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| “ | You bring the crowns and heads of conquered kings to MY city steps! You insult my queen! You threaten my people with slavery and death! Oh, I've chosen my words carefully, Persian; perhaps you should have done the same! | „ |
| ~ King Leonidas, to the Persian envoy |
| “ | Madness? THIS... IS... SPARTA!!! | „ |
| ~ King Leonidas's most famous quote |
| “ | Tonight, we dine..in hell! | „ |
| ~ King Leonidas's 2nd most famous quote |
Leonidas is the main protagonist of the 2006 epic war film 300. He is the King of Sparta who leads 300 Spartans to the Hot Gates, where he faces down the army of the Persian king Xerxes, before ultimately meeting his end.
He was portrayed by Gerard Butler, who also played Mike Banning in the Has Fallen series, and Stoick the Vast in How to Train Your Dragon. In Japanese, he was voiced by Joji Nakata.
Personality[]
Leonidas is very violent, brutal, and very arrogant. However, he is surprisingly understanding for a Spartan king. He is not “inherently hostile” against Ephialtes despite him (by Spartan's laws and customs) having no right to live, and pities his “unfortunate existence”. He also lets down his offer to join his army in the most gentle way he can, saying he can still treat the wounded or do some other helpful work though he can't use him as a soldier. Beside that, Leonidas has a soft spot to his family and cares a lot to his army.
History[]
Beginnings[]
Leonidas was one of three brothers: he had an older brother Dorieus and a younger brother Cleombrotus, who ruled as regent for a while on Leonidas' death before the regency was taken over by Pausanias, who was Cleombrotus' son. Leonidas succeeded his half-brother Cleomenes I, probably in 489 or 488 BC, and was married to Cleomenes' daughter, Gorgo. His name was raised to heroic status as a result of the events in the Battle of Thermopylae.
300[]
Leonidas has become King of Sparta following the Spartan ritual trials which he has triumphed over. He learns from a Persian messenger that King Xerxes plans to invade Greece and subjugate his city but refuses to negotiate any arrangement. Against the advice of the ephors (politicians of sorts) corrupted by Persian gold, he sets out to meet the enemy with the 300 best soldiers of his city, pretending to go on a ride with his personal guard. He is joined on the road by Daxos and his Arcadians, allies of Sparta.
Leonidas chooses to fight the Persian army in the narrow and rocky pass of Thermopylae so that the enemies can no longer use their superior numbers to win. He refuses to enlist Ephialtes, an exiled Spartan, because the latter, hunchbacked, cannot raise his shield properly because of his back and neck handicap, which would have endangered the phalanx.
Faced with the gigantic army led by King Xerxes himself, the resistance is heroic but desperate. Xerxes, struck by the significant losses suffered by his army during the first assaults, tries to win Leonidas over to his cause but suffers a failure. He then sends his best warriors, the Immortals, but they are also pushed back by the Spartans who have set a trap for them. But Ephialtes, hurt by Leonidas' refusal, reveals to Xerxes the existence of a secret path that bypasses Thermopylae. The Arcadians retreat upon hearing the news, and Leonidas, knowing that his fate is now sealed, sends Dilios, one of his warriors who lost an eye in the fighting, to Sparta with orders to tell the story of his comrades' sacrifice.
The next day, the Persians surround the surviving Spartans and Xerxes demands their submission. Leonidas feigns acceptance before stabbing Xerxes in the cheek with his spear. Leonidas and his men are then massacred. A year later, Dilios concludes his tale in front of an army of Spartans, explaining how this valiant resistance has affected the morale of the Persian army and caused the Greek cities to unite, with 40,000 Greeks now facing 100,000 Persians on the battlefield of Plataea.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- His most famous quote, "This is Sparta!", became a very popular Internet meme.