Title: Monarchy
Source: Booklet one, Antiquity 2, by T. Hurley, P. Medcalf, C. Murray, J. Rolph
Info: 2 hereditary kings from the Agiad and Eurypontid families.
Role
Significance
Source/Quote
Hereditary general and
commander-in-chief who
would lead the troops until he
died. Initially both Kings
would go off on campaign but
later on one would stay and
the other would lead the war.
.The Kings were trained to
be strategists and tacticians
so as to lead their soldiers to
victory.
Having one King on
campaign meant that if one
died there would still be
someone to maintain order
at home.
Source Analysis
Was chief priest to the Gods
Would lead practically all
especially Zeus Lacedaemonios and religious ceremonies and
Zeus Uranios
perform all public sacrifices
on the cities behalf. Any signs
of displeasement from the
Gods could lead to impeachment
Judge and Lawgiver
The King would preside on
cases of law and decide on
important magistracy roles.
Source: Booklet 5, Lycurgan reforms and the Rise of Sparta by T. Buckley
Role
Significance
Source/Quote
“A Spartan King with a good
record of success in war would
win great glory and would be
the focal point of the hoplites’
admiration. Their influence was
According to Herodotus, a This was a significant power
especially prevalent in foreign
King could declare war
as it would be mean the
initiatives, especially if there
and anyone who would
mobilisation of thousands of
oppose it could be liable men to fight and would cost the was the possibility of a military
to be cursed.
State dearly and the King even expedition, since the King
himself would be the
more so if the campaign is a
commander-in-chief.”
failure.
T. Buckley
To check the other Kings
power
.Through the constitution,
both kings had equal authority.
Because of this no one King
could rule over the other.
Source Analysis
It was important for a
King to be a skilful
general as he would be
leading many men to their
deaths if he was not. Also
soldiers would follow a
good king with more
obedience and trust then
one who was a terrible
general.
The quote also describes
how a good King would
boost morale for the
hoplites which would be
most needed in foreign
expeditions.
Source: Booklet eight, Social Order and the Conflict of Values in Classical Sparta S. Hodkinson
Roles
Significance
Source/Quote
Source analysis
Arrange marriages for a
The kings would preside
heiress if her father has not on occasions concerning
done so and preside over
the procreation of
occasions where a Spartiate Spartiates.
adopts a son.
The Kings sit with the elders The Kings were given
in the Gerousia
equal powers with the
Gerousia in their dealings.
Source: Booklet 7, The Spartan State by Hooker
Source/Quote
Source Analysis
King Agesilaos to Xenephon
“the lesson most studied at Sparta, how to rule and
be ruled”
Being a good King in Sparta was important as in the end it
was not the King who ruled the State but the people, if the
people grew discontent with the King, the King could be
impeached.
Monarchs in Sparta always had their powers checked by
different institutions, be it the Gerousia, the Ephors or the
Apella and it was in their best interests not to go against them
Source: P. Valenti study day booklet
Role
Significance
Custodians of the Oracles
The Oracles were the messengers of the Gods, being the
custodians meant that the Kings were the caretakers of the
Gods messengers, an honour highly regarded in Greece
Received foreign ambassadors and officials
Fact that ambassadors and officials went to the Kings
meant that the Monarchy held a high standing amongst the
Greeks.
Received twice as much food as an other Spartiate
They were above other Spartiates, regarded as superior due
to their heritage and deemed necessary to be fed more.
Source/Quote
Relevance
“…Instituted the Ephors whose powers he made to
resemble that of magistrates elected by lot; and by this
arrangement the Kingly office…was preserved, and was
the means of preserving the rest”
Plato
It was the inclusion of the democratic element of the
Ephorate that allowed the Monarchy to be preserved as
the people could check the Kings’ power.
This can also be seen in the way that the Ephors do not
rise to the Kings when they, the kings, enter before them.