Leotychidas II facts for kids
Leotychidas II (born around 545 BC – died around 469 BC) was a king of Sparta. He ruled from 491 BC to 476 BC. He was one of two kings in Sparta at the time, ruling alongside Cleomenes I, then Leonidas I, and later Pleistarchus.
Leotychidas was an important leader during the Persian Wars. He led Spartan forces in many battles against the Persians.
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Early Life and Becoming King
Leotychidas was born in Sparta around 545 BC. He belonged to the Eurypontid royal family. In 491 BC, he became king. He took the place of another king, Demaratus. This happened with help from the other Spartan king, Cleomenes I.
Later that year, Leotychidas joined King Cleomenes on a trip to Aegina. They took ten people from Aegina as a guarantee. These people were then given to Athens. After Cleomenes died in 488 BC, Leotychidas faced some trouble from Aegina.
Leading in the Persian Wars
In 479 BC, Leotychidas became a major leader in the Persian Wars. This was after his co-ruler, King Leonidas, died at the famous Battle of Thermopylae.
Leotychidas took charge of a large Greek fleet. This fleet had 110 ships. He led them first at Aegina and then at Delos. His goal was to help Greek cities like Chios and Samos that were rebelling against Persia.
Battle of Mycale
In the summer of 479 BC, Leotychidas led the Greeks to a big victory. This was at the Battle of Mycale. The battle took place on the coast of Asia Minor.
At Mycale, Leotychidas defeated both the Persian army and their navy. This was a very important win for the Greeks. It helped push the Persians out of Greek lands.
Later Life and Exile
In 476 BC, Leotychidas led a military trip to Thessaly. He went there to fight the Aleuadae family. This family had helped the Persians during the war.
However, Leotychidas accepted gifts from the Aleuadae family. He then pulled his forces back from Thessaly. When he returned to Sparta, he was put on trial for taking these gifts.
Leotychidas decided to leave Sparta. He fled to a temple in Tegea for safety. He was then officially sent away from Sparta. His home was also burned down.
His grandson, Archidamus II, became the next king. Leotychidas died a few years later, around 469 BC.
