In Greek mythology, what title did Theseus hold after returning victorious from Crete?

Theseus became King of Athens after returning victorious from Crete in Greek mythology. His victory over the Minotaur helped establish him as Athens’s central heroic ruler.

Theseus was the son of Aegeus in the traditional Athenian version of the story. He joined the group sent from Athens to Crete, entered the Labyrinth, killed the Minotaur, and escaped. After his return, he succeeded Aegeus as king. Some accounts also credit Theseus with politically uniting the communities of Attica under Athens, a process called synoikismos.

The succession story is separate from the details of the Cretan escape. Theseus’s failure to change the ship’s signal caused Aegeus to believe that his son had died, but Theseus still arrived in Athens and took the throne in the mythic tradition.