Today is Xenophon Day: March Forth!

 

---

Xenophon's 'Anabasis' is as much a blueprint for leadership in crisis as it is an epic tale of survival, a narrative where every step forward was freighted with destiny and death.

In 401 BCE, Xenophon found himself in the midst of an ill-fated campaign: an expedition of roughly 10,000 Greek mercenaries hired by Cyrus the Younger to overthrow the Persian king. When Cyrus fell at the Battle of Cunaxa, the mercenaries were left stranded deep in hostile territory - a predicament that would forge their names into eternal legend.

Stranded far from home, the army faced an arduous retreat, their journey marked by relentless hardship, internal discord, and external threats. Originally an aristocrat enrolled both to fight and to chronicle the mission, Xenophon emerged from the chaos as an unlikely leader. His cool-headed pragmatism and uncanny ability to inspire were crucial in rallying a demoralized force: far from home, without supplies and surrounded by hostile forces.

With little more than a fervent command - infamously encapsulated in his rallying cry to “March forth!” - he transformed an almost-certain doom into a masterclass of tactical retreat and survival. This transformation was not just physical but psychological: in the crucible of adversity, Xenophon demonstrated that a leader’s resolve and ability to maintain the soldiers’ morale can tip the scales between catastrophe and survival.

Today, military academies still study Xenophon’s exploits because his account is a timeless treatise on the art of command and the realities of warfare. His narrative is unflinchingly honest about the chaos of battle and the fragility of human organization when stripped of order, and the need to deal decisively with personal weaknesses. Xenophon’s acute observations on discipline, logistics, and the management of fear and uncertainty offer a strategic manual that transcends the centuries.

His emphasis on adaptability - the ability to reassess and recalibrate in the face of unforeseen challenges - is particularly resonant. Modern military leaders appreciate that the landscape of warfare is unpredictable; the principles of rapid decision-making under duress, the necessity of clear communication, and the importance of cohesion among disparate units remain as relevant today as they were on the dusty trails of Persia.

Beyond the battlefield, Xenophon’s other works, such as his treatises on horsemanship and his idealized account of leadership in the “Cyropaedia”, continue to inform discussions on political strategy and statecraft. His portrayal of Cyrus as a benevolent yet strategic ruler offers an early exploration into the interplay between moral virtue and political power - a subject as relevant in today’s corridors of power as it was in ancient courts.

Politically, the Anabasis is a study in the perils of overextension and the complexities of mercenary alliances, a masterclass in the management of hired soldiers.  Strategically, his narrative reinforces the timeless wisdom that the terrain - both physical and political - can be as formidable an adversary as any enemy force.

So, on March 4th - aptly dubbed ‘Xenophon Day’ - we are reminded that when faced with overwhelming odds, the courage to 'march forth' is not just about physical movement but about the steadfast march toward clarity, order, and the resilient powers of leadership.