Cleandridas facts for kids

Cleandridas (pronounced Klee-an-DREE-das) was a powerful general from Sparta in ancient Greece. He lived in the 5th century BCE (which means before the Common Era). Cleandridas was an important advisor to the young Spartan king, Pleistoanax, during the early years of his rule.

A General's Role in Ancient Sparta

Cleandridas was a high-ranking military leader in Sparta. Sparta was famous for its strong army and strict way of life. Generals like Cleandridas were very important. They helped lead the army and advised the kings on military decisions. Cleandridas worked closely with King Pleistoanax, who was still quite young at the time.

The Conflict with Athens

During Cleandridas's time, Sparta and Athens were often rivals. They were two of the most powerful city-states in ancient Greece. Sometimes, their disagreements led to wars. At one point, Sparta and King Pleistoanax's army were planning to attack Attica, which was the region around Athens. This was a very serious military move.

A Controversial Decision

According to an ancient writer named Plutarch, something unusual happened during this planned attack. The Spartan army, led by King Pleistoanax and advised by Cleandridas, suddenly decided to call off their invasion of Attica. Plutarch wrote that Cleandridas and King Pleistoanax were accused of accepting a payment from the Athenian leader, Pericles. This payment was supposedly to make them stop the attack.

Life After Sparta

Because of this event, both Cleandridas and King Pleistoanax faced serious consequences. They were both forced to leave Sparta. This likely happened between 446 and 444 BCE.

Banishment and Its Impact

Being banished meant they could not return to their home city. It was a very harsh punishment in ancient times. While King Pleistoanax was later allowed to return to Sparta, Cleandridas was not so lucky. He was found guilty of wrongdoing even though he was not there to defend himself. This meant he could never safely return to Sparta.