Ch. 5. Novel Leaders for Novel Armies: Xenophon's Focus on Willing Obedience in Context

Abstract

Although the universalising bent of Xenophon’s leadership theory shows Socratic influence, its prioritisation of the general and the author’s fame for leading the Cyreans suggests an equal foundation in his battlefield experiences. In particular, the theory’s focus on securing willing obedience can be understood as a response to the novel fourth-century challenge of uniting ethnically disparate forces of free-agent mercenaries as an army, an issue central to Anabasis 5–7. Not only was Xenophon familiar with such a force, but he also shows an interest throughout his works in the advantages of mercenary professionalisation and specialisation, particularly with Jason of Pherae. Published in Richard Fernando Buxton, ed., Aspects of Leadership in Xenophon (HISTOS Supplement 5), p. 163-97.