Cleomenes III

236–220 BC

Cleomenes III reigned in Sparta about 235-219 B.C. He made a determined attempt to reform the social condition of Sparta along the lines laid down by Agis IV., whose widow Agiatis he married; at the same time he aimed at restoring Sparta's hegemony in the Peloponnese.

CLEOMBROTUS AND CHILONIS, OF SPARTA

After twice defeating the forces of the Achaean League in Arcadia, near Mount Lycaeum and at Leuctra, he strengthened his position by assassinating four of the ephors, abolishing the ephorate, which had usurped the supreme power, and banishing some eighty of the leading oligarchs. The authority of the council was also curtailed, and a new board of magistrates, the patronomi, became the chief officers of state. He appointed his own brother Eucleidas as his colleague in succession to the Eurypontid Archidamus, who had been murdered. His social reforms included a redistribution of land, the remission of debts, the restoration of the old system of training, and the admission of picked perioeci into the citizen body.

As a general Cleomenes did much to revive Sparta's old prestige. He defeated the Achaeans at Dyme, made himself master of Argos, and was eventually joined by Corinth, Phlius, Epidaurus and other cities. But Aratus, whose jealousy could not brook to see a Spartan at the head of the Achaean league called in Antigonus III. of Macedonia, and Cleomenes, after conducting successful expeditions to Megalopolis and Argos, was finally defeated at Sellasia, to the north of Sparta, in 222 or 221 B.C. He took refuge at Alexandria with Ptolemy Euergetes, but was arrested by his successor, Ptolemy Philopator, on a charge of conspiracy. Escaping from prison he tried to raise a revolt, but the attempt failed and to avoid capture he put an end to his life. Both as general and as politician Cleomenes was one of Sparta's greatest men, and with him perished her last hope of recovering her ancient supermacy in Greece.

—Excerpted from the 1911 Encylopaedia Britannica.

Key events during the life of Cleomenes III:

Year	Event
235 BC	Succeeded to the throne of Sparta at the death of his father, Leonidas II.
	Married Agiatis, the widow of Agis IV.
	Instituted Spartan reforms, abolished the Ephors, redistributed land.
226 BC	Victories at Dyme and Megalopolis restored Spartan prestige.
223 BC	Aratus tried to break up Spartan league. Argos deserted the league.
222 BC	Aratus called in Antiochus III to help defeat Cleomenes at Sellasia.
219 BC	Perished in exile in Egypt.

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Death of Agis  in	The Story of the Greeks  by  H. A. Guerber
War of the Two Leagues  in	The Story of the Greeks  by  H. A. Guerber
Cleomenes III  in	Famous Men of Greece  by  John H. Haaren and A. B. Poland
Cleomenes  in	Our Young Folks' Plutarch  by  Rosalie Kaufman

Contemporary	Short Biography
Agis IV	King who tried to reform Sparta and return to laws of Lycurgus. Killed for his efforts.
Aratus	Leader of Achaean League; First resisted Macedonia, then forced an alliance to defeat Sparta.
Antigonus III	King of Macedonia who allied with Aratus to defeat Cleomenes III.
Agiatis	Widow of the reformer Agis IV. Married Cleomenes III.