Brasidas
Brasidas
(bră`sĭdəs), d. 422 B.C., Spartan general in the Peloponnesian WarPeloponnesian War, 431–404 B.C., decisive struggle in ancient Greece between Athens and Sparta. It ruined Athens, at least for a time. The rivalry between Athens' maritime domain and Sparta's land empire was of long standing. Athens under Pericles (from 445 B.C.
..... Click the link for more information. . In 424 B.C. he saved MégaraMégara
, town (1991 pop. 25,061), E central Greece, on the Saronic Gulf. Wine, olive oil, and flour are produced. It is the site of the ancient town of Mégara, the capital of Mégaris, a small district between the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf.
..... Click the link for more information. from Athenian attack, and then conducted an able campaign in Thrace, capturing AmphipolisAmphipolis
, ancient city of Macedonia, on the Strymon (Struma) River near the sea and NE of later Thessaloníki. The place was known as Ennea Hodoi [nine ways] before it was settled and was of interest because of the gold and silver and timber of Mt.
..... Click the link for more information. and other cities and greatly weakening the Athenian cause through his military successes and his eloquence and charm. In 422 he routed an Athenian army under CleonCleon
, d. 422 B.C., Athenian political leader. The son of a tanner, he had little education; nevertheless, he was a gifted speaker. He began his political career with a series of relentless attacks on Pericles. He was antagonistic to Sparta and successfully opposed (425 B.C.
..... Click the link for more information. that was attacking Amphipolis, but both he and Cleon were killed. Brasidas was one of the greatest Spartan commanders.