Pausanias (c. 510 - c. 465 BCE) was a Spartan regent and general who won glory by leading a combined Greek force to victory over the Persians at the Battle of Plataea in 479 BCE. Famously immodest regarding his own talent, he was beset by accusations of colluding with the Persians throughout his career and, despite success in Cyprus and Byzantium, he would meet a particularly inglorious end. He is not to be confused with Pausanias, the 2nd-century CE Greek travel writer.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 510 BCE - c. 465 BCELife of Spartan regent and general Pausanias.
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480 BCEPausanias is made regent of Sparta for his young cousin Pleistarchus.
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479 BCEXerxes' Persian forces are defeated by Greek forces at Plataea effectively ending Persia's imperial ambitions in Greece.
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478 BCESpartan general Pausanias is given command of a force and takes both Cyprus and Byzantium.
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c. 475 BCEAthenian general Cimon defeats Spartan general Pausanias and takes Byzantium.
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c. 471 BCESpartan general Pausanias is put on trial for the second time with a charge of treason but is acquitted for a second time.
