Laertes

la-er'tez, in Greek legend, the king of Ithaca and father of Ulysses. He joined the expedition engaged in the chase of the Calydonian boar, and also accompanied Jason when he went in search of the golden fleece. While Ulysses was away at the Trojan War Laertes became despondent, but, when he found that his son had returned, his youthful vigor came back to him and he joined in the fight with Penelope's suitors. Shakespeare uses the name, Laertes, for the brother of Ophelia in his play of Hamlet.