Chabrias

Chabrias (Greek:Χαβρίας) was an Athenian general of the 4th century BC.

In 388 BC he defeated the Spartans and Aeginetans under Gorgopas at Aegina and commanded the fleet sent to assist Evagoras, king of Cyprus, against the Persians.

In 378 BC, when Athens entered into an alliance with Thebes against Sparta, he successfully held off the more numerous forces led by the Spartan king Agesilaus II near Thebes. With the advance of Agesilaus' forces, instead of giving the order to charge, Chabrias ordered his men to stand at ease, with their spears remaining pointing upwards instead of towards the enemy, and their shields leaning against their left knees instead of being hoisted against their shoulders. Chabrias' command was followed immediately and without question by the mercenaries under his command, to be copied by their counterparts beside them, the elite Sacred Band of Thebes under the command of Gorgidas. It was said that this "show of contempt" stopped the advancing Spartan forces, and shortly afterwards Agesilaus withdrew.