Spartan Kings: Dual Kingship

Overview

• The executive office was divided between two men [Basileis]
• The two kings were both:
• Co-operative and competitive with one another
• Equal in authority
• Served as a mutual check on the power of the monarchy
• Sparta was never without a leader - and therefore avoided what the Greeks called "anarchy" absence of leadership or of the government

The Agiad and Eurypontid Royal Families

• Coalition of two distinct tribes - each with its own chief or king - sometime in the 9th century BC
• One tribe lived around Sparta - its kings belonging to the clan of the Agiads
• The second tribe was probably from Southern Laconia - where the Eurypontids were the leading clan
• When the two houses decided to join politically - the kings were given equal powers under the constitution
• Gradually over time the kings' powers were restricted

Functions: Military

• The kings were supreme commanders of the army - only one was selected to lead a campaign the other was to stay in Sparta supervising domestic issues
• According to Herodotus this law originated about 507 BC - when Cleomenes and Demaratus were joint commanders of an expedition against Athens. There was a difference of opinion between the two commanders, and:
• "this divergence of policy gave rise to new law in Sparta. Previously both kings had gone out with the army, but this was now made illegal and it was further provided that one had to remain in the capital"

Military Cont

• The kings normally had the right to declare war - but never did so - and in the field they had the absolute right of deciding life and death
• Two ephors accompanied the king and kept close supervision on his leadership during the war
• If a campaign was a failure the king could be recalled to Sparta and heavily punished
• The king was also accompanied by a bodyguard of 100 picked men, and inclusion in this guard was the greatest honour

Functions: Religions

• Intermediaries between the gods and men - held their office as long as the gods were pleased
• If anything went wrong the king was to blame - every ninth year the ephors looked in the skies for a sign of the gods' approval or disapproval
• The kings were chief priests of Zeus Lacedaemonios and Zeus Uranios - the gods of their respective families
• Every month they offered solemn sacrifices to Apollo for the city
• "On the first and seventh days of every month each king is given a full grown animal to offer in sacrifice in the temple of Apollo, also a bushel of barley meal and a Laconian quart of wine"
• Before leaving for a campaign the king sacrificed to Zeus - if the omens were favourable the army could proceed to the frontier - where more sacrifices were performed for Zeus and Athena
• Fire from these sacrifices was carried with the king and army throughout the entire campaign
• Kings appointed two Pythioi - to consult the Oracle at Delphi and to present them with the Pythia's directions
• The pythioi were responsible for the safe keeping of all the oracles

Functions: Judicial

• Kings had limited judicial duties:
• Decided on marriages for orphaned heiresses
• Had control over all matters concerning highways; and
• The adoption of children

The Kings: Activity - Responsibilities and Duties

• Religious
• Herodotus
• The Kings were the heads of two priesthoods, Zeus Lakedaimonios and Zeus Uranos
• They could each choose two pythioi who consulted the oracle at Delphi and sat with the king at meals
• The kings take charge of the oracles received from Delphi
• Xenophon
• The kings could choose their sacrificial victims and were offered a pig from every litter
• Aristotle
• Military
• Herodotus
• Had the right of making war against whatsoever land they please. When they go on expeditions the kings shall go out first and return last - no man should hinder this decision
• "Absolute authority" on campaign
• Xenophon
• The King should lead the army on any foreign campaign
• When there's no battle expected the king marches from the front, when the enemy are met the king serves between two regiments
• The regimental commanders eat with the king, so that, since they are always present, they may take a larger part in any necessary deliberations
• Aristotle
• Constitutional (Political)
• Herodotus
• Kings were permanent members of the Gerousia (28 elected and the two kings)
• If the kings were not able to attend the meetings of the Gerousia then a Gerontes (member of the Gerousia) who was closest in relation to the king would vote in his stead - they would have an extra vote to count for the king's vote
• We can infer that the King's votes in the Gerousia were equal to the other members'
• In charge of roads
• Xenophon
• Each king had enough land that they had enough to sustain themselves, but not so much that they were rich
• "they do not greatly exceed the position of a private citizen" - Lycurgus did not want to encourage "a tyrannical attitude" in their kings
• On campaign two ephors accompany the king - watched each man's conduct and exercised a restraining hand on all
• Aristotle
• "They regarded disagreement between the two kings as making stability in the state"
• Offers wider perspectives if they have opposing viewpoints
• It avoids a tyranny that could be established were the kings to work together
• Because even Lycurgus "does not believe it possible to produce kings of the first quality" they restrict their powers
• This is why they used to send their "personal enemies" as ambassadors referring to the ephors
• Judicial (Legal)
• Herodotus
• The Kings decides whether a maiden inherited her father's land, also decided on who she was betrothed to if this had not already been decided
• If a Spartan wishes to adopt another Spartan it is voted upon by the Kings and the Gerousia
• Xenophon
• When on campaign the king solely focuses on military issues - lawsuits are referred to the hellanodikai (judges), applications for money to the treasures, and any booty is handed over to the auctioneers
• Aristotle
• Other Privileges and Perks
• Herodotus
• When a king dies a horse announces the death, women go about striking their copper kettles, a man and woman from each household must go into mourning. No political meetings for ten days. Thousands of Perioikoi and Helots would be forced to attend the funeral. The Spartans had a tradition of praising that king as the "best they ever had"
• At all sporting events they have special seating reserved for them
• 100 picked bodyguards attend the king on campaign
• Xenophon
• When a king dies, they are honoured not as men, but as heroes
• When on campaign the king and his entourage are maintained at public expense - the members of his mess, doctors, prophets, musicians, the commanders of the army and any volunteers
• The king had his own mess
• Aristotle