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
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 was 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.
