The True Story of Sparta | Ancient Greece’s Most Feared Warriors

There are lots of legends surrounding the Spartan army, and there was nothing quite like them. In the ancient world, they had one of the most formidable military systems. But what made the Spartan army so effective? What made them the most formidable in ancient history? Standing at the center of Sparta is the Spartan army, whose citizens are trained in the honor and disciplines of a warrior society. They are subjected to military drills from early manhood, and they rose to become the most formidable and feared military force in the Greek world. They even attained legendary status after their wars against Persia, when they were the main force opposing the Persians. According to tradition, Lycurgus, a semi-mythical legislator, found this legendary army. He referred to it as the wall of men instead of bricks. A Spartan's involvement in the army starts from childhood. If a male child is considered weak or deformed, he's left to die at Mount Tigitus. Their education focused on cunningness, academics, and sports. They were also taught poetry, music, and, most importantly, war tactics. History of the Spartan army. To understand the Spartan army, you first have to understand their history. The best place to start is the Mycenaean Age. The Iliad is the first reference to the Spartan army. They were like the armies in the Mycenaean Age. They were composed mostly of infantry with short swords, Dipylon-type shields, and spears. War chariots were used, but among the army elites. This was the period known as the Golden Age of Warfare. During this time, defeated armies were not all killed, but allowed to concede defeat. All that changed during the Polypodesian War, which led to indiscriminate slaughter, depredation, and enslavement among the Greeks. The Mycenaean Spartan, like most of Greece, was engulfed in the Dorian invasions, bringing an end to the Mycenaean civilization and ushering in the Greek Dark Age. At this time, Sparta was just a village known as Lacedaemon on the bank of River Evrotas in Laconia, the Archaic Age. In the 8th century, the Spartan society was transformed by Lycurgus. He created and established the Spartan military nature. From then, Sparta embarked on expansion, subduing Amaclea and other Laconian settlements. During the Mycenaean War, they conquered Mycenae, a fertile country. Along with Argus, Sparta was the Peloponnese's dominant power until the two collided. The victory of Argus at the Battle of Hisi led to the Mycenaean's uprising. This tied down the Spartan army for 20 years. But, Sparta later claimed control of the peninsula. During this battle, Argus lost Sinuria. This left Sparta as the unchallenged leading power in southern Greece, known as Hegemon in the Greek Dark Age. They formed a newly established Peloponnesus League, also called Lacedaemonians. Peloponnesian and Persian Wars. In the late 6th century, Sparta was the preeminent Greek polis. They allied with Lydia and the Greek cities of Asia Minor. During the invasion of Persia under Xerxes, the Spartan army played a vital role in repulsion. Pausanias' plots with the Persians caused the army to withdraw into isolation, creating a power vacuum that Athens was quick to fill. This led to friction between Sparta and Athens, with Sparta suffering defeat. With support from the Persians under Lysander, Sparta was able to conquer Athens. The Spartan army was then established in a dominant place in Greece. The End of Hegemony. This didn't last for long. Their conservative and narrow mentalities alienated them from their former allies. There was a decline in their population and then demotion for several reasons. This led to the waning of the Spartan army's power and thieves challenged them. The Theban eventually collapsed the army at the Battle of Leuctra, led by Epaminondes. The Spartan Army Organization. The structural organization of the Spartan army was divided into three categories. The Social Status, the Tactical Structure, and the Kings and Hypaeus. The Social Structure. The social structure of the Spartan army is divided into three classes. There are Spartiates, known as Homioi, which means peers or equals. These are full citizens of Sparta and receive a grant of land known as Klaros or Kleros for their military services. They are the main core of the Spartan army, which participated in the appellate or assembly. They provided the hoplites for campaigns and are only soldiers. They are forbidden to indulge in any form of trade. The second class is the Periosi, meaning dwellers nearby. These were non-citizens of Sparta and were mostly craftsmen, sailors, and merchants. During military campaigns, they served as light infantry or auxiliaries. The last class, which also happens to be the most numerous, was the Helots. These are the state's serfs that are enslaved to farm the Spartiates