Generals and Heroes in Hellas

[Maccabee]

Who is your favourite ancient greek general?Who do you think is the most brilliant military genius in Hellas before Alexander?Who is your lovely heroic military leader?And...if you lived in ancient Greece under whom-general or captain-would you like to serve?

[Zenith Darksea]

Probably either Brasidas of Sparta or Epimanondas of Thebes.

[Spartan Soldier]

I would stay with King Leonidas

[McMoose77]

Of course you think Leonidas...

[HopliteGlory]

Yes, of course...

I would have to say Brasidas of Sparta, but do not forget Alexander's father.

[monkeyman]

favorite greek general-Leonidas
most brilliant military genius pre-Alenander-Themistocles
favorire hero-Ajax the great
who to serve under?-anybody who fights for the lives of his men and citizens , not for just victory or fame(with exceptions)

[thebigsalad]

most brilliant military genius pre-Alenander

I never bought into Alexander being a genius. I always thought his brashness was shored up by his companions and his father's generals, and that his true ability was charisma. And I agree with HopliteGlory, Philip was indeed a master.

[Zenith Darksea]

Does no one else agree with me about Epimanondas of Thebes? He was surely much more significant than men like Leonidas (who, after all, is famous not for tactical brilliance but for being able to stand his ground) and Themistocles (though I'll admit that Themistocles proved a good admiral, he was a terrible politician). Epimanondas was the man who developed an entirely new phalanx tactic (the sloping phalanx) and was the first Greek general to truly demonstrate that the Spartiate hoplites could be defeated by an ordinary hoplite force, crushing them in open field battles and going so far as to besiege Sparta itself (although he withdrew eventually). It was from Epimanondas that Philip of Macedon received his instruction in war (when he was a hostage in Thebes). I think that the only other Greek of the period that is really comparable is Brasidas of Sparta.

[Plutarch]

Does no one else agree with me about Epimanondas of Thebes? He was surely much more significant than men like Leonidas (who, after all, is famous not for tactical brilliance but for being able to stand his ground) and Themistocles (though I'll admit that Themistocles proved a good admiral, he was a terrible politician). Epimanondas was the man who developed an entirely new phalanx tactic (the sloping phalanx) and was the first Greek general to truly demonstrate that the Spartiate hoplites could be defeated by an ordinary hoplite force, crushing them in open field battles and going so far as to besiege Sparta itself (although he withdrew eventually). It was from Epimanondas that Philip of Macedon received his instruction in war (when he was a hostage in Thebes). I think that the only other Greek of the period that is really comparable is Brasidas of Sparta.

I completely agree with you. Epimanondas' teachings were crucial to the Macedonian Expansion. Miltiades had a solid command at Marathon as well. Although he was not known for his military adeptness with regards to tactics in his career as a General, he did command one of the most important battles of Greek History.

[Boeotian Star]

Does no one else agree with me about Epimanondas of Thebes? He was surely much more significant than men like Leonidas (who, after all, is famous not for tactical brilliance but for being able to stand his ground) and Themistocles (though I'll admit that Themistocles proved a good admiral, he was a terrible politician). Epimanondas was the man who developed an entirely new phalanx tactic (the sloping phalanx) and was the first Greek general to truly demonstrate that the Spartiate hoplites could be defeated by an ordinary hoplite force, crushing them in open field battles and going so far as to besiege Sparta itself (although he withdrew eventually). It was from Epimanondas that Philip of Macedon received his instruction in war (when he was a hostage in Thebes). I think that the only other Greek of the period that is really comparable is Brasidas of Sparta.

I totally agree with you.You are 100%-absolutely right! Leonidas was a GREAT hero ,yes, but i can't judge him on his strategic abilities because he died so early and we haven't references for battles he commanded geniusly.. But he was Spartan so i don't think he was something special as general.. Little expectations...

[Great Polemarch]

1. Favorite general= Ificrates.2.Best military leader=Epaminondas.3.lovely heroic leader=Demophilus at Thermopilae.4.General under whom i like to serve=Myself in HGS

[Racer X]

Personally, I think Phillip was a superior general to Alexander, and Phillip himself owed a debt to Epaminondas and other innovative Thebans of the time. Ifikrates was also a good strategist, though his reforms, I think, never amounted to the same extent as Epaminondas'.

Leonidas, we cannot say was a great general. Maybe he was. But we only know of one battle he certainly took place in, and though it may be to most people a glorious sacrifice (don't get me wrong, I'm one of those people), others see Thermopylae as a complete failure. And it's likely a lot of the Greeks at the time thought the same.

Of course, the 'failure' wasn't because of Leonidas, who seemed a very able commander (Especially by using the native Phokians as the guard of the goat pass, who effectively retreated due to another misunderstanding) but because of Ephialtes.

Themistokles, I personally think was not only a great general but also a good politician. For one thing, he actually used lies to good use!

[Mad Hoplite]

Hey people! Stop the Alexander bashing! You seem diadochi talking like this!

Also, Leonidas is a right answer, as Maccabee not only asked about generals but heroes / heroic military leaders too!

Anyways, my favourite is Brasidas.

I even added his name to the game in the hope some day I will have a Brasidas general but, alas, still no luck.

[Praetorian Captain]

1. Favorite General: Leonidas
2. Most Brilliant military Genius pre-Alexander: Miltiades (Brilliant manuvre at Marathon, almost remenicent of Hannibal's manuvre at Cannae)
3. Favorite Hero: Again Leonidas
4. Aristides of Athens. Read up on him and this is the person i would be willng to serve under (if i lived in Athens in that time period).

[thebigsalad]

Hey people! Stop the Alexander bashing! You seem diadochi talking like this!

It's not that we're bashing him per se. I just think his charisma was his gift and his generals countered his tenacity. I'm not surprised he went traipsing across Asia though, he had big shoes to fill.

2. Most Brilliant military Genius pre-Alexander: Miltiades (Brilliant manuvre at Marathon, almost remenicent of Hannibal's manuvre at Cannae).

Wouldn't it be the other way around? You know... chronologically

Epaminondas gets my vote for general, and as for hero, I'm sticking with good old Odysseus.

[Praetorian Captain]

Chronologically; yes. I find the strat works well in many situations in game.

[Sir Francis]

A) Cimon of Athens (he seems to have a been a genuinely good man: Plutarch says: "as brave as Miltiades, as intelligent as Themistocles and more just than either").

B) Philip II of Macedon was the best organiser and all-rounder, but not sure he was the most brilliant (depends on definition); perhaps Themistokles, or else Agesilaos, king of Sparta.

C) Odysseus, definitely. the most human of the heroes, and beloved of the Grey-eyed Goddess.

D) If I lived in ancient Hellas (Athens, naturally) I have hopes I would myself have been a general. Can you serve yourself? If not, then under Alexander.

[The Italian Stallion]

Favorite general:Cimon-very good taste ,SF , I would add Conon but he is admiral (and good diplomat)..
Heroic leader : Demophilos-the Thespian Braveheart!
I like to serve under:Ifikratis at Lecheon-it's very funny thing the destruction of a whole lacedaemonian mora!
Best general :Epaminondas-Philip

[Sparabara]

a.favorite:Epaminondas the Great !
b.heroic generalelopidas the Magnifiscent!
c.best gen: E-P-A-M-I-N-O-N-D-A-S the GREAT !
d.serve underelopidas at Leuctra ! Kill'em all !

"live the athenian dream or the spartan nightmare ! the choice is yours!"

[mitchverr]

Epimanondas of Thebes or agamemnon of sparta