CODRUS, in Greek legend, the last king of Athens. It was prophesied at the time of the Dorian invasion of Peloponnesus (c. 1068 B.c.) that only the death of their king at the enemy's hands could ensure victory to the Athenians. Devoting himself to his country, Codrus made his way disguised into the enemy's camp, and provoked a quarrel, in which he was killed. The Do rians, on discovering that Codrus had been slain, retreated, des pairing of success. No one being thought worthy to succeed Cod rus, the title of king was abolished, and that of archon (q.v.) sub stituted for it.
See Lycurgus, Leocr. xx. (=84-7) ; Justin ii. 6; Vell. Pat. i. 2; Grote, Hist. of Greece, pt. i. ch. 18; Busolt, Griechische Geschichte, i.