Pausanias was a Spartan regent from the royal Agiad line, acting on behalf of the young king Pleistarchus after the death of Leonidas I. Though not as famous in popular culture as Leonidas or Themistocles, he played a decisive role in ending the Persian invasion.
In 479 BC, Pausanias took command of a massive Greek coalition force that gathered near Plataea in Boeotia. His army included Spartans, Athenians, and many other city-states that had chosen to resist Persia rather than submit.
The battle was tense and chaotic, involving broken communications, night maneuvers, and conflicting tactical needs among allies. Pausanias managed to hold the Spartan center together under heavy missile fire until the omens favored an advance, after which the hoplite assault shattered the Persian infantry and their elite guard.
After the victory at Plataea, Pausanias briefly enjoyed immense prestige and even commanded further operations in the Aegean. However, ancient sources portray him as increasingly arrogant and suspected of medizing (sympathizing with Persia). He was eventually recalled to Sparta and died under murky circumstances, allegedly starved to death in a sanctuary after being accused of treason.