Leotychidas II
Leotychidas II
- Paul Cartledge
Extract
Leotychidas II, *Eurypontid king of *Sparta (reigned c.491–469 bce), succeeded his cousin and former marriage-rival, the deposed *Demaratus (2), through the machinations of *Cleomenes (1) I. In 479, as commander-in-chief of the ‘Hellenic League’ fleet, he fomented the revolt of *Chios and *Samos, and decisively defeated the Persians in a land and sea battle off Cape Mycale. In 478 or 477 he led another combined Hellenic force on a punitive expedition against the Medizing aristocracies of *Thessaly, taking *Pagasae and perhaps *Pherae, but failing to capture *Larissa and being recalled to Sparta to face a charge of bribery. He evaded condemnation by retiring to Tegea, where he remained as titular king until his death.
Subjects
- Greek History and Historiography
