Eurianax

Euryanax (Ancient Greek: Εὐρυάναξ, Euryánax') "eury" meaning wandering, and "anax" meaning king in Dorian, was a son of the Spartan prince Dorieus of the Agiad dynasty, as well as a joint-commander with Pausanias at the Battle of Plataea.

== Life == === Kingship === Euryanax's father Dorieus left Sparta when his half-brother Cleomenes I became king around 516 BC, according to Herodotus, this is because he could not bear the thought of his brother ruling over him. Outraged that the Spartans preferred his leadership, he decided to start a failed colony in Africa. When Cleomenes I later died in 490 BC without male descendants, instead of Euryanax becoming king, Leonidas I, the son of the previous king, Anaxandridas II became the successor to the throne. There is speculation surrounding his ascension to kingship, as both Leonidas and Euryanax had fair claims.