Kleros. With time, around the 5th century, the Helots were used as light troops during skirmishes. This was due to the decline in Spartan army manpower. They were awarded lands for their military service, but were never called Spartiates. They were called Neodamidaeus, meaning newly franchised. Spartan Army Tactical Structure. A principal source of the tactical structure of the army organization was Xenophon. Other authors, like Thucydides, also provided valuable information. The earliest form of the tactical structure of the Spartan army was divided into three tribes. Pamphiloi, Hylaes, and Daimones. These three tribes appeared in the Second Mycenaean Wars. Each had nine Frata, or fraternity. But, along history, they were replaced by five territorial villages known as Obai. Each supplied Iokos of about 1,000 men each. This is likely the system being used during the Persian Wars, because Herodotus referred to Iokoi in his histories. According to Xenophon, the tactical structure begins from the basics. That is, the 36 men in three files, Oenomotiae under an Oenomotarch. Two Oenomotiae formed a 72-men Pentacostas under a Pentacontyr. Two Pentacostiae formed an Iokos of 144 men under an Iokagos. Four Iokoi formed a Mora of 570 men under a Palamarchos. They were the strongest single tactical units of the Spartan army. It takes six Morae, Sciritae, and other contingencies of allies to form an army campaign. The King and the Hypaeus. Another important structure in the Spartan army organizations is the King and the Hypaeus. Sparta had two kings who led the army into battle after the 6th century. Where only one would go, the other would remain in Sparta. The Hypaeus are an elite group of 300 men. They are the royal guards belonging to the first Mora. They were selected by the Hypaeus, commissioned officials. Training and tactics during army campaigns. In the Spartan army during the archaic period of 700 to 600 BC, education for both sexes was centered on art. Later on, the male received military education. Boys and girls in Sparta were brought up together by the city women until they turned seven. After that, the boys were sent in packs to the Agoge, a place that is the equivalent of a present-day military boot camp. The boys were encouraged to compete against themselves, steal, and not get caught. If caught, they were punished, not for stealing, but for being caught. When a boy turned 18, he became a trainer. If found fit and worthy, he would be included in the cryptiae. Throughout their adult life, Spartiates were continuously subjected to military training. During the Spartan campaigns, the army was infantry based. They fought using their phalanx formation. Their consistent drills and discipline made their formation so strong, cohesive, and effective. Their phalanx formation was employed in classical styles, deep in uniform files of 12 men. Their phalanx formation was broken during the confrontations with the Theban under Epaminondes. The Spartan army clothing. When it comes to clothing, the Spartan army was like other Greek armies, but they had tiny differences. They had a chiton, a crimson tunic, and their hemation, cloaks. Then, there were also the shields passed down as family heirlooms. Losing a shield in the Spartan army was a sign of disgrace, and mothers sent their sons out for battles with a farewell, a shield, and a speech. Come back with it, or on it. The shield was not just important in protecting the user, it was also important in protecting the phalanx formation. The Spartan army equipment evolved, especially during the Hellenistic period. Before that time, they initially abandoned armor, went back, but not as heavily as in the Archaic Ages. In the Hellenistic period, shields, leg greaves, robes, and helmets were used. Also, bracelets and even spikes became popular. The Spartan code. You can't talk about the Spartan army without mentioning the Spartan code. Very contrary to popular beliefs, knowledge and education were valued in Sparta. This is evident in the Spartan army code of honor. They had democracy, philosophy, and their code of honor was strictly followed. Some contents of their code of honor. No soldier was to be considered inferior or superior. No misbehavior, rage, suicidal recklessness, or any kind was accepted in the army. A soldier is to fight with calm determination and not raging anger. Walk without noise and only speak with a few words. The most notable wars of the Spartan army are the war against Nevis, the Cleomenian War, the Boeotian War, the Corinthian War, the Peloponnesian Wars, and of course, the Persian Wars. So what do you think about the Spartan army? What do you think about their tactics, army organization, and the Spartan code? Make sure to leave in the comment section your ideas, thoughts, and opinions. And before you go, don't forget to give us a thumbs up and share this video to your friends.