Demaratos

Family: Spartan · Role: king of the Spartans · First appears: Book 5 · §70–77

As king of the Spartans, Demaratos first joined Cleomenes in leading an army from Lacedemon, but later stayed in Sparta and brought charges against him. While Cleomenes was in Egina, Demaratos again accused him; after his return, Cleomenes planned to depose Demaratos. As time went on, Ariston died and Demaratos obtained the kingdom. He then carried off Percalos and married her, depriving Leotychides of his marriage, and Leotychides challenged his right to rule, claiming he was not Ariston’s son.

At Delphi, a bribed oracle declared Demaratos was not Ariston’s son. Deposed, he learned from his mother that his paternity was uncertain between Ariston and Astrabacos. He left Sparta, escaped pursuing Lacedemonians, and crossed from Elis to Zakynthos; afterward he went to Asia, where Dareios received him as a guest and gave him land and cities. In exile, Demaratos came to Susa and advised Xerxes about his claim to succeed Dareios. Later, he secretly wrote Xerxes’s campaign plan on a tablet to warn the Lacedemonians; Gorgo suggested scraping away the wax, and they read his warning and informed the other Hellenes.