LEONIDAS OF SPARTA
A HEROIC KING
Leonidas of Sparta: A Heroic King
Copyright © 2012 Helena P. Schrader. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or retransmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher.
Published by Wheatmark®
2030 East Speedway Boulevard, Suite 106
Tucson, Arizona 85719 USA
www.wheatmark.com
ISBN: 978-1-60494-830-1 (paperback)
ISBN: 978-1-60484-831-8 (ebook)
LCCN: 2012948111
rev201701
CONTENTS
Cast of Characters
Map of Leonidas’ World
Introduction and Acknowledgments
Prologue
Part I
THE AGIAD THRONE
1 The Descendants of Herakles
2 An Excess of Heirs
3 Wages of Corruption
4 A Spartan Education
5 The Limits of Diplomacy
6 Foxes Large and Small
7 Invasion
8 Death of a King
9 Marathon
10 The Elder Twin
Part II
KING LEONIDAS
11 I, Leonidas
12 Lacedaemon Rising
13 Warriors for the Working Day
14 Wrath of the Gods
15 Mission to the Great King
16 Defenders of Sparta
17 A Spartan Abroad
Part III
THERMOPYLAE
18 Confederacy for Freedom
19 Farewell, Lacedaemon
21 The Empire Strikes
22 Creatures of Night
23 ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!
Epilogue
Historical Note
Glossary of Greek Terms
Bibliography
CAST OF CHARACTERS
(Those marked with ∗ are historical figures)
Spartans
Agiads:
Leonidas,* son of King Anaxandridas
Cleombrotus,* his twin brother
Cleomenes,* Leonidas’ half brother and Agiad king
Chilonis, mother of Cleomenes, wife of Nikostratos
Gorgo,* daughter of Cleomenes, wife of Leonidas
Agiatis, Leonidas and Gorgo’s daughter
Pleistarchos,* their son
Pausanias,* Cleombrotus’ firstborn son
Eurypontids:
Demaratus,* the Eurypontid king
Percalus,* his wife, sister to Alkander
Leotychidas,* cousin and heir to Demaratus
Agoge Officials:
Epidydes, Paidonomos (headmaster), later councilman
Alcidas, deputy headmaster, later Paidonomos
Alkander, deputy headmaster, later Paidonomos, ephor
Hilaira, Alkander’s wife
Thersander and Simonidas, their sons
Elected Officials:
Nikostratos, Spartan treasurer, later councilman
Talthybiades, magistrate, ephor, later councilman
Orthryades, councilman
Technarchos, ephor, later councilman
Appointed Officials:
Asteropus, priest, Agiad ambassador to Delphi
Euryleon, chorus master
Sperchias,* politician and ambassador
Bulis,* guardsman and ambassador
Army Officials:
Kyranios, one of five lochos (regimental) commanders
Dienekes,* Spartan officer, later Guard commander
Oliantus, Leonidas’ quartermaster
Eurybiades,* Spartan mariner, later admiral
Young Men:
Temenos, a Spartan Peer, lover of Chryse
Maron,* eirene, later citizen
Alpheus,* his younger brother
Eurytus,* son of Lysimachos
Meander, agoge dropout, Leonidas’ attendant
Aristodemos,* his younger brother, a Spartan citizen
Philocyon, a Spartan citizen
Other Spartans:
Prokles, son of Philippos, Spartan exile and marine
Lysimachos, conservative Spartan citizen
Perioikoi
Phormio, Leonidas’ estate steward
Eukomos, royal steward of the Agiad kings
Helots
Pelopidas, principal tenant on Leonidas’ kleros
Laodice, his wife
Polychares, their eldest son
Melissa, Polychares’ wife
Pantes, Pelopidas’ second son
Crius, his third son
Chryse, his youngest daughter
Pelops, her first son by Temenos
Kinadon, her second son by Temenos
Corinthians
Archilochos, Corinthian aristocrat
Lychos, son of Archilochos
Kallias, his younger son, attends the agoge
Adeimantus,* Corinthian commander in 480 BC
Thespians
Arion, a bronze master
Demophilus,* son of Diadromes, Thespian gentleman
Dithyrambus,* Thespian citizen
Athenians
Miltiades,* Athenian general, commander at Marathon
Kimon,* his son
Xanthippos,* Athenian aristocrat and general
Aristides,* Athenian aristocrat and general
Eukoline, his wife
Themistocles,* son of Neocles, Athenian politician, commander at Artemisium and Salamis
Xerxes,* the Great King
Artaphernes,* Persian satrap of Sardis
Zopyrus, Persian cavalry commander, interpreter
Tisibazus, Persian ambassador
Others
Danei, Chian youth enslaved by the Persians
Teti, an Egyptian scribe
Taiwo and Kaschta, his slaves
INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
THIS IS THE THIRD BOOK IN the Leonidas trilogy, a biographical novel in three parts, dedicated to reconstructing and depicting the life of Sparta’s most famous king. Leonidas is legendary for his defiant defense of the Pass of Thermopylae, with just three hundred Spartans and roughly six thousand other allies, against a vastly superior invading force, in 480 BC. As in the earlier two books in this series, I have made maximum use of the available ancient sources, relying as much as possible on Herodotus and the sayings attributed to Leonidas and his wife Gorgo by Plutarch and other ancient scholars.
