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Leonidas was born in 540 BC -
Leonidas, a member of the Agiad family, succeeded his half-brother Cleomenes I as King, circa 490 BC. He was married to Gorgo, Cleomenes' daughter, and he may have backed Cleomenes' attacks on other Greek cities. -
In 480 BC, Leonidas led a small Greek force against the Persian king Xerxes' huge army as it advanced through Thermopylae. After repelling Persian attacks for two days, Leonidas ordered the majority of his warriors to retire, leaving him and his 300-strong royal guard to fight to the death. This incident left a lasting effect on the Greek mind, leading to the notion that the Spartans never surrendered. -
Leonidas died at the age of 60, dying at the battle and opening the door that led to the myth that he was the leader of 300 spartans