Pleistoanax facts for kids

Pleistoanax (also spelled Plistoanax) was a Agiad king of Sparta from 458 to 409 BC. He was a very important leader in Sparta during a time of big fights against Athens. These fights were about who would be the most powerful city in Greece. Pleistoanax was known for trying to make peace.

Who Was Pleistoanax?

Pleistoanax was the son of Pausanias. His father was a regent, meaning he ruled for a young king named Pleistarchus. Pleistoanax belonged to the Agiad family, which was one of the two royal families in Sparta. The other royal family was called the Eurypontids.

Pleistoanax became king in 459 BC after his cousin Pleistarchus died without children. Pleistoanax was still young, so his uncle Nicomedes ruled for him as a regent.

His Time as King

First Reign: A Time of War (459–445 BC)

When Pleistoanax became king, Greece was in the middle of the First Peloponnesian War (460–445 BC). This was a series of smaller battles between Sparta and Athens and their friends.

In 457 BC, Pleistoanax's uncle Nicomedes led a large Spartan army. They helped a region called Doris against an attack. The army was very big, so it was probably also meant to threaten Athens. The Spartans fought the Athenians at the Battle of Tanagra. Sparta won, but it was a difficult victory, and they had to go back home.

Pleistoanax led his first big military trip in 446 BC. He was still young, in his 20s, and had advisers with him. Sparta used the chance when cities like Megara and Euboia rebelled against Athens. The Athenian leader Pericles had to leave Athens to deal with these rebellions.

Pleistoanax marched his army towards Athens. A big battle seemed likely. But Pleistoanax and Pericles talked instead. They made a deal. Pericles agreed that Athens would give up some land and military bases. Then, the Spartan army went home.

Accusations and Exile

When Pleistoanax returned to Sparta, some people accused him of taking money to spare Athens. They thought he should have fought and won. Plutarch, an ancient writer, said that Pericles might have paid the Spartans.

It's not certain if Pleistoanax took money. He might have just thought that Pericles' offer was good enough. Also, a solar eclipse happened, which some people might have seen as a bad sign for continuing the war.

Pleistoanax was put on trial in Sparta. He was fined a lot of money. To avoid punishment, he left Sparta and went to Mount Lykaion in Arcadia. He lived there for 18 years on land sacred to the god Zeus. This sacred place gave him protection.

His son, Pausanias, was born around this time. Naming his son Pausanias, after his own father who was also in trouble, showed that Pleistoanax was not afraid of the Spartan leaders.

Return from Exile (427 BC)

Pleistoanax finally came back to Sparta in 427 BC. The other Spartan king, Archidamus II, who had been against Pleistoanax, had died.

Some stories say that Pleistoanax's younger brother paid the Pythia (the priestess at Delphi) to tell the Spartans to bring him back. This made some people suspect Pleistoanax of cheating. However, it's also likely that the oracle at Delphi wanted peace between Athens and Sparta. The war was hurting Delphi's income because fewer people were visiting.

When Pleistoanax returned, Sparta held a special ceremony. This was to show that he was still the true king, even though his son Pausanias had been ruling in his place.

Second Reign: Working for Peace (427–409 BC)

When Pleistoanax returned, Sparta was fighting Athens again in the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC). He had tried to stop this war before.

The Spartans usually invaded Athens every year. The other king, Agis II, led the invasion in 426 BC. But Agis stopped the attack because of earthquakes, which were seen as bad signs. Some historians think this was a way for Pleistoanax and his peace supporters to gain power.

After a big Spartan defeat in 425 BC, Sparta wanted peace with Athens. Pleistoanax worked hard for this. He wanted to end the war, partly because some Spartans blamed him for any problems Sparta faced. But he also truly believed that peace was best for Sparta.

His efforts worked! In 421 BC, the Peace of Nicias was signed. This treaty was named after the Athenian leader Nicias, but Pleistoanax played a huge part in making it happen.

Some Spartan allies were not happy with the peace treaty. Pleistoanax led a military action to help a city called Parrhasia. He had made friends there during his exile.

Pleistoanax died in 409 BC. His son Pausanias became the next king of Sparta.

Images for kids

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  View of Mt. Lykaion, looking down to the sanctuary of Zeus.