This book also reflects extensive secondary research on ancient Sparta as well as a dozen trips to Greece to visit Sparta, Athens, Corinth, Delphi, Argos, Messenia, Olympia, and the site of the Battle of Thermopylae. Over the years of research and writing, I have evolved an understanding of Spartan society that stands in sharp contrast to the often simplified, sometimes fantasized portrayals found in other works. Sparta was a complex and far from static society, and readers interested in a systematic discussion of my interpretation of Spartan society should refer to my essays on Sparta as well as my website and blog “Sparta Reconsidered,” all of which can be accessed via my personal website: www.helenapschrader.com.
The first book in this trilogy, Leonidas of Sparta: A Boy of the Agoge, focuses on Leonidas’ boyhood and education in the Spartan public school, the agoge. The second book, Leonidas of Sparta: A Peerless Peer, concentrates on his years as an ordinary Spartan soldier and citizen, working his way up the ranks and developing leadership capabilities. A Peerless Peer also introduces Gorgo, the daughter of King Cleomenes, who in the course of the novel becomes Leonidas’ wife. In this final book, the narrative turns to Leonidas’ years of greatest influence. It describes him as a diplomat as well as a soldier, and above all as a king. The last part of the
novel, naturally, follows Leonidas to Thermopylae and provides an account of that battle, based rigorously on Herodotus, yet presented through the eyes of the characters of this novel, both historical and fictional.
I realize that fans of the film 300 may find it hard to think of Leonidas as a diplomat. In the Hollywood cartoon, Leonidas is portrayed as the brutal antithesis of a diplomat: he personally throws a Persian ambassador down a well. But there is no more historical evidence that Leonidas committed this crime than that Xerxes was a monster. The historical record, foggy and imprecise as it is, suggests that far from being a tactless brute, Leonidas was a savvy diplomat. During his brief reign, Leonidas managed to forge a coalition of Greek states willing to oppose the Persian invasion and to convince this loose coalition of independent and proud city-states to agree to a unified command. (Remember, ten years earlier, Athens was so suspicious of unified command that no less than ten generals shared command of the Athenian army at Marathon.) Equally notable, while Leonidas’ brother Cleomenes alienated Lacedaemon’s Peloponnesian allies to the point of provoking revolt, Leonidas won over new allies, such as Mycenae and Tiryns.
Leonidas’ accomplishments as king were probably even more significant, if harder to document. It is clear when looking at Spartan history from the Messenian wars to Sparta’s dismal and ignominious end under Rome that the reign of Leonidas was a turning point. Archaic Sparta saw not only the establishment of a new, revolutionary form of government (arguably the first democracy in history), but also a significant flourishing of the arts and trade. Sparta’s most significant monuments (for example, the Menelaion, the Amyklaion, the Canopy, and the bulk of its temples) were constructed in the archaic period. Sparta’s most famous poets―Tyrtaios and Alkman―lived and worked in the archaic age. Sparta produced internationally renowned sculptors, export-quality pottery, and exquisite bronze works in the sixth century. Not least important, Sparta’s most admired statesmen in the ancient world, Lycurgus and Chilon, both lived in the archaic period.
In contrast, Sparta in the classical period is characterized by artistic stagnation and a dramatic end to Sparta’s competitiveness in trade and manufacturing. Based on descriptions of the Spartan state and constitution written at the end of the fifth century and later, Spartans in the classical period disdained all forms of luxury and by inference, art itself. In short, Spartan society underwent a radical, indeed revolutionary, change in the mid-fifth century BC, immediately following Leonidas’ death.
Leonidas was the last of the archaic kings not just in terms of timing, but in terms of policy. Sparta obtained its reputation for opposing tyrants and built up the Peloponnesian League in the second half of the sixth century. Significantly, that was during the reigns of Leonidas’ father and half brother. These policies reflect on the one hand an interest in world affairs, and on the other a willingness to negotiate and compromise rather than rely on brute force. Likewise, during Leonidas’ lifetime Sparta took an active interest in world affairs, and led an international coalition of forces opposing the Persian invasion.
Even more significant is the possibility that Leonidas’ domestic policies were tolerant and liberal. Although we have no documentary evidence of this, we know that in 479, only a year after his death and before his successors could make any significant changes to Spartan policy, the Spartans were able to deploy thirty-five thousand helot auxiliaries outside of Lacedaemon. This suggests widespread support for the Spartan state among the helot population. (The hypothesis that the Spartans took thirty-five thousand rebellious, hate-filled, and untrustworthy helots with them, when marching out to face the undefeated Persian army, is ludicrous.) In short, in 480 BC Sparta had a fleet of at least sixteen triremes, requiring almost three thousand helot oarsmen, and thirty-five thousand helot light infantry so loyal to Sparta that the Spartans could―literally―entrust their very existence to them. Leonidas, if not his predecessors, must have done something to win that loyalty.
