Hadrian Skellig’s Reviews > On Sparta > Status Update

Cleomenes III. Following in the footsteps of Agis IV, he succeeds at enacting many reforms as king of Sparta. He removes the ephors from power then redistributes all the wealth and land evenly among the Spartans, as Lycurgus did centuries earlier. He then reinstates Spartan military strength and almost conquers all of Greece until the Macedonians invaded and the Egyptians betrayed him. 50% sly general, 50% reformer.

Agis IV. As a young king of Sparta he sought to reform the constitution and redistribute the land to his citizens, who were now mostly landless except a handful of the elite. Like Lycurgus before him, he attempted to uproot the aristocracy and return to the subsistent and martial lifestyle that won his city so much glory in the days of old. He paid for his ambitions with his life. 50% discipline, 50% compassion.

Lycurgus. Called the Lawgiver, he traveled the world learning about other cultures and returned home to Sparta to mix all the best ones into his own constitution. He reformed the entirety of Spartan existence: removal of wealth, redistribution of land, upbringing of children, etc., but most importantly he institutionalized the belief in the importance of camaraderie above all things. 90% sage-king, 10% control freak.