Pleistarchus

For the son of Antipater, see Pleistarchus (son of Antipater).

Pleistarchus (Ancient Greek: Πλείσταρχος Pleistarchos; died c. 458 BC) was the Agiad King of Sparta from 480 to 458 BC.^[2]

Pleistarchus
King of Sparta
Reign	480–459 BC
Predecessor	Leonidas I
Successor	Pleistoanax
Died	c. 458 BC
Father	Leonidas I[1]
Mother	Gorgo

Biography

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.^[3] He was born from an avunculate marriage – his parents were uncle and niece.^[4] His uncle Cleombrotus was his tutor.^[5]

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.^[6]

It is unknown whether Pleistarchus was married. He died without an heir, and was succeeded by Pleistoanax, son of Pausanias.^[7]

He had no known surviving relatives after his death, marking the end of his bloodline.