# Brasidas — History of the Peloponnesian War character guide

> Brasidas in History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** the Lacedaemonian Brasidas

**First appearance:** 0002-book-i

## Snapshot

Spartan commander of rare daring and persuasion, who carried the war north to Thrace and won cities with words as often as with spears.

## Who they are

Brasidas breaks the Spartan mold: fast-moving, eloquent, and willing to risk his life at the front rather than wait behind walls. He understands that Sparta's strength lies not only in hoplites but in the grievances of Athens' subject allies, and he exploits both with unsettling skill. His northern campaigns force Athens to fight on a second front and give the war its first real Spartan hero.

## Relationships

### [Perdiccas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/characters/perdiccas)

_professional_

Brasidas, the Spartan commander, allied with Perdiccas, the Macedonian king, as a military partner against Athens, though their cooperation was often strained by Perdiccas's shifting loyalties.

### [Cleon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/characters/cleon)

_rivalry_

Brasidas and Cleon were direct military opponents, most famously clashing at the Battle of Amphipolis where both were killed.

### [Clearidas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/characters/clearidas)

_professional_

Brasidas mentored Clearidas, his lieutenant, and entrusted him with the defense of Amphipolis before his final battle.

## In the story

### [History of the Peloponnesian War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/chapters/history-of-the-peloponnesian-war)

Spartan commander known for his daring campaigns in Thrace and his death at Amphipolis.

### [The Corcyraean Revolution and Its Aftermath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/chapters/x)

Urges his superior Alcidas to attack the city of Corcyra after the naval victory, but is overruled.

### [Book IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/chapters/book-iv)

Spartan commander who campaigns in Thrace, capturing Amphipolis and other cities.

### [XIV: Eighth and Ninth Years of the War — Invasion of Boeotia — Fall of Amphipolis — Brilliant Successes of Brasidas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/chapters/xiv)

Delivers a persuasive speech to the Acanthians, offering freedom from Athens and securing their alliance; marches through Thessaly to Thrace.

### [Book V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/chapters/book-v)

Mentioned in the context of the peace negotiations and his death at Amphipolis.

### [The Peace of Nicias and the End of the First War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/chapters/xv)

The other principal opponent of peace, Brasidas's death at Amphipolis, along with Cleon's, paves the way for the peace process.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/characters/brasidas
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/characters