Theopompus of Sparta

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

Theopompus was the son and successor to 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

1. ^ Pausanias, tr. W.H.S. Jones and H.A. Ormerod (1918) Description of Greece. Robert Hale Ltd., London, Book 4, VI, 5.
2. ^ 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