Polydorus of Sparta

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Polydorus of Sparta
King of Sparta
Reign	c. 700 – c. 665 BC
Predecessor	Alcmenes
Successor	Eurycrates

Polydorus (Polydoros) (Ancient Greek: Πολύδωρος; reigned from c. 700 to c. 665 BC) was the 10th Agiad dynasty king of Sparta. He succeeded his father Alcmenes and was succeeded by his son king Eurycrates.

Polydorus is known for supposedly supplementing the 'Great Rhetra' of Sparta. According to the Greek biographer Plutarch (writing roughly 700 years after the Spartan king), Polydorus and his co-king Theopompus changed the constitution of Sparta so that the Kings and the Gerousia (28 chosen men above the age of 60) could veto decisions made by the Spartan Apella (the male citizen body).^[1]

Pausanias, another Greek writing under Roman rule, gave a detailed account of the First Messenian War, a conflict between Sparta and their neighbors who would soon become their slaves. He tells us that Polydorus was in charge of the left side of the Spartan forces at Ampheia, and that his co-king Theopompus was in command of the right flank (more influential for Spartan offensive tactics).^[2]

References

^ Plutarch: Life of Lycurgus
^ Pausanias desc. IV

Regnal titles
Preceded by Alcamenes	Agiad King of Sparta c. 700 – c. 665 BC	Succeeded by Eurycrates

v t e Kings of Sparta
Lelegids	Lelex Myles Eurotas
Lacedaemonids	Lacedaemon Amyclas Argalus Cynortas Perieres Oebalus Tyndareus Hippocoon
Atreids	Menelaus Orestes Tisamenus Dion
Early Heraclids	Aristodemus Theras (regent)
Heraclids Agiad dynasty	Eurysthenes Agis I Echestratus Labotas Doryssus Agesilaus I Archelaus Teleclus Alcmenes Polydorus Eurycrates Anaxander Eurycratides Leon Anaxandridas II Cleomenes I Leonidas I Cleombrotus (regent) Pausanias (regent) Pleistarchus Nicomedes (regent) Pleistoanax Pausanias Agesipolis I Cleombrotus I Agesipolis II Cleomenes II Cleonymus (regent) Areus I Acrotatus Areus II Leonidas II Cleombrotus II Cleomenes III Eucleidas Agesipolis III
Heraclids Eurypontid dynasty	Procles Soos Eurypon Prytanis Polydectes Eunomus Charilaus Nicander Theopompus Anaxandridas I Zeuxidamus Anaxidamus Archidamus I Anaxilas Leotychidas I Hippocratidas Agasicles Ariston Demaratus Leotychidas II Archidamus II Agis II Agesilaus II Archidamus III Agis III Eudamidas I Archidamus IV Eudamidas II Agis IV Eudamidas III Archidamus V Lycurgus Pelops Machanidas (regent) Nabis Laconicus

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