Kings of Sparta

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Sparta was an important Greek city-state in the Peloponnesus. It was unusual among Greek city-states in that it maintained its kingship past the Archaic age. It was even more unusual in that it had two kings simultaneously, coming from two separate lines. According to tradition, the two lines, the Agiads and Eurypontids, were respectively descended from the twins Eurysthenes and Procles, the descendants of Heracles who supposedly conquered Sparta two generations after the Trojan War. The Agiad line was regarded as being superior to the Eurypontid line. [1] Although there are lists of the earlier purported Kings of Sparta, there is little evidence for the existence of any kings before the middle of the 6th century BC or so.


Contents

[edit] Agiad dynasty

[edit] Eurypontid dynasty

[edit] After Sellasia

Following Cleomenes III's defeat in the Battle of Sellasia by Antigonus III Doson of Macedon and the Achaean League, the Spartan system began to break down. Sparta was a republic from 221 to 219 BC.

The Achaean League annexed Sparta in 192 BC.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Cartledge, Paul, The Spartans, Vintage Books, 2003

[edit] External links

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