28 Facts About Cleomenes III

Cleomenes III was one of the two kings of Sparta from 235 to 222 BC.

Cleomenes III was a member of the Agiad dynasty and succeeded his father, Leonidas II.

Cleomenes III is known for his attempts to reform the Spartan state.

From 229 to 222 BC, Cleomenes waged war against the Achaean League under Aratus of Sicyon.

Cleomenes III was born in Sparta to the future Agiad king Leonidas II and his wife Cratesicleia.

The exact year of Cleomenes III' birth is unknown but historian Peter Green puts it between 265 BC and 260 BC.

Cleomenes III' brother-in-law, Cleombrotus, who was a supporter of Agis, became king.

Cleomenes III quickly disposed of Cleombrotus, and went after Agis who had gone to find sanctuary.

Cleomenes III ascended the throne of Sparta in 235 BC, following the death of his father.

Cleomenes III had been inspired by Agis as told to him by his lover Xenares and followed through on his reforms.

Historians Polybius and Sir William Smith claim that Cleomenes III seized these cities by treachery; however the translator of Plutarch on Sparta, Richard Talbert, claims he did so at their own request.

Later that year, the ephors sent Cleomenes III to seize Athenaeum, a fort on the Spartan border with Megalopolis which was being disputed by both cities.

Cleomenes III discovered the attempted night attack and sent a message to Aratus asking the purpose of the expedition.

Aratus replied that he had come to stop Cleomenes III from fortifying Athenaeum.

Cleomenes III ravaged the territory of Argos with an army of 5,000 men before being confronted by the new strategos of the Achaean League, Aristomachos of Argos and his army consisting of 20,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry at Pallantium.

Meanwhile, the Eurypontid King of Sparta, Eudamidas Cleomenes III, who was the son of Agis IV and Agiatis, died.

Cleomenes III recalled his uncle, who had fled after Agis' execution to Messene, to assume the throne.

Confident of his strong position, Cleomenes III began plotting against the ephors.

Cleomenes III first handed over all his land to the state; he was followed in this by his stepfather and his friends and the rest of the citizens.

Cleomenes III divided up all the land and gave an equal lot to every citizen, a unique achievement.

Cleomenes III trained 4,000 Hoplites and restored the ancient Spartan military and social discipline.

Cleomenes III completed his reforms by placing his brother, Eucleidas, in charge, making him the first Agiad king on the Eurypontid throne.

In 226 BC, the citizens of Mantinea appealed to Cleomenes III to expel the Achaean garrison from the city.

From Tegea, the Spartans advanced into Achaea, where Cleomenes III hoped to force the League to face him in a pitched battle.

In reality, Cleomenes III did not care that much about the defeated population and chose to negotiate with the oligarchies even if the enmity between Aratus and Cleomenes III was too great to enable them to come to an agreement.

At that time Argos rebelled and Cleomenes III had to send 2,000 men to deal with the situation.

In 222 BC Cleomenes was defeated in the Battle of Sellasia by the Achaeans, who received military aid from Antigonus III Doson of Macedon.

Cleomenes III returned to Sparta, advised the citizens to submit to Antigonus, and fled to Alexandria to his ally Ptolemy Euergetes of Egypt, hoping for assistance in regaining his throne.