Pleistoanax

Pleistoanax was a king of Sparta who reigned during the 4th century BC. He was a member of the Eurypontid dynasty, one of the two royal houses of Sparta. His reign was marked by significant political and military developments in the Greek world.

Pleistoanax is primarily known for his involvement in the Peloponnesian War, a protracted conflict between Athens and its allies, and Sparta and its allies. He succeeded his father, Pausanias, as king. His reign began in 458 BC and ended with his death in 409 BC, making it one of the longest in Spartan history.

During the early part of his reign, Sparta was engaged in conflicts with Athens. A notable event occurred around 446 BC when Pleistoanax led a Spartan invasion of Attica, the territory of Athens. This invasion, however, did not result in a decisive victory, and Sparta withdrew. Following this, Pleistoanax was accused of accepting a bribe from the Athenian statesman Pericles to end the invasion. He was subsequently exiled from Sparta for a period.

Despite his exile, Pleistoanax eventually returned to Sparta and resumed his kingship. His later years saw Sparta emerge as the victor of the Peloponnesian War in 404 BC, though this occurred shortly after his death. His reign contributed to Sparta's rise as the dominant power in Greece.