He was the son of king Anaxandridas II and the 17th king of the Agiad dynasty, a Spartan royal house which claimed descent from Heracles. Leonidas I ascended to the throne in c. 489 BC, succeeding his half-brother king Cleomenes I.
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.
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.
Leonidas (c. 530-480 B.C.) was a king of the city-state of Sparta from about 490 B.C. until his death at the Battle of Thermopylae against the Persian army in 480 B.C.
Leonidas I (ca. 530 BC-480 BC) was a Spartan king immortalized in Greek literature and legend because of his heroic last stand against Persian invaders. Leonidas is a legend without a biographer.
MSN: Quote of the day by Spartan King Leonidas: Courage in the face of impossible odds
Leonidas, the legendary king of Sparta, is remembered for his bravery and leadership during the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE. He has become a symbol of courage, resilience, and unwavering ...
Quote of the day by Spartan King Leonidas: Courage in the face of impossible odds