Xenophon

Xenophon was an Athenian knight, an associate of Socrates, who is known for his chronicles of a mercenary expedition against Persia and the subsequent history of Greece. The expedition, called the Anabasis?, was led by Cyrus against his older brother, the Persian emperor [Artaxerxes II]?. A battle took place at Cunaxa?, where the Greeks were victorious but Cyrus was killed, and shortly thereafter the general Clearchus? of Sparta? was apprehended and executed. The mercenaries now found themselves deep in hostile territory, far from the sea, and without leadership. But they elected new leaders, including Xenophon himself, who led them north through Armenia and back to Greece.

Afterwards Xenophon retired to Athens, but finding the city unfriendly, rejoined his comrades and helped the Spartans against Persia. When Athens allied with Persia against Sparta, he was banished, and spent the next few decades at Scillus, where his Anabasis was put together. Later the sentence was revoked, and Xenophon spent his last few years at Athens.