Famous Greek Leaders

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 1 
Spartacus
(Thracian Gladiator and One of the Escaped Slave Leaders in the Third Servile War)
Spartacus
26
Birthdate: 0103 BC
Birthplace: Thrace
Died: 0071 BC
Spartacus was a Thracian gladiator who led the slave revolt called the Third Servile War, against the Roman Republic. However, historical accounts differ in their portrayal of Spartacus. He has inspired scores of books, films, and series, one of them being a Stanley Kubrick movie based on Howard Fast's novel.
 2 
Leonidas I
(King of Ancient Sparta)
Leonidas I
10
Birthdate: 0540 BC
Birthplace: Sparta, Greece
Died: August 11, 0480

Leonidas I was the king of the Greek city-state of Sparta from 489–480 BCE. He was the son of King Anaxandridas II. He is remembered for his participation in the Second Persian War, especially for his leadership at the Battle of Thermopylae. He died at the battle, gaining legendary status as the leader of the 300 Spartans.

 3 
Pericles
(First Citizen of Democratic Athens)
Pericles
5
Birthdate: 0494 BC
Birthplace: Athens
Died: 0429 BC

Pericles was an influential and prominent Greek statesman and orator. He also served as the general of Athens during fifth-century Athens, which came to be known as the Golden Age of Athens. Thanks to his efforts, Athens became known as the cultural and educational center of the ancient Greek world. Pericles is also credited with beautifying and protecting the city.

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 4 
Themistocles
(Military Leader)
Themistocles
5
Birthdate: 0524 BC
Birthplace: Frearrioi (modern Feriza close to Anavyssos)
Died: 0459 BC

The 5th-century BC warrior politician Themistocles has gone down in history as one of the first to consolidate the Athenian navy. He is remembered for his victories in wars such as the Battle of Salamis. His exploits have been immortalized in movies such as 300: Rise of an Empire.

 5 
Muhammad Ali of Egypt
(Ottoman Governor of Egypt)
Muhammad Ali of Egypt
5
Birthdate: March 4, 1769
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Kavala, Greece
Died: August 2, 1849

Muhammad Ali of Egypt was the de facto ruler of Egypt from 1805 to 1848. He was also the Albanian Ottoman governor and is considered the founder of modern Egypt. He implemented drastic reforms in the military, economic and cultural spheres in Egypt. He established the Muhammad Ali dynasty that ruled Egypt until the revolution of 1952.

 6 
Pyrrhus of Epirus
(King of Epirus from 297 BC to 272 BC)
Pyrrhus of Epirus
6
Birthdate: 0319 AD
Birthplace: Epirus
Died: 0272 AD

Greek king Pyrrhus, son of prince Aeacides, belonged to the Hellenistic period and ruled Epirus. His destructive losses in the wars that he fought gave rise to the term “Pyrrhic victory.” He fought against Rome in the Pyrrhic War and later died while fighting a street war in Argos.

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 7 
Solon
(Greek Statesman and Poet Who is Credited With Having Laid the Foundations for Athenian Democracy)
Solon
5
Birthdate: 0630 AD
Birthplace: Athens, Greece
Died: 0560 AD

Solon was an Athenian lawmaker, statesman, and poet. He is best remembered for his efforts to legislate against the moral, economic, and political decline in archaic Athens. Although his efforts did not prove to be fruitful during his lifetime, Solon is often credited with laying the foundation for Athenian democracy. 

 8 
Seleucus I Nicator
6
Birthdate: 0359 BC
Birthplace: Orestis
Died: 0281 BC

Seleucus I Nicator was Alexander the Great’s right hand in his fight against Porus in India. He became the Babylonian governor after Alexander’s death and eventually formed the Seleucid empire. His conflict with Chandragupta Maurya ended with a marital alliance, and he secured his ties by sending Megasthenes to Pataliputra.

 9 
Demosthenes
(Statesman & Orator)
Demosthenes
4
Birthdate: 0384 BC
Birthplace: Athens
Died: 0322 BC
One of the greatest and powerful orators, Demosthenes' works provide significant information on the economic, social and political life of the 4th century Athens. Throughout his life, he idealized his city and worked towards restoring Athens superamacy. 
 10 
Hephaestion
(Ancient Macedonian Army General and a Close Friend of Alexander The Great)
Hephaestion
5
Birthdate: 0356 AD
Birthplace: Pella, Greece
Died: 0324 AD

Hephaestion was an ancient Macedonian army general and nobleman who served under Alexander the Great. A close ally of Alexander the Great, Hephaestion shared all his secrets with the former and their relationship has been compared to that of Patroclus and Achilles. Hephaestion has been portrayed in many films such as the 2004 epic historical drama film Alexander.

