Leonidas of Sparta is often given high praise for releasing his allies from Thermopylae and defending it with his mere 300 Spartans. This is a myth, however. Leonidas did send away some of the allies. He did not, however, send away all of the allies, nor any of his own perioikoi and helots. Leonidas ordered the Thebans to stay and fight (due to their Medizing) and the Thespians refused to leave the Spartans alone. It is likely that the Spartan force numbered at least 2000 (the Boeotians numbered approx. 1100). While still greatly outnumbered, Leonidas did not die with only 300 men. We don't have numbers for the helots and perioikoi who accompanied the Spartiate force, but they would have at least equalled Spartan numbers (and likely at least doubled the Spartiate numbers).

I am not trying to diminish Leonidas. But the myth that he held off the Persian army with just 300 Spartans needs to be destroyed.