The Spartan Army

Spartan Mirage

• “One-against-one, they [sc. the Spartans] are as good as anyone in the world. But when they fight in a body, they are the best of all. For though they are free men, they are not entirely free. They accept Law as their master. And they respect this master more than your subjects respect you. Whatever he commands, they do. And his command never changes: It forbids them to flee in battle, whatever the number of their foes. He requires them to stand firm -- to conquer or die”.

Herodotus

Arms and Armour“In the equipment he devised for the troops in battle Lykougos included a red cloak, because he throught this garment had the least resemblance to women’s clothing and to be the most suitable for war, and a bronze round shield, because it is quickly polished and tarnishes very slowly.” - Xenophon

‘Panoply’ of Spartan Hoplite

Bronze shield bearing the letter

LGreaves madeFrom learher

Distinctive red Cape, not worn in

battle

Long thrusting Spear 3m

Helmet in Corinthian style, made hearing difficult

Short stabbing swordAttached at the

waist

Protective corselet of leatherWorn over a cloth tunic

"In times of battles the officers relaxed the harshest aspects of their discipline and did not stop the men from beautifying their hair and their armour and their clothing, glad to see them like horses prancing and neighing before races. For this reason they took care over their hair from the time when they were youths, especially seeing to it in times of trouble so that it appeared sleek and well-combed...... it makes the handsome better-looking and the ugly more frightening." Plutarch

• Most important protective device

• 3 feet in diameter

• Constructed of wood and reeinforced with bronze. 

• Convex = wont absorb the full weight of the enemy thrust, thereby deflecting the

impact. 

Spartan Phalanx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSLmYg1nJ7A

Thucydides – structure of Army around 400BC

•Phalanx 8-12 rows.

•Four form an enomotia (platoon)

•Four form a pentekosis (company)

•Four form a lochos (battalion).

•5-7 Lochoi.

E.g. 8x4x4x4x6=approx.3072 full citizens. Army also consisted of helots and perioikoi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdNn5TZu6R8

Xenophon - different structure 5th century. •Phalanx 12 rows•Two form an enomotia. •Two enomotiai form a pentekostis,•Two pentekosteis form a lochos,•Four lochois formed a mora, or regiment, under the command of a ptolemarch (or polemarch). •An army consisted of six morae.

Copy down table page 39

Chain of Command

PERIOKOI AND HELOTSLIGHT ARMED SKIRMISHERS

SPARTIATES

POLEMARCHS

KING

The Strength of the Phalanx

• A phalanx could be as many as eight rows deep, and moving in formation, they were nearly unstoppable so long as their rear and flanks were protected. The phalanx was perfect for combat on open gound or level terrain.

Spartan ArmyStrengths Weaknesses

Herodotus on Thermopylae• ...the spartan lines though eventually broke as any would

against such vast an army. For although they had fought most courageously against immense odds... the sheer force and thrust of the mighty force was against them now. Only the Gods could stop such numbers? But these men were the elite of an elite and the gleeful rush forward of the Persians was soon to be checked. Upon, the fleeing spartans reaching their defences the impossible seemed to happen... the Spartans who were in full flight turned on an instant; and not only held their ground but drove once again forward breaking the surprised and now dismayed advance like automatons!. This type of tactic was virtually unheard of ... but not by the Spartans! Retreat was unthinkable and was only used as a means to lure the enemy into a false sense of victory... then to turn and crush the very spirit out of them!

Strength, Unity and Tactics

• Important tactic at Thermopylae

• Faked retreat used to lure the Persian immortals

• The "retreat" was followed by a fast u turn and reformation of the wall of shields and a fast march against the opponent which had already lost its cohesion trying to chase the retreating phalanx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McwmRQUTfKk

Spartan Army Mirage• Most accounts support the idealised view of the Spartan

Army.• Sparta’s role as leader of the Peloponnese supports the

accepted superiority of Sparta amongst its neighbours. • Did all Spartans live up to this ideal??

• Trembler at Thermopylae (regained honour at Plataea)• Battle of Plataea orders• King Archidamos (lacked seige ability)• Battle of Mantinea. 418 BC - weakness of the flanks

• Thucydides account of the Battle of Sphakteria where Athenians burn the wooded protection and launch missiles, archers and peltasts – Spartans surrendered, shields taken

• Many of the near losses and failures date from 450 onwards and could be a result of declining Spartiate numbers. This meant that numbers had to be filled by less experienced periokoi

Modern Historians“ That the Spartans were courageous beyond all other peoples, and by such feats as that of Leonidas and his 300 at Thermopylae gave to the world examples of devotion to duty and intrepidity in the face of certain death, has generally been accepted.” H Michell

“ There was, if not an outright revolution, at least a very significant tactical reform….a developed form of hoplite phalanx fighting on the battlefield and significant political change from it…..a specifically hoplite value system and code of honour were necessarily devised to accompany therefore hoplite militarism….cohesion, self sacrifice, collective uniformity were deliberately fostered.” Paul Cartledge

“Sparta lost its military superiority not because of any decline in its own standards but because it did not maintain the lead which its professionalism at war had previously given….In each case it was the triumph of military genius. Epimonondas was too good for Sparta just as Phillip was to prove too good for Greece.’ G Cawkwell

The Role of the Spartan ArmyMilitary•Operating through the Peloponnesian League the Spartan Army was responsible for the defence of Sparta and her allies from any external threat whether it be Greek or PersianCivic •All warriors were citizens who made decisions about war and peace as members of the AssemblyDomestic•Suppression of helotsEconomic•Consumers of goods produced by periokoi and helotsIdeological•Transmitters of military values ie heroism, unity, loyalty, obedience, sacrifice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGHlp8g7I0M

15 minute – Spartan Army - Agoge