Post by Lannes on Nov 19, 2004 0:55:12 GMT 3
Two of Sparta's most decisive and all-around talented generals were Brasidas and Gylippos. Both delivered hard blows to Athenian power during the Peloponnesian War, and were generally great moral shifters. Which man would you claim to be the better general?
A bit about each:
Brasidas- Following the Spartan disaster at Sphakteria, Brasidas led several attacks into the Chalkid**e Pennisula, saving the city of Megara, capturing the city of Amphipolis, and destroying the Athenian garrison in Torone. He made use of Amphipolis' resources by contrusting some triremes. Eventually, the Athenians decided he would half to be stopped, so they made negotiations that gave Sparta some of their losses at Pylos back. Brasidas would end his great career with a slaughter outside the city of Amphipolis, in which he and his selected 150 hoplites killed off around 600 Athenian hoplites(including their commander, Kleon) that were heading back to Eion(unfortunately, Brasidas was one of the Spartans' seven casualties).
Gylippos- Was key to the success at Syracuse. With his skillful use of cavalry, Gylippos inflicted the first significant Athenian defeat in Sicily. Following his gathering of reinforcements, Gylippos and his Syracusan allies managed to seize the main forts and stores at Plemmyrion, forcing the Athenians into marshy grounds on the western side of the Great Harbor. After the the destruction of the Athenian reinforcement fleet, Gylippos and the Syracusans hunted down the fleeing Athenians, resulting in the deaths of two talented Athenian generals, Demosthenes and Nikias.
A bit about each:
Brasidas- Following the Spartan disaster at Sphakteria, Brasidas led several attacks into the Chalkid**e Pennisula, saving the city of Megara, capturing the city of Amphipolis, and destroying the Athenian garrison in Torone. He made use of Amphipolis' resources by contrusting some triremes. Eventually, the Athenians decided he would half to be stopped, so they made negotiations that gave Sparta some of their losses at Pylos back. Brasidas would end his great career with a slaughter outside the city of Amphipolis, in which he and his selected 150 hoplites killed off around 600 Athenian hoplites(including their commander, Kleon) that were heading back to Eion(unfortunately, Brasidas was one of the Spartans' seven casualties).
Gylippos- Was key to the success at Syracuse. With his skillful use of cavalry, Gylippos inflicted the first significant Athenian defeat in Sicily. Following his gathering of reinforcements, Gylippos and his Syracusan allies managed to seize the main forts and stores at Plemmyrion, forcing the Athenians into marshy grounds on the western side of the Great Harbor. After the the destruction of the Athenian reinforcement fleet, Gylippos and the Syracusans hunted down the fleeing Athenians, resulting in the deaths of two talented Athenian generals, Demosthenes and Nikias.
