List of kings of Sparta facts for kids

For most of its history, the ancient Greek city-state of Sparta was led by kings. Sparta was special among Greek city-states because it kept its kings for a very long time. It was even more unusual because it had two kings at the same time! These kings were called archagetai and came from two different families.

According to old stories, these two families, the Agiads and Eurypontids, were related to the famous hero Heracles. They were said to be descendants of twin brothers, Eurysthenes and Procles, who supposedly took over Sparta after the Trojan War. However, the families were actually named after later kings, Agis I and Eurypon. The Agiad family was considered more important than the Eurypontid family.

Even though there are lists of very old Spartan kings, historians don't have much proof that any kings existed before the mid-6th century BC.

Spartan kings were honored even after they died, almost like heroes. Their oldest sons, who were next in line for the throne, were the only Spartan boys who didn't have to go through the tough Agoge training. But they could join if they wanted, and this made them even more respected when they became king.

Legendary Kings of Sparta

Ancient Greeks often named groups of people after their ancestors. For example, the sons of Atreus were called Atreids. Royal families would have names based on their founder. So, while Agis I started the Agiad family, he was also a descendant of Heracles, and so were his family members.

When the Greeks didn't know much about a family's history, they often created myths. They imagined that a group like the Agiads came from a single ancestor named Agis, who must have been a king. This idea also applied to place names, which were often thought to be named after kings or gods. Kings themselves sometimes became like gods in their religion.

Lelegid Kings

The Lelegids were said to be descendants of Lelex, an ancestor of the Leleges. The Leleges were an old tribe living in the Eurotas valley before the Greeks arrived. According to myths, they joined with the Greeks.

Lacedaemonid Kings

The Lacedaemonids were Greek kings from the age of legends, which we now call the Bronze Age in Greece. In the stories, the kingship passed from the Leleges to the Greeks.

Years marked with "c." mean the exact date is unknown.

Atreid Kings

The Atreidai kings belong to the Late Bronze Age, also known as the Mycenaean Period. In myths, they were part of the Perseides family. Since the name of Atreus appears in ancient Hittite documents, this family might have been real, even if their stories are legendary.

Years marked with "c." mean the exact date is unknown.

Heraclid Kings

The kings of Sparta claimed to be descendants of Heracles, the famous hero. Heracles' family was not allowed to live in the Peloponnesus, so he traveled a lot. Later, Heracles' descendants, called the Heracleidae, became powerful in the Eurotas valley. This happened when the Dorians invaded, in an event called the Return of the Heracleidae. They drove out the Atreids and many of the Mycenaean people.

Genealogical Tree of the Kings of Sparta

Years marked with "c." mean the exact date is unknown.

Agiad Dynasty

This family was named after its second king, Agis.

Eurypontid Dynasty

This family was named after its third king, Eurypon. Lycurgus, the famous lawgiver, was a younger son of this family. He briefly ruled for a young king.

Sole Kings

Eventually, Sparta had only one ruler, often called a tyrant, instead of two kings.

The Achaean League took control of Sparta in 192 BC.

See also

In Spanish: Reyes de Esparta para niños