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.
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. 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 that was attacking Amphipolis, but both he and Cleon were killed. Brasidas was one of the greatest Spartan commanders.