Independent Comics/Movies and TV

Leonidas is a legendary figure primarily known through Frank Miller's graphic novel, "300," and its subsequent film adaptations (300 and 300: Rise of an Empire). He is depicted as the King of Sparta, a city-state in ancient Greece renowned for its military prowess.

In the popular portrayals, Leonidas is a stoic and fiercely patriotic warrior. He leads a small force of 300 Spartan warriors (and a larger contingent of allied Greek forces) against the massive Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. This stand, though ultimately resulting in defeat, is glorified for its courage and defiance against overwhelming odds.

While the film adaptations take considerable artistic liberties, they draw from historical accounts, primarily those of Herodotus. Historically, Leonidas was a king of the Agiad line, one of the two royal families of Sparta. He died at Thermopylae, and his sacrifice became a symbol of Spartan bravery and resistance against foreign invaders.