Cleomenes II
Cleomenes II was a notable king of Sparta who ascended to the throne in 370 BCE, following a period of significant decline for the city-state after its defeat at the Battle of Leuctra. During his reign, Sparta shifted its focus from expansion to the defense of its remaining territories amidst growing regional threats, particularly from Thebes. In 362 BCE, Cleomenes II faced the challenge of a powerful Theban force, which initially captured some Spartan possessions. However, the Spartans united with neighboring states to confront this common enemy, ultimately resulting in a battle where Sparta was defeated but Thebes lost its leader, diminishing their resolve. Cleomenes II's leadership was marked by his efforts to maintain stability in a beleaguered Sparta and to negotiate its eventual rejoining of the Achaean League in 332 BCE. His reign is often recognized for its significance in preserving Sparta's identity during a tumultuous period, laying the groundwork for a future resurgence of power.
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Subject Terms
Cleomenes II
Spartan king, r. 370-c. 309 b.c.e.
- Born: Unknown
- Birthplace: Sparta, Greece
- Died: c. 309 b.c.e.
- Place of death: Sparta, Greece
Cleomenes II ruled Sparta during a difficult and trying time. He managed to hold a beaten city-state together and ally it with neighboring powers.
Early Life
A year before Cleomenes II ascended the throne in 370, the great city-state of Sparta was brutally defeated at the Battle of Leuctra in Boeotia. What was once the most feared of cities had been reduced to a seemingly benign town. Under Cleomenes II, Sparta did not try to expand so much as to defend the territory it still had.
Life’s Work
In 362, Thebes threatened the peninsula. After some initial successes in relieving Sparta of some of her possessions, the Theban threat encouraged Spartans to form a new coalition with their neighbors to fight their common enemy. Sparta was defeated during the ensuing battle, but Theban armies lost their leader and, with him, the will to continue.
Significance
Afterward, negotiations over the reunification of the peninsula continued. After years of arguing and contending for power, Sparta rejoined the Achaean League in 332. Cleomenes II reigned during a time of great trouble, and perhaps his greatest accomplishment was to have held the defeated city together and thus prepare it for a resurgence of power.
Bibliography
Boardman, John, Jasper Griffin, and Oswyn Murray, eds. The Oxford History of Greece and the Hellenistic World. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001. Discusses the Persian Wars and the involvement of Cleomenes I, as well as art, life, religion, and politics in the Hellenistic Age.
Forrest, W. G. A History of Sparta 950-192 B.C. 2d ed. London: Duckworth, 1980. Chapter 8 discusses the life and times of Cleomenes I and Cleomenes III (referred to as “Kleomenes I” and “Kleomenes III”).
Grimal, Pierre. Hellenism and the Rise of Rome. New York: Delacorte Press, 1968. Chapter 3 describes some of the social reforms instituted by Cleomenes III and discusses his motivations.
Huxley, G. L. Early Sparta. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1970. Chapters 6 and 7 describe the military campaigns, career, and ultimate fall from power of Cleomenes I and the history of Sparta to 490 b.c.e.
Walbank, F. W. The Hellenistic World. Rev. ed. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1993. Discusses how Cleomenes III came to power and the influences of his wife, the former wife of Agis IV, on his political views.