Brasidas

Brasidas, the greatest Spartan general in the earlier years of the Peloponnesian war. Already in 431 B.C. he had distinguished himself by the courage with which he relieved the town of Methone from a hostile attack, for which he was made one of the chief-magistrates of Sparta. In 424 he relieved Megara, and he was no less successful through combined diplomacy and military skill in his expedition to Macedonia, the same year, for the purpose of seducing the cities from their allegiance to Athens. His greatest acquisition was Amphipolis. Here in 422 he had to encounter with a handful of helots and mercenaries, the flower of the Athenian army under Cleon. In the battle both generals were killed, but the army of the Athenians was completely beaten. He was buried at Amphipolis within the walls, and for long after his death his memory was honoured as that of a hero by the celebration of yearly sacrifices and games. Thucydides speaks of the eloquence of Brasidas, so unusual in a Spartan, as well as his justice, liberality, and wisdom; while Plato compares him to Achilles.