Kings de Sparte

Starting from the reform of Lycurgue at the seventh century BC, Sparte two kings has ( ἀρχαγέται / arkhagétai , of ἀρχή / archế , command).

One belonged to the family of the Agiades ( Ἀγιάδαι / Agiádai ), the other that of the Eurypontides ( Εὐρυποντίδαι / Eurupontídai ), two families resulting, according to the legend, of downward twins of Héraclès, Eurysthénès, father of Acted I {{er}} and Proclès, father of Eurypon. It is according to them that the Spartans name themselves, as a whole, Héraclides (see Tyrtée, 8,1). The families cannot marry between them, nor to bear the same name (Acted, founder of Agiades, is the exception, since the name is found then only at Eurypontides) and their tombs are in different places. The two kings are supposed to be equal, even if Eurysthénès is supposed elder twins, and thus to give a theoretical precedence to Agiades.

Origin of the two dynasties

One wondered about the existence of these two dynasties. Some think that there were at the beginning of three kings, each one ordering one of the three tribes attested of the beginning of the first war of Messénie. One of the three kings would have then disappeared. Others make of Agiades the kings of the former Achaens (Cléomène I {{er}} is declared Achaean and not dorien with Athens), and of Eurypontides those of the invaders doriens. Lastly, while being based on the localization of their tombs, one can make of Agiades the representatives of part of Laconie, Pitana and Mésoa, and Eurypontides, those of another, Limai and Konooura.

One can also recall that Rome account two consuls, Messène two kings it also, Athens two kings then three Archonte S. To have two kings makes it possible to keep one in the city while the other guerroie, or to minimize of them the problems of vacancy of the capacity in the event of death or regency of a king. Lastly, Sparte dedicates a worship with the Dioscures, twin models of the fraternal friendship.

Devolution of the royal capacity

The royal capacity is transmitted to “nearer going down from the nearest holder to the most royal capacity” (Pierre Carlier, royalty to Greece before Alexandre , AECR, 1984), i.e. the son passes before the brother, that there is right of seniority but that the born son when the father is already king takes precedence over those for which it is not the case. Nevertheless, it seems that the Spartans interpret in a liberal way this rule of succession.

Role of the kings

The capacities of the kings are primarily soldiers and monk. To the beginnings, the kings can lead the war against the country of their choice, and their capacity is collegial. In 506, it is famous “the divorce of Éleusis” (king Démarate gives up the forwarding carried out by Cléomène and him against Athens), and thereafter the kings conduct campaign alone. At fifth century BC, moreover, it is the Parliament which votes the war, and the éphores which decide mobilization. At all events, the king in shift is commander-in-chief it ( ἡγεμών / hêgemốn ). He takes precedence over the other generals, can conclude the truces, and fights in the forefront with the right wing, protected by his guard of honor from one hundred men, them Ἱππείς / Hippeís .

The kings have also the Sacerdoce of Zeus Lakedaimonios and Zeus Ouranios, and govern the sacrifices. They name the magistrates charged to question the Pythie, and collect their report/ratio. They are members of the Gérousie .

List kings

Agiades

Eurypontides

End of monarchy

Flavius Josèphe ( judaïques Antiquités, XII, V ) quote a letter which to the Onias Jew one would have written named Arias which is presented in the form of king de Lacédémone and a place the event under the reign of Séleucos IV Philopator (187-175), therefore after Nabis. But a little further (XII, 9), it gives copy of another letter dating from the first reign of Démétrios II Nicator (150-141) transmitted by the Jewish ambassadors sent to Rome “ with the éphores, the senate and the people of Lacédémone ”, this time thus without mention of the kings.

Sources

  • (VI, 56-58);

  • ( Agésilaos ).

See too

Random links:Georges Rouault | Thomas Moore | Nancras | Neapolitan Mâtin | Telemechanics | Géographie_de_la_Somalie