King Leonidas

Bearing an Heir

541 BCE

Agiad Spartan King Anaxandridas II and first wife, who was also his niece, were unable to conceive for many years after marriage. Eventually, five ephors, or city-state administrators, worked diligently to convince the King to abandon his first wife, and replace with a more suitable queen to bear an heir.
Photo Source: https://www.digopaul.com/ht/english-word/ephors.html

Creating an Agiad Dynasty

541 BCE

King Anaxandridas II refused to leave his first wife as he loved her dearly, so instead took a second wife, with whom he bore son Cleomenes, and future heir to the throne. Shortly thereafter, Anaxandridas II’s first wife gave birth to her first son, Dorieus.
Photo Source:https://www.pinterest.com/pin/123637952245350428/

Son of the Lion

540 BCE

Leonidas’ birth; Third son born to Agiad Spartan King Anaxandridas II, and first wife.
Photo Source: https://www.orthodoxytoday.org/blog/2014/03/animal-immortality-do-animals-go-to-heaven/

Hoplite Conditioning

Period: 540 BCE to 490 BCE

In his youth and early manhood, Leonidas would have received very strenuous physical conditioning, along with many years of military training. This was the mandatory agenda amongst all Spartan males and often a regimen which would last, along with varying degrees of severity and discipline, through most of adulthood.
Photo Source: https://ancientgreeksbypeta.weebly.com/education-of-children.html

Root of Greco-Persian Conflict

500 BCE

The roots of the Greco-Persian conflict begins and several small Greek states in Asia Minor campaigned against Persian rule. Many Greek states including Athens begin forming to support their recalcitrant neighboring states.
Photo Source: https://philbancients.blogspot.com/2012/10/whats-one-of-them-hoplite.html

An Avunculate Marriage

490 BCE

Leonidas married Cleomenes’ daughter Gorgo, following the tradition of avunculate marriages like ancestors before him.
Photo Source: https://www.topsimages.com/images/leonidas-and-gorgo-a6.html

The Legacy Begins..

490 BCE

Elder half-brother Cleomenes I dies under mysterious circumstances, and without producing a male heir to the throne. Leonidas ascends to the Agiad throne, and becomes known as both a military, and political leader.
Photo Source: http://www.pbase.com/bmcmorrow/image/47950425

Inception of the Persian Invasion

490 BCE

Persia attempted an invasion twice at the beginning of the fifth century. In 490 B.C., the Persian king Darius I leads the first attempted Persian war, but combined Greek forces forced the Persian army to retract; also known as the Battle of Marathon. Ten years later, during the Second Persian War, one of Darius’ sons, Xerxes I launches a second invasion against Greece.
Photo Source: http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/History/hakhamaneshian/marathon.htm

Battle of Thermopylae

481 BCE

The Battle of Thermopylae was a widely known, and historical attempt to defend the pass from the Invading Persian Army. This time, however, the strong alliance of Greek city-states sent to fight Xerxes and his army retracted as they quickly were overtaken with succession. Thespians, and Thebans were among the only remaining allies to battle along Leonidas’ side, whom all of which were killed during battle.
Photo Source: https://www.ancient.eu/Leonidas_I/

The Ultimate Heroic Sacrifice

480 BCE

Leonidas Died August 11, 480 BC, during the Battle of Thermopylae, leaving his death to be noted as a legendary, and heroic sacrifice. This final act of valor is what todays historians believe to be Leonidas’ greatest triumph, giving him recognizance alongside other prevalent historical figures.

Pleistarchus: Filling the Lions Shoes

480 BCE

Leonidas and Gorgo had a son, Pleistarchus, who ruled Sparta after his father from 480 BC- 459 BC
Photo Source: http://v8guru.blogspot.com/2015/08/is-gorgo-ma-ma.html

The Legacy Continues

440 BCE

Forty years after the battle, Sparta retrieved Leonidas’ remains and a shrine was built in his honor.
Photo Source: http://www.fotobabble.com/m/NXNKVDIyVDh5ejA9