Theopompus of Sparta

Theopompus (Greek: Θεόπομπος) was a Eurypontid king of Sparta. He is believed to have reigned during the late 8th and early 7th century BC.

Sparta was a dyarchy, having two kings at the same time, an Agiad and a Eurypontid. Theopompus was the son and successor to the Eurypontid king Nicander.

The major event of his reign was the First Messenian War, which resulted in the defeat of the Messenians, for which, Pausanias reports, Tyrtaeus credits Theompompus:^[1]

To our king beloved of the gods, Theopompus, through whom we took Messene with wide dancing-grounds.

Pausanias reports that Theopompus was succeeded by his grandson Zeuxidamas or great-grandson Anaxidamus, Theopompus' son Archidamus having predeceased him,^[2] though there is some evidence that his successor was Anaxandridas I, father of Zeuxidamus.

According to Plutarch, it was in Theopompus' reign that the ephors were introduced in Sparta.

Notes

↑ Pausanias, tr. W.H.S. Jones and H.A. Ormerod (1918) Description of Greece. Robert Hale Ltd., London, Book 4, VI, 5.
↑ Pausanias, tr. W.H.S. Jones and H.A. Ormerod (1918) Description of Greece. Robert Hale Ltd., London, Book 3, VII, 5-6.

References

Pausanias, Description of Greece

Preceded by Nicander	Eurypontid King of Sparta c.720-c.675	Succeeded by Anaxandridas I

Kings of Laconia and Sparta

Lelegids	Lelex Myles Eurotas

Lacedaemonids	Lacedaemon Amyclas Argalus Cynortas Perieres Oebalus Tyndareus Hippocoon

Atreids	Menelaus Orestes Tisamenus Dion

Early Heraclids	Aristodemus Theras (regent)

Heraclids Agiad dynasty	Eurysthenes Agis I Echestratus Labotas Doryssus Agesilaus I Archelaus Teleclus Alcmenes Polydorus Eurycrates Anaxander Eurycratides Leon Anaxandridas II Cleomenes I Leonidas I Pausanias (regent) Pleistarchus Pleistoanax Pausanias Agesipolis I Cleombrotus I Agesipolis II Cleomenes II Areus I Acrotatus II Areus II Leonidas II Cleombrotus II Cleomenes III Agesipolis III

Heraclids Eurypontid dynasty	Procles Soos Eurypon Prytanis Polydectes Eunomus Charilaus Nicander Theopompus Anaxandridas I Zeuxidamus Anaxidamus Archidamus I Agasicles Ariston Demaratus Leotychidas Archidamus II Agis II Agesilaus II Archidamus III Agis III Eudamidas I Archidamus IV Eudamidas II Agis IV Eudamidas III Archidamus V Eucleidas Lycurgus Pelops

Later rulers	Machanidas Nabis Laconicus

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