Procles

Procles (Greek: Προκλῆς) was a Heraclid king of Sparta, traditionally ruling from approximately 1104 to 1062 BC. He was the twin brother of Eurysthenes, and together they are considered the founders of the Agiad dynasty, one of the two royal families of Sparta. Procles and Eurysthenes were believed to be descendants of Heracles.

According to tradition, their mother Argia claimed she could not distinguish which twin was born first. The Delphic Oracle advised them both to be kings, but that the elder should have more honor. The question of which was older was never definitively resolved, and both ruled jointly. The descendants of Procles formed the Proclid (also known as Eurypontid) dynasty. His reign, like that of many early Spartan kings, is shrouded in legend and there is little reliable historical information about his life or actions. The joint rule of Procles and Eurysthenes, and their descendants, was a defining characteristic of the Spartan political system for centuries.