Eudamidas I

Eudamidas was the son of king Archidamus III (r. 360–338) and grandson of Agesilaus II (r. 400–360) who belonged to the Eurypontid dynasty, one of the two royal families of Sparta (the other being the Agiads).

[5] In 323, he notably refused to join other Greek states in their revolt against Macedonia, which dominated Greece since the Battle of Chaeronea in 338, but was shaken by the death of Alexander the Great.

[8][9] During his reign, perhaps at the occasion of the raid of Cassander (the Macedonian regent) to Messenia in 317, Sparta built its first city-wall, while it had hitherto relied on its military might to fend-off enemies.

[11] Eudamidas might nevertheless have passively resisted against Macedonia, as in 314 he let Antigonos Monophtalmos recruit mercenaries at Tenarion (within Spartan territory) in order to wage war against Cassander.

The reason of his visit was probably diplomacy, but Plutarch reports that Eudamidas actually discussed philosophy with Xenocrates there, a stark contrast from the military role hitherto assumed by the Spartan kings.