469K views · 8.5K reactions | Leonidas I, king of Sparta, led 300 Spartans in a legendary last stand against the Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE. Though vastly outnumbered, he chose sacrifice over surrender, embodying Spartan ideals of duty, courage, and honor. His death became a timeless symbol of resistance against tyranny and valor in the face of impossible odds. | Ancient History Explorers | Facebook