After Oedipus' blinding and exile from Thebes, Creon
became the king until Oedipus' sons became old enough to rule. Because both Eteocles and
Polynices seem to have been legitimate heirs to the throne, a solution was worked out
whereby they would take turns ruling Thebes. One would rule for a year, while the other
went into exile.
Unfortunately, Eteocles, after a year as
king, did not want to give up the kingship. Polynices wanted his own turn at being king
and so he raised an army from Argos (where he had spent a year in exile) and marched
upon his native land of Thebes to try to regain the kingdom by force. In the ensuing
battle, both Eteocles and Polynices died, killing each other
simultaneously.
The reason Creon wanted Eteocles to have a
proper burial was because he died defending his country. Because Polynices had fought
against the Thebans, Creon declared that Polynices should not be
buried.
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