Leonidas I: Leonidas I, king of Sparta, led around seven thousand soldiers (a combination of soldiers from other Greekcity-states as well as soldiers from Sparta) in the Battle of Thermopylae at around 480 B.C.E. After a remarkable defense against the Persian army for three days, the Greeks lost the battle. Some historians speculate that Leonidas I is a descendant of Hercules (a grand hero as well as the son of the mighty god Zeus). This relationship to Hercules could help explain how Leonidas I was able to lead these troops and fight in the Battle of Thermopylae while he was well into his sixties. Previous to the Battle of Thermopylae, the Persian King Xerxes sent a message to Leonidas I asking him and his army to surrender and lay down their weaponry. Leonidas I sent back the brief yet powerful message: “come and get them”. Leonidas I was a powerful warrior king who was courageous to the very day that he died.
Phillip II: When Phillip II's brother, king of Macedonia, died, Phillip II was appointed to be a guard to his late brother’s son, Amyntas IV. Phillip II took this opportunity to recreate and redesign the Macedonian army into an unstoppable force. Phillip II repeatedly proved his sharp mind/expressed his brilliantly thought out military tactics, and was appointed king of Macedonia. Under Phillip II's rule Macedonia’s superior military brought the city-state immense wealth as well as an abundancy of territory. Phillip II conquered many Greek city-states which helped his support and his army to grow. His act of forming the League of Corinth drew in several Greek city-states under his rule. While trying to act on his dream of conquering Persia, he was assassinated by one of his bodyguards. Philip II was a strategic, intelligent king whose dream was cut short by his very ownbodyguard.
Alexander the Great (Alexander III of Macedonia): Alexander became king of Macedon when his father, Phillip II, was killed. He followed in his father’s large footsteps, eventually surpassing them. Alexander strengthened the army as well as thewar strategy left by his father. He conquered the majority of the world (including Persia and Egypt) of his day by using his remarkably strategic and tactful mind. In the areas which he conquered he spread Greek culture, ideas, language, etc. In eachterritory Alexander conquered he left behind a Greek-inspiredcity named “Alexandria”. Alexandria became the core for Hellenistic (Greek) culture/trade in several parts of the Greek empire. By 323 B.C. had created an enormous kingdom, and had conquered impressive empires. Unfortunately, he became sick and died at the age of 32. Alexander was a brilliant strategist and a fearless leader.