 11 
Saints Methodius
(Byzantine Christian Theologians and Missionaries)
Saints Methodius
4
Birthdate: 0827 AD
Birthplace: Thessaloniki
Died: February 14, 0869
 12 
Alcibiades
(Athenian Statesman)
Alcibiades
6
Birthdate: 0450 BC
Birthplace: Athens
Died: 0404 BC

After losing his father as a child, Alcibiades came under the tutelage of Socrates. He was known for his shifting allegiance, siding with Athens first, and then Sparta, during the Peloponnesian War. He was known to win wars more with his deceptive means than his military tactics.

 13 
Melina Mercouri
(Greek Actress and Former Minister for Culture)
Melina Mercouri
4
Birthdate: October 18, 1920
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Athens, Greece
Died: March 6, 1994

Maria Amalia Mercouri was a Greek actress, singer, politician, activist, and socialist. Mercouri had a profound acting career and is remembered for her portrayal of Ilya in the film Never on Sunday, which earned her a Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Award. As a politician, Mercouri served as the Minister of Culture and Sports, the first female to do so.

 14 
Eleuthérios Venizélos
(Former Prime Minister of Greece Who Served Eight-Terms Between 1910 to 1933)
Eleuthérios Venizélos
4
Birthdate: August 23, 1864
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Mournies, Greece
Died: March 18, 1936

Eleuthérios Venizélos was a Greek statesman who played a prominent role in the Greek national liberation movement. He served as the Prime Minister of Greece on eight occasions between 1910 and 1933. As a politician, he contributed immensely to the expansion of Greece. Eleuthérios Venizelos is often called the Maker of Modern Greece due to his influence on the country.

 15 
Alexis Tsipras
(Former Prime Minister of Greece and the Current Opposition Leader)
Alexis Tsipras
9
Birthdate: July 28, 1974
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Athens

Alexis Tsipras is a Greek politician who served as the Prime Minister of the country from 2015 to 2019. From 2018 to 2019, he served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The current Leader of the Opposition, Alexis Tsipras has also been serving as the president of Syriza, the left wing political party in Greece . In 2015, he was named among 100 most influential people by Time.

 16 
Miltiades
(A Greek Athenian Military Leader Who Played a Major Role in the 'Battle of Marathon' Against Persia)
Miltiades
3
Birthdate: 0550 BC
Birthplace: Athens, Greece
Died: 0489 BC

Miltiades the Younger was a Greek Athenian military leader who served as an eponymous archon of Athens from 524 to 523 BC. He is best remembered for playing a major role in the Battle of Marathon against the invading Persian force. The battle resulted in the crushing defeat of the Persians and gave rise to the famous Greco-Persian Wars.

 17 
Yanis Varoufakis
(Greek Economist & Politician)
Yanis Varoufakis
7
Birthdate: March 24, 1961
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Palaio Faliro, Greece

Yanis Varoufakis is a Greek-Australian economist and politician who served as minister of finance for a few months in 2015 under Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. He has a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Essex. He began a career in academic economics before entering politics. Along with US Senator Bernie Sanders, he launched the Progressive International. 

 18 
Katerina Sakellaropoulou
(President of Greece)
Katerina Sakellaropoulou
7
Birthdate: May 30, 1956
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Thessaloniki, Greece

Greek judge Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who specializes in environmental and constitutional law, became the first female president of Greece back in 2020. Previously, she has also been the first female president of the Council of State, the highest administrative court in her country. She also regularly contributes to various academic journals.

 19 
Cleisthenes
(Greek Politician Who was the Founder of Athenian Democracy)
Cleisthenes
3
Birthdate: 0570 AD
Birthplace: Athens, Greece
Died: 0508 AD

An ancient Athenian legislator, Cleisthenes is often referred to as the father of Athenian democracy. He not only served as the chief archon, or the top-most magistrate, of Athens, but also transformed the Athenian constitution and made it more democratic. He is believed to have introduced ostracism as a punishment.

