List of kings of Sparta Facts for Kids

Areus I (r. 309–265 BC)

Sparta was an important Greek city-state in the Peloponnesus. It was unusual in that it had a diarchial system, with two kings ruling at the same time. The kings were called Arkhagêtai. They were hereditary rulers, and came from two separate dynasties. According to tradition, the two lines, the Agiads and Eurypontids, were descended from the twins Eurysthenes and Procles. These twins were said to be the descendants of Heracles, who conquered Sparta two generations after the Trojan War. The dynasties were named after the twins' grandsons, the kings Agis I and Eurypon. The Agiad line was regarded as being senior to the Eurypontid line.

Although there are lists of earlier Kings of Sparta, there is little evidence to show that any kings existed before the middle of the 6th century BC.

Legendary kings
Heraclids
- Agiad dynasty
- Eurypontid dynasty
See also

Legendary kings

Genealogical Tree of the Kings of Sparta

Many kings of Sparta are described in Greek mythology.

Lelegids

Lelex, a son of Poseidon or Helios
Myles, a son of Lelex
Eurotas, a son of Myles, father of Sparta

Lacedaemonids

Lacedaemon, a son of Zeus, husband of Sparta
Amyklas, a son of Lacedaemon. He founded Amyklai
Argalus, a son of Amyklas
Kynortas, a son of Amyklas
Perieres, a son of Kynortas
Oibalos, a son of Kynortas
Tyndareos (First reign), a son of Oibalos and father of Helen
Hippocoon, a son of Oibalos and brother of Tyndareos
Tyndareos (Second reign)

Atreids

Menelaus, a son of Atreus and husband of Helen — c. 1250 BC
Orestes, a son of Agamemnon and nephew of Menelaus — c. 1200 BC
Tisamenos, a son of Orestes
Dion, husband of Iphitea, the daughter of Prognaus — c. 1200 BC

Heraclids

Agiad dynasty

The dynasty was named after its second king, Agis.

Eurysthenes ? – c. 930 BC
Agis I c. 930 – c. 900 BC
Echestratus c. 900 – c. 870 BC
Labotas c. 870 – c. 840 BC
Doryssus c. 840 – c. 820 BC
Agesilaus I c. 820 – c. 790 BC
Archelaus c. 790 – c. 760 BC
Teleclus c. 760 – c. 758 BC
Alcamenes c. 758 – c. 741 BC
Polydorus c. 741 – c. 665 BC
Eurycrates c. 665 – c. 640 BC
Anaxander c. 640 – c. 615 BC
Eurycratides c. 615 – c. 590 BC
Leon c. 590 – 560 BC
Anaxandridas II c. 560 – c. 520 BC
Cleomenes I c. 520 – c. 490 BC
Leonidas I c. 490 – 480 BC
Pleistarchus 480 – c. 459 BC
Pleistoanax c. 459 – 409 BC
Pausanias 409–395 BC
Agesipolis I 395–380 BC
Cleombrotus I 380–371 BC
Agesipolis II 371–369 BC
Cleomenes II 369–309 BC
Areus I 309–265 BC
Acrotatus II 265–262 BC
Areus II 262–254 BC
Leonidas II 254–242 BC
Cleombrotus II, 242–241 BC
Leonidas II, 241–235 BC
Cleomenes III 235–222 BC

Eurypontid dynasty

The dynasty is named after its third king Eurypon. Not shown is Lycurgus, who served for a short time as regent either for the minor Charilaus (780–750 BC) or for Labotas (870–840 BC) the Agiad.

Procles - c. 930 BC
Soos ? - c. 890 BC
Eurypon c. 890 – c. 860 BC
Prytanis c. 860 – c. 830 BC
Polydectes c. 830 – c. 800 BC
Eunomus c. 800 – c. 780 BC
Charilaus c.780 – c. 750 BC
Nicander c. 750 – c. 725 BC
Theopompus c. 725 – c. 675 BC
Anaxandridas I c. 675 – c. 645 BC
Zeuxidamus c. 645 – c. 625 BC
Anaxidamus c. 625 – c. 600 BC
Archidamus I c. 600 – c. 575 BC
Agasicles c. 575 – c. 550 BC
Ariston c. 550 – c. 515 BC
Demaratus c. 515 – c. 491 BC
Leotychidas c. 491 – 469 BC
Archidamus II 469–427 BC
Agis II 427–401/400 BC
Agesilaus II 401/400–360 BC
Archidamus III 360–338 BC
Agis III 338–331 BC
Eudamidas I 331 – c. 305 BC
Archidamus IV c. 305 – c. 275 BC
Eudamidas II c. 275 – c. 245 BC
Agis IV c. 245 – 241 BC
Eudamidas III 241–228 BC
Archidamus V 228–227 BC
Eucleidas 227–221 BC

After Cleomenes III was defeated by Antigonus III Doson of Macedon and the Achaean League in the Battle of Sellasia, the Spartan kingship began to fail. Sparta was a republic from 221 to 219 BC. The dual monarchy was restored in 219 BC.

Agesipolis III, 219–215 BC, the last Agiad, deposed by Lycurgus

Lycurgus, 219–210 BC
Pelops, 210–206 BC, son of Lycurgus and last king from either dynasty

Nabis, who served as regent for Pelops, deposed Pelops and took the throne for himself. He claimed to be descended from the Eurypontid king Demaratus. He ruled from 206–192 BC. Laconicus was the last known king of Sparta. He took the throne in 192 BC. The Achaean League took control of Sparta in 192 BC.

List of kings of Sparta facts for kids

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