How to portray a Spartan king from the classical era?

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

The Hippeis were fighting in the center with the king. The king must have fough in the front line. That's why he needed bodyguards(Olympic or Pythia champions) fighting by him. After all,don't forget that Lenonidas fell relatively soon in the last day of Thermopylae. Not to mention that the front rank was the most honorable one.
In Mantineia the few Spartans were placed in the far end either to control the movement of the right side or just to claim the honorary position,although strategically the main body of their line was in the center,to face the Argives.
Khaire
Giannis