The march of the Ten Thousand, as told by Xenophon in his Anabasis Kyrou (‘Expedition of Cyrus’), was one of the most celebrated events in antiquity, even more famous than the expeditions of Alexander the Great.
Xenophon, of course, was a participant and eyewitness, but chose to write his account under a pseudonym. In another work, he informs his readers that, “how Cyrus collected an army and marched up country against his brother, and how the battle happened, and how afterwards the Greeks returned safely to the sea, this has been written by Themistogenes of Syracuse” ( 3.1.2). Plutarch explained Xenophon’s reason: “to win greater credence for his narrative by favouring another person with the glory of authorship” ( 345E). It seems that he also wished to absolve himself of any guilt in Cyrus’ attempt to unseat the rightful King of Persia, since he clearly states that “Xenophon joined the expedition 3.1.10). Along the way, he wrote a first-class handbook on leadership, as he was one of the men who came forward to lead the army home.
