Among those warriors who join the Greek army, the best were: Achilles, leader of the Myrmidons, son of Peleus and Thetis. Ajax, the tall Salamian leader, son of Telamon and Periboea. Diomedes, the Argive leader, son of Tydeus and Deïpyle (Deipyle); and Odysseus, the resourceful and cunning king of Ithaca, son of Laërtes (Laertes) and Anticleia. (Follow this links, for the list Greek leaders who fought in the Trojan War)
King Priam's eldest son, Hector, was commander-in-chief of the Trojan forces. Hector was the best warrior on the Trojan side. Hector knew that he was fated to die in the war, but as heir and eldest son of Priam, he was duty bound to defend Troy, even though he thought that his brother was wrong to start this war.
His second-in-command was also a Trojan royal prince, from the Dardanian House, Aeneas, son of Aphrodite and Anchises. Aeneas was the bravest Trojan next to Hector.
Other renowned allies were two leaders from Lycia, Sarpedon, son of Zeus and Deïdameia, wife of Evander, and Glaucus, son of Hippolochus. (Follow this links, for the list Trojan and their allied leaders who fought in the Trojan War)
Before landing in Troy, the Greeks send Menelaüs and Odysseus as ambassadors, to ask for Helen's return. The Trojan elder from Dardania, Antenor and some other elders supported return of Helen to her husband Menelaüs, in order to prevent a war.
Paris, however, refused to hand over Helen, was vehemently supported by Antimachus, another Trojan elder. Antimachus even tried to have Menelaüs and Odysseus killed before they could leave the city. This plan would have succeeded had Antenor not rescued the Greeks.
Returning to the ships, Menelaüs brought the inevitable news of war. The Greek ships landed on the coast of Troy, but not of them wish to lead, because it was prophesied that the first Greek to set foot on the soil will be the first to die.
One of the leader, Protesilaüs try to defy fate, leap ashore and after killing several Trojans, was killed himself by Hector. The first Trojan leader to fall to Achilles was Cycnus, a son of Poseidon.
Odysseus never forgave Palemedes, the son of Nauplius, for outwitting him and putting his son (Telemachus) in danger, when Odysseus feigning madness to avoid coming to Troy (see Conscriptions).
According to the Cypria (Epic Cycle), Odysseus and Diomedes drowned Palemedes, while he went fishing.
But the more popular version says that Odysseus, with probably the help from Diomedes, conspired to have Palemedes discredited and killed. Odysseus had fake letter from King Priam that was addressed to Palemedes. The letter would implicate Palemedes of committing treason. The cunning Odysseus also planted evidence of treason on Palemedes. Odysseus had gold secretly buried in Palemedes's tent.
When the other leaders discovered the letter and the gold, Palemedes was stoned as a traitor, without a trial. Later, after the war, Nauplius and his other son, Oeax, would exact their own avenge on the returning leaders of the Greek army. See Aftermath of the War about Nauplius' revenge.