Pleistarchus


Pleistarchus or Plistarch was the Agiad King of Sparta from 480 to 458 BC.

Family

Pleistarchus was born as a prince, likely the only son of King Leonidas I and Queen Gorgo.
His grandparents were Kings Anaxandridas II and Cleomenes I. He was born from an avunculate marriage – his parents were uncle and niece.
His uncle Cleombrotus was his tutor.
It is unknown whether Pleistarchus was married.

Biography

Pleistarchus' father King Leonidas perished in 480 BC at the Battle of Thermopylae. For the early part of Pleistarchus's reign, his uncle Cleombrotus acted as regent; after Cleombrotus's death in 479 BC, Pleistarchus's cousin Pausanias was regent.
The successor of Pleistarchus was Pleistoanax, son of Pausanias.

Ancestry