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DemaratKing of the Lacedaemonians
Country:
 Greece |
Content:
- Demaratus: The Deposed King of Sparta
- Rivalry with Cleomenes I
- Accusation of Illegitimacy
- Dethronement and Exile
- Advisor to Darius and Xerxes
- Advice on Conquering Greece
- Refusal by Xerxes
Demaratus: The Deposed King of Sparta
Born in 530 BC, Demaratus ruled as king of Sparta from 515 to 491 BC. He belonged to the Eurypontid dynasty and was the son of Ariston.
Rivalry with Cleomenes I
Demaratus's reign was marred by bitter strife with his co-ruler, Cleomenes I. Their animosity led to several setbacks for Sparta. Demaratus withdrew troops from Eleusis, aiding Athenian democrats. Later, he slandered Cleomenes and disrupted his efforts to seize hostages in Aegina.
Accusation of Illegitimacy
Cleomenes allied with Leotychides, a rival claimant to the throne. Leotychides accused Demaratus of being an illegitimate son of Ariston. The accusation was supported by Cleomenes's manipulation of the oracle at Delphi, which declared that Demaratus was not Ariston's son.
Dethronement and Exile
As a result of the false testimony, Demaratus was dethroned in 491 BC. He subsequently held a lesser office. Hurt by the mockery of his successor, Leotychides, he left Greece and sought refuge in Persia.
Advisor to Darius and Xerxes
Demaratus was received with great honor by Darius, King of Persia. During Xerxes's invasion of Greece in 480 BC, Demaratus accompanied the Persian army. Despite initial skepticism, Xerxes saw the truth in Demaratus's warnings about Spartan bravery.
Advice on Conquering Greece
Demaratus urged Xerxes to seize Cythera, an island off the coast of Laconia, and threaten an invasion. He believed that this would distract the Spartans and make it easier for the Persians to conquer the rest of Greece.
Refusal by Xerxes
Xerxes ignored Demaratus's counsel and suffered a decisive defeat at the Battle of Salamis. Demaratus's exile ended with the Persian withdrawal from Greece. His ultimate fate remains unknown.
