Demaratus

~ 480 BC

CROSSING THE HELLESPONT WITH XERXES

Demaratus was an exiled Spartan king who lost his position due to a conflict with Cleomenes I, the other King of Sparta. There was some question regarding the paternity of Demaratus, since his mother was previously married, but the issue of his legitimate succession to the Spartan throne was not raised until after several years of feuding with Cleomenes I. They first differed on the degree to which Sparta should continue to interfere with internal affairs in Athens, after Cleomenes had driven Hippias out of the city. Later, Demaratus refused to support a Spartan campaign against Aegina, in which Cleomenes sought to punish the city's leaders who had sought an alliance with Persia. This lapse fired up enough indignation among the Spartans that plans were made to depose Demaratus, and place his brother Leotychides II on the throne. Demaratus was driven from Sparta and sought refuge in Persia, where he was granted the city of Pergamum and surrounding areas.

Ten years after his exile, Demaratus accompanied Xerxes on his expedition to Greece, and alone among his advisors, expressed doubt at Xerxes's ability to defeat the Greeks. Herodotus records numerous consultations between Xerxes and Demaratus, and at all times Demaratus courageously refrained from flattering Xerxes, and expressed his true assessment of the military situation.

Key events during the life of Demaratus:

Year	Event
515 BC	Demaratus ascends to the Eurypontid kingship of Sparta.
508 BC	Cleomenes I drives Hippias from Athens, but is displeased with Cleisthenes democratic reforms.
	Cleomenes I and Demaratus disagree regarding further interference in Athens politics.
501 BC	Cleomenes I attempts to punish Aegina for submitting to Persia, but Demaratus interferes.
491 BC	Cleomenes I drives Demaratus from the throne of Sparta, claiming illegitimacy.
490 BC	Flees to Persia and is granted the city of Pergamum.
480 BC	Accompanies Xerxes on his campaign to Greece. Present at the battle of Thermopylae.
	Returned to Asia Minor. Descendents were still in power 100 years later.

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Review of the Troops at Doriscus  in	Xerxes  by  Jacob Abbott
Battle of Thermopylae  in	Xerxes  by  Jacob Abbott
How Xerxes Crossed Over into Europe and of His Army  in	The Story of the Persian War  by  Alfred J. Church
Of the Battle of Thermopylae  in	The Story of the Persian War  by  Alfred J. Church
How Preparation Was Made for the Second War  in	The Story of the Persian War  by  Alfred J. Church
The Bravest Men of All Hellas  in	The Story of Greece  by  Mary Macgregor
How the Spartans Died at Thermopylae  in	Historical Tales: Greek  by  Charles Morris

Contemporary	Short Biography
Cleomenes I	King of Sparta before Persian Wars, removed tyrants from Athens, defeated Argos.
Ariston	Previous King of the Eurypontid line. Possibly father of Demaratus.
Leotychides II	Son of Ariston, who claimed the throne in preference to Demaratus.
Leonidas	Spartan King whose whole army died defending the pass of Thermopylae.
Xerxes	Raised an enormous army for Persian invasion of Greece. Defeated at Battle of Salamis.
Isagoras	Athenian enemy of Cleisthenes, supported by Cleomenes I, but not by Demaratus.
Agetus	First husband of Demaratus's mother. Possibly father of Demaratus.