 20 
Lysander
(Spartan Political and Military Leader Who Was Responsible For Sparta's Domination of Greece)
Lysander
3
Birthplace: Sparta
Died: 0395 BC

Lysander was a Spartan political and military leader. He is best remembered for destroying the Athenian fleet in 405 BC at the Battle of Aegospotami, forcing Athens to surrender. His actions helped bring the Peloponnesian War to an end. Lysander went on to play an important role in Sparta's domination of Greece until his death in 395 BC.

 21 
Georgios Papadopoulos
(Prime Minister of Greece (1967 - 1973), President of Greece (June 1973 - November 1973))
Georgios Papadopoulos
7
Birthdate: May 5, 1919
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Eleochorion, Greece
Died: June 27, 1999

Georgios Papadopoulos was a Greek soldier remembered for leading a military coup d'état in Greece in 1967, which led to a regime of the colonels that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974. After seizing power in 1967, Papadopoulos remained Greece's dictator until 1973, when he was overthrown by Dimitrios Ioannidis. Papadopoulos also played an important role during World War II.

 22 
Kyriakos Mitsotakis
(Prime Minister of Greece From June 2023)
Kyriakos Mitsotakis
8
Birthdate: March 4, 1968
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Athens, Greece

Kyriakos Mitsotakis is a Greek politician who has been serving as the president of the New Democracy political party since 2016. The current Prime Minister of Greece, Mitsotakis also served as the Minister of Administrative Reform between 2013 and 2015. He is also one of the most controversial leaders, having been associated with the Siemens Greek bribery scandal in 2007.

 23 
Lycurgus
(Legislator)
Lycurgus
3
Birthdate: 0800 AD
Birthplace: Sparta, Greece
Died: 0730 AD
 24 
Ioannis Kapodistrias
(Former Governor of Greece)
Ioannis Kapodistrias
3
Birthdate: February 11, 1776
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Corfu, Greece
Died: October 9, 1831

Ioannis Kapodistrias was a Greek statesman who served as the first Governor of Greece from 1828 to 1831. One of the most distinguished diplomats and politicians of Europe, Kapodistrias had served as the Foreign Minister of Russia from 1816 to 1822. Considered an architect of Greek independence, Ioannis Kapodistrias is also regarded as the founder of the modern Greek state.

 25 
Gorgoneion
(Greek Leader)
Gorgoneion
3
Birthplace: Greece
 26 
Ioannis Metaxas
(Former Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic)
Ioannis Metaxas
4
Birthdate: April 12, 1871
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ithaca, Greece
Died: January 29, 1941

Greek military general Ioannis Metaxas also served as the prime minister of Greece during what is known as a dictatorial regime. He had been part of the Balkan Wars. Though appointed the country’s minister of army affairs initially, he began his dictatorship, or the Fourth of August Regime, on August 4, 1936.

 27 
Lysimachus
(officer)
Lysimachus
3
Birthdate: 0360 BC
Birthplace: Krannonas
Died: January 31, 0281

The king of Thrace and the successor of Alexander the Great, Lysimachus was initially a Macedonian general and one of the bodyguards of Alexander during his invasion in Asia. On the insistence of his third wife, Arsinoe II, he executed his eldest son, Agathocles, but was eventually killed by Seleucus.

 28 
Theodoros Kolokotronis
(Greek General and The Greatest Leader of the 'Greek Revolution of 1821')
Theodoros Kolokotronis
3
Birthdate: April 3, 1770
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ramovouni, Greece
Died: February 4, 1843

Theodoros Kolokotronis was a Greek general and the greatest leader of the Greek Revolution of 1821 against the Ottoman Empire. He is credited with defeating Mahmud Dramali Pasha's Ottoman army at the Battle of Dervenakia, which is widely regarded as Kolokotronis' greatest success. Today, Theodoros Kolokotronis is ranked among the most important figures in the Greek War of Independence.

 29 
Cleon
(Athenian General Who Served in the Famous 'Peloponnesian War')
Cleon
3
Birthplace: Athens
Died: 0422 BC

Cleon was an Athenian general who played an important role during the Peloponnesian War. Although he is often portrayed in a negative way, Cleon is best remembered for his compassion towards the poorer citizens which helped increase his popularity; he increased the pay for jury work, providing a livelihood for many poor Athenians.

