Leonidas and the Kings of Sparta

This pivotal history of the kings of Sparta not only describes their critical leadership in war, but also documents the waxing and waning of their social, political, and religious powers in the Spartan state.
The Spartans have seemingly never gone out of interest, serving as mythic icons who exemplify fearlessness and an unwillingness to give in against impossible odds. Yet most are unaware of the true nature of the Spartan leaders-the fact that the kings maintained their position of power for 600 years by their willingness to compromise, even if it meant giving up some of their power, for example.

Organized in a logical and chronological order, Leonidas and the Kings of Sparta: Mightiest Warriors, Fairest Kingdom describes the legendary origins of the dual kingship in Sparta, documents the many reigning eras of the kings, and then concludes with the time when the kingship was abolished six centuries later. The book examines the kings' roles in war and battle, in religion, in the social life of the city, and in formulating Spartan policy both at home and abroad. No other book on Sparta has concentrated on describing the role of the kings-and their absolutely essential contributions to Spartan society in general.

Illustrations, Maps, and Tables
Preface
Introduction
Names and Terms
Part I. The Dorian Wars
1. By Bus to the "Hollow"
2. "Tell the Spartans ."
3. The Sons of Heracles
4. The First Kings of Sparta
Part II. The Messenian Wars
5. Over the Mountains
6. Shoulder to Shoulder
7. "Never Retreat"
8. Deeds of the Wolf
9. The Spartan Way
Part III. The Arcadian and Argive Wars
10. The Spartan Alliance
11. The "Strangers"
12. The Accidental King
13. The King Who Saved Greece
Part IV. The Persian Wars
14. The "Greeks"
15. Defeat and Victory
16. The Battle of Plataea
17. The Treason of Pausanias
Part V. The Athenian Wars
18. The Precarious Entente
19. King Archidamos Gives Sound Advice
20. The Archidamian War
21. War within Peace
22. The Decelean War
23. The Man Who Would Be King
Part VI. The Theban Wars
24. The Common King
25. "Free and Autonomous"
26. Sparta's Empire
27. The Battle of Leuctra
28. Sparta at Bay
Part VII. The Macedonian Wars
29. The Struggle to Survive
30. In the Shadow of Great Powers
31. The Gentle Reformer
32. The Revolutionary
33. The Betrayal of Greece
34. The Last Kings of Sparta
Part VIII. The Roman War
35. The Tyrant Who Was a King
36. Sparta under the Romans
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index