CLEOMENES III. succeeded his father Leonidas. He was of an enterprising spirit, and resolved to restore the ancient discipline of Lycurgus in its full force.
Cleon force. He killed the Ephori, and removed by poison his royal colleague Eurydamides, and made his own brother Euclidas king, against the laws of the state, which forbid more than one of the same family to sit on the throne. He made war against the Achæans, and attempted to destroy the Achaean league. Aratus the general of the Achæans, who supposed himself inferior to his enemy, called Antigonus to his assistance; and Cleomenes, when he had fought the unfortunate battle of Sellasia, retired into Egypt to the court of Ptolemy Evergetes, where his wife and children had gone before him. Ptolemy received him with great cordiality; but his successor, weak and suspicious, soon expressed his jealousy of this noble stranger, and imprisoned him. Cleomenes killed himself, and his body was flayed and exposed on a cross, 140 Olymp.