The Army in Sparta, and mirage, navarchy, battles Flashcards
4 examples of the king being the commander
® When Agis was at Declea with his army “he had the power to send troops wherever he wished, to raise fresh forces, and to levy money.” [Thucydides, 8.5.2]
® “all decisions stem from the king” [Xenophon, Lac Pol, 13.10]
® Ephors go on campaign to ensure everyone behaves appropriately. [Xenophon, Lac Pol, 13.5]
® Agis convinced the Spartans to not fine him but a law was passed meaning that he was to have 10 advisers and that without them, he could not lead an army. [Thucydides, 5.63]
4 examples of changing the constitution of the army
® Platea: 5000 Spartans and 35,000 helots “seven serving each man” [Herodotus, 9.28]
® “The Spartans were also glad to have a good excuse for sending some of their helots out of the country [because] … they feared a revolution” [Thucydides, 4.80]
® Brasidas took a force of helots and “The rest of his army were mercenaries” [Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, 4.81] Neodamodeis + mercenaries =Brasideans
® The Helots who fought with Brasidas were given their freedom. [Thucydides, 5.34]
2 reasons for the spartan mirage
® Spartans didn’t chase after fleeing opponents, which benefitted them as their enemies knew this and were more likely to desert [Plutarch, Life of Lykourgos, 22]
® “most Spartan institutions have always been designed with a view to security against the Helots”. [Thucydides]
4 examples of the Agoge creating strong loyal soldiers
® “it is a noble thing for a man to fall in the front line” [Tyrtaeus 10]
® “their education was directed towards the habit of instant obedience, endurance of pain, and military success” [Plutarch, Life of Lykourgos, 16.6]
® Lykourgos “decreed that they should habitually wear one garment all the year round” [Xenophon, Lac. Pol, 2]
® Boys weren’t given much food but were allowed to try and steal more [Xenophon Lac Pol 2]
2 examples spartans are professional soldiers
® “Lakedaimonians alone are the true professionals in the overall conduct of war” [Xenophon, Lak. Pol, 13.5]
® For Spartans “war brought relief from their training for war” [Plutarch, Life of Lykourgos 22]
importance of piety in sparta 2 points
® “By the Twa Gods” [Aristophanes, Lysistrata]
® Herodotus also tells us the Carneia stops them joining in with the Battle of Marathon (although perhaps it was a helot revolt – Aristotle says this.).
2 points outsiders view of spartans
® “The secrecy with which their affairs are conducted meant that no one knew the numbers of the Spartans” [Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, 5.68]
® “such rippling muscles” [Aristophanes, Lysistrata]
3 points on military superiority
® “For it is a noble thing for a man to fall in the front line” [Tyrtaeus 10]
® Spartans didn’t chase after fleeing opponents, which benefitted them as their enemies knew this and were more likely to desert [Plutarch, Life of Lykourgos, 22]
® inscription on the burial mound: “Four thousand here from Pelops’ land/ Against three million once did start” [Herodotus, Histories, 7.228]
2 points helots are the reason for spartan mirage
® “the most enslaved and the most free are in Lakedaimon” [Kritias, On Slavey, 2.87]
® “most Spartan institutions have always been designed with a view to security against the Helots”. [Thucydides]
3 points navarchy is a source of power
® “the navarchy has been established as virtually another kingship” [Aristotle, Politics]
® “they gave the title of admiral to a man named Aracus and sent out Lysander nominally to be his deputy, but in reality to take command” [Plutarch, Life of Lysander, 7]
® Lysander returned the money he’d been given by Cyrus so that Callicratidas should ask for himself for it. [Plutarch, Life of Lysander, 6]
importance of naval persian relations
® Cyrus “gave to Lysander all the tribute which came in from his cities and belonged to him personally” [Xenophon, Hellenica, 2.1.13]
navarchies importance to winning Peloponnesian war
® “he made the ships of his enemies empty” by having Cyrus pay the sailors 4 obols instead of 3. [Plutarch, Life of Lysander, 4]
navarchy leading to meritocracy 3 points
® Aelian says that Callicratidas and Lysander were mothakes, which shows meritocracy since they were navarchs.
® The war “concluded by the foresight and skill of one man” [Plutarch, Life of Lysander, 11]
® Counter: Lysander was a “descendant of Herakles” according to Plutarch and so was an aristocrat, even if he was impoverished.
importance of sphacteria 5 points
® Lacedaemonians captured at Sphacteria“420 hoplites, with helots to attend them” [Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, 4.8]
® “The Spartans order you to make your own decision about yourselves, so long as you do nothing dishonourable.” [Thucydides, history of the Peloponnesian War, 4.38]
® “the Spartans weren’t used to this kind of fighting” and so couldn’t “reap the advantages of their own specialized training”. [Thucydides]
® “About 120 of the prisoners were of the Spartan officer class” [Thucydides, 4.38]
® “The general impression had been that Spartans would never surrender” [Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, 4.40]
importance of Amphipolis
® Cleon and Brasidas died at Amphipolis “the two people who on each side had been most opposed to peace” [Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, 5.16]
importance of mantinea 2 points
® Both the Skiritai and Brasideans were fighting in this battle, evidence of changing constitution of army. [Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, 5.72]
® Spartans win at Mantinea and re-establish some of their prestige by showing military superiority.
importance of Arginusae 2 points
® Callicratidas dies [Xenophon] clearing the way for Lysnader to become vice-navarch.
® Athenians kill most of their generals for not rescuing sailors, which may explain why Lysander later won Aegospotami.
Importance of Aegospotami 2 points
® Lysander’s atctics got the Athenians to put their guards down, allowing for him to then swoop in and defeat the unprepared enemy. [Plutarch, Life of Lysander]
® The war” concluded by the foresight and skill of one man” [Plutarch, Life of Lysander, 11]
