Anaxandridas I

Anaxandridas I (Greek: Ἀναξανδρίδας) was a conjectured king of Sparta and a member of the Eurypontid dynasty. According to the Histories of Herodotus, Anaxandrias was the son of king Theopompus and the father of king Archidamus I.^[1] If Anaxandridas actually existed, he would have reigned in the early to mid 7th century BC, but his historicity is doubtful.^[2]

According to Pausanias, Anaxandridas I ascended the throne not as the direct successor of Theopompus but as the successor of Zeuxidamos, one of Theopompus' grandsons.^{[3][better source needed]}

Anaxandridas' reign is said to have followed a period of strife between the Spartan royal houses and to have been characterised by a continuing decline of royal prestige and power, especially relative to the Ephors.^{[4][better source needed]} It is possible that Anaxandridas was in power during the Messenian revolt that precipitated the Second Messenian War.^{[5][better source needed]}

References

1. Histories, book VIII, 131.
2. Meier, Mischa (2006). "Anaxandridas". In Cancik, Hubert; Schneider, Helmuth (eds.). Brill's New Pauly. Leiden: Koninklijke Brill NV. doi:10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e120450. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
3. Carr, John (2012). Sparta's Kings. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Military. p. 31.
4. Carr 2012, pp. 31–32.
5. Carr 2012, pp. 31.