Laconicus (Greek: ΛακωνικόςLakonikos; fl. 192 BC) was a Spartan of royal descent who appears as king of Sparta for a brief moment in the aftermath of the assassination of the tyrantNabis in 192 BC. Little is known about him; even his name may not be correct.
The name Laconicus is dubious, as it is otherwise unattested in Sparta. The name is only found in the account of the Roman historian Livy, who may have made a mistake while reading the Greek historian Polybius, his main source for the events of 192.[1] Polybius might have only mentioned a "Laconian boy", translated as a name by Livy ("Laconicus").[2] Other spellings have been suggested instead, such as Laonicus or Leonidas, but Alfred Bradford accepts it as several unusual names were given in Sparta at the time.[3][4] Bradford furthermore suggests that Laconicus could have been a son of Lycurgus, Eurypontid king of Sparta between 219 and c.212.[3]
Laconicus grew up under the rule of Nabis, king of Sparta since the death of Pelops (son of Lycurgus) in 212, and was raised with his sons. In 192, Nabis was murdered by a contingent of 1000 Aetolian allies led by Alexamenus, who were present in the city to help Nabis in his war against the Achaean League.[5] The Spartans then massacred the Aetolians and appointed Laconicus as king. However, the strategos of the Achaean League Philopoemen took advantage of the crisis to enter Sparta and forced the city to join his League, ending the independence of Sparta.[6] The kingship was abolished, and Sparta came under the rule of an oligarchy loyal to Philopoemen.[6][7]
Alfred S. Bradford, A Prosopography of Lacedaemonians from the Death of Alexander the Great, 323 B. C., to the Sack of Sparta by Alaric, A. D. 396, Munich, Beck, 1977. ISBN3406047971
John Briscoe, A Commentary on Livy: Books 34 - 37, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1981. ISBN9780198144557
Paul Cartledge & Antony Spawforth, Hellenistic and Roman Sparta, A tale of two cities, London and New York, Routledge, 2002 (originally published in 1989). ISBN0-415-26277-1
Graham J. Shipley, The Early Hellenistic Peloponnese: Politics, Economies, and Networks 338-197 BC, Cambridge University Press, 2018. ISBN9780521873697
January 01, 1970
laconicus, greek, Λακωνικός, lakonikos, spartan, royal, descent, appears, king, sparta, brief, moment, aftermath, assassination, tyrant, nabis, little, known, about, even, name, correct, contents, life, references, bibliography, ancient, works, modern, worksli. Laconicus Greek Lakwnikos Lakonikos fl 192 BC was a Spartan of royal descent who appears as king of Sparta for a brief moment in the aftermath of the assassination of the tyrant Nabis in 192 BC Little is known about him even his name may not be correct Contents 1 Life 2 References 3 Bibliography 3 1 Ancient works 3 2 Modern worksLife editThe name Laconicus is dubious as it is otherwise unattested in Sparta The name is only found in the account of the Roman historian Livy who may have made a mistake while reading the Greek historian Polybius his main source for the events of 192 1 Polybius might have only mentioned a Laconian boy translated as a name by Livy Laconicus 2 Other spellings have been suggested instead such as Laonicus or Leonidas but Alfred Bradford accepts it as several unusual names were given in Sparta at the time 3 4 Bradford furthermore suggests that Laconicus could have been a son of Lycurgus Eurypontid king of Sparta between 219 and c 212 3 Laconicus grew up under the rule of Nabis king of Sparta since the death of Pelops son of Lycurgus in 212 and was raised with his sons In 192 Nabis was murdered by a contingent of 1000 Aetolian allies led by Alexamenus who were present in the city to help Nabis in his war against the Achaean League 5 The Spartans then massacred the Aetolians and appointed Laconicus as king However the strategos of the Achaean League Philopoemen took advantage of the crisis to enter Sparta and forced the city to join his League ending the independence of Sparta 6 The kingship was abolished and Sparta came under the rule of an oligarchy loyal to Philopoemen 6 7 References edit Livy xxxv 36 Briscoe Commentary on Livy 34 37 p 199 rejects the name Laconicus a b Bradford Prosopography p 257 Cartledge Hellenistic and Roman Sparta pp 71 232 note 30 is hesitant on the name Cartledge Hellenistic and Roman Sparta p 70 a b Cartledge Hellenistic and Roman Sparta p 71 Shipley Hellenistic Peloponnese p 91 Bibliography editAncient works edit Titus Livius Livy Ab Urbe Condita Libri Modern works edit Alfred S Bradford A Prosopography of Lacedaemonians from the Death of Alexander the Great 323 B C to the Sack of Sparta by Alaric A D 396 Munich Beck 1977 ISBN 3406047971 John Briscoe A Commentary on Livy Books 34 37 Oxford Clarendon Press 1981 ISBN 9780198144557 Paul Cartledge amp Antony Spawforth Hellenistic and Roman Sparta A tale of two cities London and New York Routledge 2002 originally published in 1989 ISBN 0 415 26277 1 Graham J Shipley The Early Hellenistic Peloponnese Politics Economies and Networks 338 197 BC Cambridge University Press 2018 ISBN 9780521873697 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Laconicus amp oldid 1213019862, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,