Lysander (c. 454 BCE – 395 BCE) was a prominent Spartan commander and statesman during the Peloponnesian Wars. He achieved a decisive victory at the Battle of Aegospotami in 405 BCE, where he destroyed the Athenian fleet, leading to Athens' surrender and the conclusion of the war. Following this victory, he played a significant role in establishing Spartan dominance over Greece until his death at the Battle of Haliartus.Little is known about Lysander's early life, which is estimated to have begun around 454 BCE. His father, Aristocritus, was a member of the Spartan Heracleidae, and some sources suggest that his mother may have been a helot. Lysander grew up in poverty and adhered to Spartan norms, displaying a strong character. He was paired with Agesilaus, the future king, in a customary mentorship role. Lysander's military career began in 408 BCE when he was elected as admiral to lead the Spartan forces against Athens.As admiral, Lysander set sail from Gythium with 30 triremes, gathering additional ships from various Greek cities and establishing Ephesus as the main naval base for the Peloponnesian League. He formed a crucial alliance with Cyrus, the Persian governor, who provided significant financial support for the Spartan war effort. Lysander's strategy included encouraging the formation of oligarchic political clubs in the Aegean cities, which fostered loyalty to Sparta and increased military support.After a brief period out of command, Lysander returned to lead the Spartan fleet following the death of Callicratidas at the Battle of Arginusae. He rebuilt the fleet and engaged in aggressive tactics against Athenian allies, including massacres to install oligarchies. In 405 BCE, he achieved a critical victory at Aegospotami, capturing the entire Athenian fleet and effectively ending the Peloponnesian War. Lysander then oversaw the installation of oligarchic governments in various Greek cities and facilitated the fall of Athens, culminating in the establishment of the Thirty Tyrants.After his military successes, Lysander returned to Sparta, where he amassed wealth and faced criticism for introducing money into Spartan society. The Athenian general Thrasybulus led a democratic resistance against the oligarchic government, ultimately defeating Lysander's forces at the Battle of Munychia in 403 BCE. Despite these setbacks, Lysander maintained influence in Sparta, supporting Agesilaus II's ascension to the throne and advocating for military campaigns against Persia.In 395 BCE, as tensions escalated into the Corinthian War, Lysander was tasked with leading Spartan forces against a coalition of Athens, Thebes, Corinth, and Argos. He was killed at the Battle of Haliartus after advancing too close to the city walls. Following his death, allegations arose regarding a supposed plot to alter the Spartan kingship, though the authenticity of these claims remains debated among historians.Lysander's legacy is complex; he is depicted as a key figure in Xenophon's historical accounts, while later sources present a more ambiguous view. He was the first Greek to receive altars and sacrifices as a deity, and his name has been commemorated in various cultural references.