Cleomenes III
| Cleomenes III | |
|---|---|
| King of Sparta | |
| Reign | 235–222 BC |
| Predecessor | Leonidas II |
| Successor | Agesipolis III |
| Born | c. 265–260 BC Sparta |
| Died | 219 BC Alexandria |
| Consort | Agiatis |
| Issue | Unknown (at least one son) |
| Dynasty | Agiad |
| Father | Leonidas II |
| Mother | Cratesicleia |
Cleomenes III (Greek: Κλεομένης) was one of the two kings of Sparta from 235 to 222 BC. He was a member of the Agiad dynasty and succeeded his father, Leonidas II. He is known for his attempts to reform the Spartan state.
From 229 BC to 222 BC, Cleomenes waged war against the Achaean League under Aratus of Sicyon. After being defeated by the Acheans in the Battle of Sellasia in 222 BC, he fled to Ptolemaic Egypt. After a failed revolt in 219 BC, he committed suicide.
Cleomenes was born in Sparta to the future Agiad king Leonidas II and his wife Cratesicleia. The exact year of Cleomenes' birth is unknown but historian Peter Green puts it between 265 BC and 260 BC.
Around 242 BC, Leonidas was exiled from Sparta and forced to seek refuge in the temple of Athena after opposing the reforms of the Eurypontid King, Agis IV. Cleomenes' brother-in-law, Cleombrotus, who was a supporter of Agis, became king. Meanwhile, having started his reforms Agis went on a campaign near the Isthmus of Corinth, which presented Leonidas with an opportunity to regain his throne. He quickly disposed of Cleombrotus, and when Agis returned to Sparta he had him arrested and executed.
Following the execution of Agis, Cleomenes—-who was around eighteen at the time—-was forced by his father to marry Agis' widow, Agiatis, who was a wealthy heiress. According to legend, Cleomenes was hunting when his father sent him a message telling him to return immediately to Sparta. When he returned to the city, he saw that it was being decorated for a wedding and when he asked his father who was getting married, his father replied that he, Cleomenes, was. It was reported that Cleomenes was doubtful about the marriage because his father had had Agiatis' husband executed. The marriage worked out and Agiatis told Cleomenes about Agis and his reform plans.
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