Brasidas and Derkylidas: The Impact of Character and Command on Sparta in the Peloponnesian War

Abstract

In 5th century BCE Sparta, due to corruption within the dyarchy, the ephorate siphoned away the kings’ military powers and distributed them amongst a new class of commissioned generals. The narrative of two generals, Brasidas and Derkylidas, help to reconstruct Spartan command doctrine and ethos, and serve as exemplars against which two positive and four negative examples are compared. Significant features of their personalities and operational function are analyzed to determine what qualities assist in achieving success. Manuals from the Canadian Armed Forces provide perspective, insight, and supplemental information concerning military doctrine/ethos, ideal command characteristics, tactical acumen, and operational frameworks.