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Having two elder brothers, Cleomenes and Dorieus, he had no thought
of ever mounting the throne. However, when Cleomenes died without
male offspring, as Dorieus was likewise deceased, having perished in
Sicily, the crown fell to Leonidas, who was older than
Cleombrotus, the youngest of the sons of Anaxandridas, and,
moreover, was married to the daughter of Cleomenes. He had now come
to Thermopylae, accompanied by the three hundred men which the law
assigned him, whom he had himself chosen from among the citizens, and
who were all of them fathers with sons living. On his way he had taken
the troops from Thebes, whose number I have already mentioned, and
who were under the command of Leontiades the son of Eurymachus. The
reason why he made a point of taking troops from Thebes, and Thebes
only, was that the Thebans were strongly suspected of being well
inclined to the Medes. Leonidas therefore called on them to come with
him to the war, wishing to see whether they would comply with his
demand, or openly refuse, and disclaim the Greek alliance. They,
however, though their wishes leant the other way, nevertheless sent
the men.
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