Brasidas was the son of Tellis (Τέλλις)[2][3] and Argileonis, and won his first laurels by leading the relief of Methone, which was besieged by the Athenians (431 BC).

[8] Immediately afterwards he marched through Thessaly at the head of 1,700 hoplites (700 helots and 1000 Peloponnesian mercenaries[9]) and joined Perdiccas II of Macedon.

[13] On the approach of a body of Illyrians, who, though summoned by Perdiccas, unexpectedly declared for Arrhabaeus, the Macedonians fled, and Brasidas's force was rescued from a critical position only by his coolness and ability (Battle of Lyncestis).

[7] In April 422 BC, the truce with Sparta expired, and in the same summer Cleon was dispatched to Thrace, where he stormed Toroni and Galepsus[14] and prepared for an attack on Amphipolis, the most important Athenian subject city in Chalcidice.

[1][7] When Cleon brought part of his army forward to probe the defences, Brasidas recognized an opportunity to defeat his superior force in detail.

[15] Brasidas personally led the Spartans in a sudden charge from Amphipolis, routing the left wing of the Athenian army.

Edonian and Chalcidian cavalry and light infantry pursued the fleeing Athenians, killing 600 men, including Cleon.

[17] At Sparta a cenotaph was erected in his memory near the tombs of Pausanias and Leonidas, and yearly speeches were made and games celebrated in their honour, in which only Spartiates could compete.

Brasidas also appears in the Age of Empires II Grand Campaign as a protagonist for the Spartan side during the Pelepponesian War.