Yet little over a decade later, the only recorded helot revolt against Sparta erupted. This is highly significant, because we know that revolutions do not occur when people are most oppressed, but rather when rising living standards decline sharply and rising political expectations are abruptly disappointed . My thesis is that during Cleomenes’ reign helots enjoyed a slow but steady increase in living standards and political rights, a trend that accelerated under Leonidas. In the post-Leonidas era, however, helot hopes and expectations were bitterly disappointed by Leonidas’ successors, leading to the explosive situation that culminated in the helot revolt of 465 BC.
Could Sparta’s archaic golden age have continued if Leonidas and his closest companions had not died at Thermopylae? Probably not indefinitely. Athens was on the rise; conflict was almost inevitable. Yet there is little doubt that the helot revolt of 465 BC traumatized Spartan society and set it on a course toward brutal internal repression. The revolt caused Sparta to create despicable institutions such as the kryptea and to commit acts of brutality such as the “disappearance” of thousands of helots who had been led to expect reward. In addition, the helot revolt led to mistrust of Athens and increasingly rabid xenophobia. At least some of these changes might have been avoided had Leonidas remained at Sparta’s helm. It is not too farfetched to hypothesize that had Leonidas survived longer, he would have continued the enlightened policies of the archaic kings, who had lived in harmony with the helot population for well over a century. Certainly if Leonidas had lived longer, neither Pausanias nor Leotychidas would have been given a chance to turn Sparta’s allies into enemies.
This, then, is the historical backdrop for A Heroic King. The portrayals of Leonidas, Gorgo, Themistocles, and other historical characters are literary interpretations of these historical persons. Many of the incidents described, and virtually all of the dialogue, are fictional. (Quotes drawn from ancient sources are clearly identified.) Despite the historical setting, the focus of this novel―as with all my novels―is the characters, which I hope will come to life and inspire the sympathy of my readers.
I wish to express my thanks to my dedicated editor, Christina Dickson, who as always has done a magnificent job cleaning up my erratic spelling and grammar. In addition, I wish to thank two graphic designers, Charles Whall and Mikhail Greuli, who together created this brilliant and evocative cover. Last but not least I wish to record my appreciation to Paul Bardunias for advising me on ancient warfare and tactics.
Helena P. Schrader
Leipzig, Germany
May 1, 2012
PROLOGUE
Thermopylae
480 BC
“YOU DARE TO CALL THAT CREATURE a king?” Xerxes screamed at the men who laid the corpse at his feet. They had come triumphantly, proud to have the trophy at last―after losing it no less than three times in the course of the fighting and paying a high price in others’ blood.
But there was no mistaking Xerxes’ fury. Even his kinsmen and senior officers were intimidated by the intensity of his rage. They knew him well. They had seen him rage before―and they had seen him fake rage for the purpose of intimidating. A furious Great King could strike terror into the hearts of even the bravest men, and satraps no less than officers had often found themselves sweating from sheer terror at the potential consequences of the Great King’s rage.
No one in the Great King’s entourage had the least desire to provoke the Great King’s rage, and they all kept their eyes averted in the hope of diverting his fury away from them. Even his brothers Artabazanes and Masistius and the trusted Mardonius judged the situation dangerous and avoided eye contact, much less comment. Xerxes’ anger was, after all, directed at the impertinent enemy that had dared to delay their advance into the heart of Greece by three whole days. The real target of the Great King’s fury was the leader of the Greek defenders, the Spartan King Leonidas―now dumped at his feet, dressed in battered bronze and a ragged cloak stained with blood, mud, and other filth.
Xerxes’ eyes swept across the faces of the
men around him, and their passivity infuriated him further. “He is no more a king than that donkey over there! Our spies saw him working on the wall with his own hands. Stinking and filthy like the rest of these primitive Hellenes. What true king fights like an ordinary soldier? Not even mounted, much less in a chariot. In the end, there was nothing at all to distinguish him from the lowest slave!”
Nothing except the fact that his men fought so fiercely to defend even his corpse that it had only been recovered after the very last of them was dead.
Because the very silence seemed to belie his words, Xerxes was enraged further. “I will not allow this slave to be honored as if he were a king―even a petty king!” He kicked out at the corpse with his foot, causing it to roll a bit, and an arm fell off the chest onto the dirt. The hand was filthy, the fingernails black with dried blood. Only a heavy gold ring on his left hand still gleamed like a hint of lost rank, wealth, and station. But Xerxes had a thousand rings like this simple one with a carved lapis surface. He shuddered to think that the toe of his slipper had touched the vile thing.
“Cut off the head and put it on a stake! Leave it there for the crows to feed upon, so that the whole army will see he was nothing as they march past. He was absolutely nothing! Why, if his subjects had valued him at all, they would not have sent him here. They knew the oracles. They knew he would die here. They discarded him like an old cloak. That’s how much of a king he was to them. Completely dispensable! A dispensable king!”
The thought was so absurd that Xerxes started laughing. Mardonius and Masistius exchanged a worried glance. Xerxes’ laugh sounded slightly hysterical. But no one was willing to risk defying him, and so the order was carried out.
PART I
THE AGIAD THRONE
CHAPTER 1