 30 
Nikolaos Michaloliakos
(politician, writer)
Nikolaos Michaloliakos
6
Birthdate: December 11, 1957
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Athens

Nikolaos Michaloliakos is a Greek politician best known for founding and leading the far-right political party Golden Dawn. A convicted criminal, Michaloliakos and 67 other political leaders from his party, were found guilty by the Athens Appeals Court of leading a criminal organization.

 31 
Epaminondas
(Greek General of Thebes and Statesman)
Epaminondas
3
Birthdate: 0419 BC
Birthplace: Greece
Died: 0362 BC

Epaminondas was a Greek statesman who is credited with transforming the Ancient Greek city-state and reshaping the political map of Greece. Epaminondas, who served as the general of Thebes, was an influential military figure who invented many important battlefield tactics. His actions led to the defeat of the Spartans and the liberation of the Messenian helots.

 32 
Prokopis Pavlopoulos
(Politician, Lawyer, University teacher)
Prokopis Pavlopoulos
6
Birthdate: July 10, 1950
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Kalamata

New Democracy member Prokopis Pavlopoulos, who has served as the president of Greece, is also a former minister of the interior. Born to a teacher, he initially studied law and then served in the Hellenic Army, before eventually joining the faculty of law at the University of Athens.

 33 
Eva Kaili
(Politician)
Eva Kaili
3
Birthdate: October 26, 1978
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Thessaloniki, Greece

Eva Kaili is a Greek politician and former television news presenter. Since 2014, Kaili has been serving as an important Member of the European Parliament. She is also the current Vice-President of the European Parliament, after having assumed office on 18 January 2022.

 34 
Alexis Georgoulis
(Actor)
Alexis Georgoulis
5
Birthdate: October 6, 1974
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Larissa, Greece

While he initially aspired to be a civil engineer, Alexis Georgoulis later joined a drama school. He soared to fame as an actor with the sitcom You Are My Mate and later appeared in films such as Oxygono. He became an international sensation with the film My Life in Ruins.

 35 
George Papandreou
(Former Prime Minister of Greece (2009 - 2011))
George Papandreou
5
Birthdate: June 16, 1952
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States

George Papandreou is a Greek politician who is currently serving as the President of the Socialist International (SI). From 2009 to 2011, he served as the Prime Minister of Greece. He has also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs on two occasions.

 36 
Andreas Papandreou
(Prime minister of Greece from 1981 to 1989 and from 1993 to 1996)
Andreas Papandreou
4
Birthdate: February 5, 1919
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Chios, Greece
Died: June 23, 1996

Andreas Papandreou was a Greek politician and economist. An influential political figure, Papandreou is credited with founding PASOK, a political party which he led between 1974 and 1996. Andreas Papandreou also served as the Prime Minister of Greece on two occasions. He is also remembered for popularizing turtleneck sweaters among his political supporters, causing an uproar among his political foes. 

 37 
Georgios Papandreou
(Politician, Economist, Diplomat, Lawyer)
Georgios Papandreou
3
Birthdate: February 13, 1888
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kalentzi
Died: November 1, 1968

Georgios Papandreou was a Greek politician who served as the Prime Minister of Greece on three occasions between 1944 and 1965. Papandreou, whose illustrious political career spanned over 50 years, is also credited with founding the Papandreou political dynasty. Georgios Papandreou was also counted among the best orators in Greece.

 38 
Perdiccas
(General of Alexander the Great)
Perdiccas
3
Birthdate: 0355 AD
Birthplace: Orestis, Greece
Died: 0321 AD

Perdiccas was a general who served under Alexander the Great. He was part of Alexander's campaign against Achaemenid Persia, where he played an important role. After Alexander the Great's death, Perdiccas served as regent of the Macedonian empire and became the supreme commander of the imperial army.

 39 
Brasidas
(Spartan Military Officer Who Played an Important Role in the 'Peloponnesian War')
Brasidas
3
Birthplace: Sparta, Greece
Died: 0422 BC

Brasidas was a Spartan military officer who achieved popularity during the first decade of the famous Peloponnesian War. He fought in the battle of Pylos and Amphipolis and died in the Second Battle of Amphipolis before leading his troop to a spectacular victory in the battle.

