayed but surrendered
immediately. However this has been contested. Leonidas gave the final war
cry: This evening we shall dine in Hades!" It has been reported by biographics that he
fought in every way possible to the death, using his bare hands and teeth
when his sword was broken. When he died the Spartans surrounded his body in a shell
to stop the peasants dragging it away. Eventually they were defeated by arrows
Leonidas's body was decapitated and crucified. The Greek naval force also
retreated after the remaining Persian ships regrouped and defeated them. They
escaped to evacuate the remaining army. This valiant defeat inspired a force of
Spartans Tegean's and Athenians to defeat the
remaining army in 479 BC...
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