Leonidas was born around 530-500 BC and was one of the sons of the Spartan king Anaxandridas. From early childhood he was training to become a hoplite warrior. Hoplite warriors were soldiers/citizens armed with a round shield, a spear and a short iron sword. And that's what it was originally intended to be. (Leonidas, History, A&E) All children born in Sparta were entered into military training at the young age of 7. They were taught that they would return home after a battle with their shield or on it, implying that they would return home successfully after battle or dead and carrying their shield. Since Leonidas was not initially supposed to become king, he planned to become general of the army. So because he became king, he was now not only a military general, but he was also the military leader and also the political leader. (Leonidas, Humanities360.) Anaxandridas died in 520 BC, and Cleomenes ruled from or about 520 BC to 490 BC. In 489 BC he was considered mad by his people, and then deemed unfit to rule. He was considered the aforementioned because he had been discovered plotting against his co-king. He had done this most likely to gain complete power over Sparta. Although his death was considered a suicide, many modern historians dispute this fact and say they cannot be sure. (Cleomenes) Not much is known about Leonidas' early life because he was not originally first in the royal line. He was still considered to be at the top of the chain of command, but he was not constantly monitored by the people. Ten years after the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC Xerxes, son of Darius, had assembled a large army of around twenty-five million men completed with... half of the paper ......and that Leonidas was not just a great general and king who led his men to the end. He also demonstrated that he was honorable by not backing down in the face of certain doom. He is still remembered today for not only being a strong soldier, but also a great and tactful leader. Works cited "Ephialtes of Trachis". Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, October 26, 2013. Web. November 26, 2013."King Leonidas of Sparta (reigned c. 490 to 480 BC)." About.com Ancient/classical history. Np, nd Web. November 24, 2013."Leonidas." History.com. A&E and Web television networks. November 24, 2013. "Anaxandridas II." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, November 23, 2013. Web. November 26, 2013."Biography of King Leonidas I of Ancient Sparta." By the historian. Np, nd Web. 26 November 2013. "Leonidas, I." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. World History in Context. Network. November 24. 2013.