This book uniquely looks at the many facets of Greek generalship through the individual careers of some of the best-known Greek commanders. They include the Spartan king Leonidas, who embodied his countrymen's heroic ethos in the battle of Thermopylae against the Persian invader; the Athenian leader Themistocles, credited as the architect of Athens' naval power and of the Greek victory over the Persians; the famous democratic leader, Pericles, who prepared Athens and directed its conflict with Sparta, known as the Peloponnesian War; the Athenian general Demosthenes, who deviated from contemporary conventions of warfare with his innovative approach; the Spartan general Lysander, who won the Peloponnesian War for Sparta; Dionysius I of Syracuse, Sicily, arguably the most innovative and best skilled of the eight generals discussed in this book; and Epaminondas and Pelopidas who together transformed their city, Thebes, into an hegemonic power. The book describes the nature of these leaders' command and the mark they left on Greek history and warfare. It draws attention to the important role that personality played in their leadership, which justifies investigating Greek generalship through the individual careers of commanders. The book discusses how these generals designed and executed military campaigns and strategy, and to what degree they were responsible for the results. The book also looks at how far the Greek art of command changed during the Classical Age, and how adaptable it was to different military challenges. Other questions involve the extent to which a general was a mere leader of the charge, a battle director or a strategist, and what made both ancient and modern authorities regard the aforementioned generals outstanding shapers of Greek military history. The book will appeal to readers who are new to, but interested in, ancient warfare and generalship. Original observations and analyses, in addition to informative notes and bibliography, should make the book attractive to experts too.

Table of Contents:
CONTENTS List of Maps and Illustrations List of Abbreviations Introduction: Greek Generals and Warfare in the Classical Age Eight Greek Generals Two Generals in Action Greek Generals: Responsibilities and Personality What Generals Did, Their Qualifications, and Their Offices Land Warfare The Armies of Sparta, Athens, Boeotia, Syracuse, Persia, and Carthage Greek Battleships and Navies CH. 1 Leonidas of Sparta: the Lion at the Gates Leonidas' Sparta and His Military Challenges The Threat of War Preliminaries to the battle of Thermopylae Leonidas in Thermopylae The Aftermath Conclusion CH. 2 Themistocles of Athens: the Clever Counselor Themistocles, His City and His Military Challenges Themistocles and the Athenian Navy Themistocles and the Persian War till the Battle of Artemision Themistocles in Artemision The Battle of Salamis Themistocles after Salamis Conclusion CH. 3 Pericles of Athens: the Magisterial Commander Pericles, Athenian Democracy and His Military Challenges Pericles' Generalship Prior to the War against Samos (463/2?441) The Samian Revolt Pericles' Strategy of the Peloponnesian War Pericles and the Peloponnesian War: The Limits of his Strategy Conclusion Ch. 4 Demosthenes of Athens: The Master of Surprise Demosthenes and His Military Challenges Defeat and Victories in Western Greece Astonishing Success in Pylos Sneak Attack on Megara Coming Out Empty-Handed in Boeotia Disaster in Sicily Conclusion CH. 5 Lysander of Sparta: The Lion and the Fox Lysander and His Military Challenges Lysander's First Admiralship and the Battle of Notium Victory at Aegospotami Lysander and the Spartan Empire The Fall of a Hero Conclusion CH. 6 Dionysius I of Syracuse: The Evolution of a General Dionysius' Syracuse and His Military Challenges Dionysius' Early Career up to the Battle of Gela (405) The Buildup of Syracuse's Power Preparations for the Second Carthaginian War (397-392) The Siege of Motya Besieged in Syracuse Campaigns in Southern Italy (ca. 396-383) The Third and Fourth Carthaginian Wars (383-367) Conclusion Ch. 7 Epaminondas and Pelopidas of Thebes Epaminondas and Pelopidas, Their Military Challenges and Their City Revolution in Thebes The Sacred Band and the Battle of Tegyra (375) The Battle of Leuctra (371) Theban Supremacy and the First Invasion of the Peloponnese The Second Invasion of the Peloponnese Pelopidas' Missteps in Thessaly The Third Invasion of the Peloponnese and the Naval Bill Pelopidas' Last Battle Epaminondas' Last Battle Conclusion Ch. 8 Conclusion The Art of Command: Planning, Management and Tactics The Art of Command: Personality Bibliography A. The Main Ancient Sources B. Modern Literature