Greek Leaders
Cleomenes I
the Mad Spartan King
Cleomenes I was a Greek king active in the 6th c. BC during the Classical period based in Sparta. Took his own life.
Historical Note
Spartan king who burned the sacred grove at Sepeia and crushed Argive power for a generation. Went mad in old age — chained up, he begged a knife from a helot and slashed himself to death.