 40 
Antonis Samaras
(Former Prime Minister of Greece)
Antonis Samaras
5
Birthdate: May 23, 1951
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Athens

Former Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras was born into an affluent family and had even won the Greek Teen Tennis Championship at 17. He boasts of a Harvard MBA and, as a New Democracy party member, has held several ministerial positions. He had founded the short-lived political party Political Spring.

 41 
Ivan Savvidis
(Russian Politician and Deputy of the State Duma)
Ivan Savvidis
3
Birthdate: March 27, 1959
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Santa Gruzino, Tsalka

Ivan Savvidis is a Russian-Greek politician and businessman best known for his close association with Russian President Vladimir Putin. A former member of the Russian Parliament, Savvidis is currently one of Russia's wealthiest men.

 42 
Cimon
(Greek Politician and General)
Cimon
2
Birthdate: 0510 AD
Birthplace: Athens, Greece
Died: 0450 AD

Cimon was an Athenian statesman in mid-5th century BC Greece. Also a general, Cimon played an important role in building the dominant Athenian maritime empire. His military prowess exhibited in various battles, including the Battle of Salamis and the Battle of the Eurymedon river, established him as a celebrated military hero.

 43 
Aristides
(Ancient Athenian Statesman)
Aristides
2
Birthdate: 0530 BC
Birthplace: Athens, Greece
Died: 0468 BC

Aristides was an Athenian statesman remembered for his impact as a general in the Persian War. Aristides has been mentioned by the ancient historian Herodotus as "the best and most honourable man in Athens." A statue of Aristides stands tall at Louisburg Square, Boston, USA. Charles Brocas' 1806 painting of Aristides is preserved at the Musée des Augustins in France.

 44 
Ian Hamilton
(Army General)
Ian Hamilton
4
Birthdate: January 16, 1853
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Corfu, Greece
Died: October 12, 1947
 45 
Konstantinos Karamanlis
(President of Greece from 1990 to 1995)
Konstantinos Karamanlis
4
Birthdate: March 8, 1907
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Proti, Greece
Died: April 23, 1998

Konstantinos Karamanlis had been a 2-time president and 4-time prime minister of Greece. A qualified lawyer, he stepped into politics with the Populist Party and held important cabinet posts, such as that of the minister of labor. His efforts led to Greece joining the European Economic Community.

 46 
Agesilaus II
(Military commander)
Agesilaus II
2
Birthdate: 0444 BC
Birthplace: Sparta
Died: 0360 BC

Agesilaus II reigned as the king of Sparta from 399 to 358 BC. Widely regarded as the most prominent king in the Spartan history, Agesilaus II played a vital role during the Spartan hegemony period that followed the Peloponnesian War. Although he was small in stature, Agesilaus' guerrilla warfare tactics and his bravery was seldom questioned during his time.

 47 
Critias
(Ancient Athenian Leading Role in the Pro-Spartan Govt.)
Critias
2
Birthdate: 0460 AD
Birthplace: Athens, Greece
Died: 0403 AD

Critias was an ancient Athenian author and political figure. He is best remembered as one of the leading members of the infamous pro-Spartan oligarchy, The Thirty Tyrants. As an author, Critias is remembered for his prose works, elegies, and tragedies.

 48 
Herodes Atticus
(Greek Politician)
Herodes Atticus
2
Birthdate: 0101 AD
Birthplace: Marathon, Greece
Died: 0177 AD

Herodes Atticus was an Athenian philanthropic magnate and rhetorician who taught rhetoric to Roman emperors Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius. Also among his students were Polydeukes, Memnon, and Achilles. Widely regarded as one of the most popular personalities of the Antonine Period, Herodes Atticus also served as a Roman senator.

 49 
Laskarina Bouboulina
(Naval commander)
Laskarina Bouboulina
2
Birthdate: May 11, 1771
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Constantinople, Turkey
Died: May 22, 1825
 50 
Konstantinos Mitsotakis
(Former Prime Minister of Greece (1990 - 1993))
Konstantinos Mitsotakis
4
Birthdate: October 18, 1918
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Halepa, Greece
Died: May 29, 2017

Konstantinos Mitsotakis was a Greek politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs on two occasions; from 1980 to 1981 and then in 1992. From 1990 to 1993, he also served as the Prime Minister of Greece. Konstantinos Mitsotakis is also credited with nurturing his son Kyriakos Mitsotakis' political career, who is the current Prime Minister of Greece.