Codrus

Codrus, the last king of Athens, was the son of Melanthus, and according to Greek legend, sacrificed his life for his country about the year 1068 B.C. A war raging between the Athenians and Dorians, the oracle declared that the victory should belong to those whose king was slain by the enemy; whereupon Codrus, attiring himself as a peasant, entered the Dorian camp, and having picked a quarrel with some of the soldiers, contrived to have himself slain. See ARCHON.