The Political Structure of Sparta Flashcards
How many royal families did Sparta have? and how many kings at any one time?
2 royal families and therefore two king concurrently.
How does Aristotle describe the role of the Kings?
1) ‘When a Spartan king leaves the country he is commander in everything to do with war; furthermore matters concerning the gods are also entrusted to the Kings. So this kingship is like a permanent generalship of men with absolute power.’
2) ‘The fourth of these is the Spartan which, so to speak, is simply a permanent hereditary generalship.’
What were Spartans forbade to do by Lycurgus? What did this result in?
Spartans weren’t allowed to leave Sparta and foreigners were expelled. Spartans didn’t have much contact with the outside world, and certainly not with the Greek world outside the Peloponnese.
How did Spartan isolation effect Spartan leadership of other Greek forces?
Some Spartan commanders and governers found it difficult to deal with ordinary troops from other states and civilian populations which were used to less authoritarian ways of running their armies and city-states.
Who is an example of the Spartan authoritarian way of command militarily?
Pausanias - the Spartans after the Greco-Persian war were happy to give up command of the Greeks in order to preserve their customs. Pausanias wasn’t ready to lose the power he held, and after continuing to plot against Sparta was eventually punished.
When do we first hear about Archidamus?
Hear about him at the time of the earthquake and helot revolt of 464 BC. According to Diodorus, it was Archidamus who led the resistance against the helots.
Who was Agis II? What did he do?
Agis was the son of Archidamus, he took over his father’s mantle of leading the annual invasion of Attica in 426 BC, with the Spartans turning back at the Isthmus because of earthquakes. Agis was one of the Spartan signatories to the peace of Nicias with Athens in 421 BC. Agis led the Spartan forces against Argos in 419 BC.
Why did the Spartans get angry with Agis after the war with Argos?
After defeating the Argive army, in 418 BC he was in a position to take the city and defeat them ultimately, yet he was persuaded by the Argive generals to sign a truce for four months and Agis withdrew. This allowed the Argive allied army to capture Orchomenos. This all led to be the decisive Battle of Mantinea.
When else did Agis lead the Spartan campaign?
Commanded at the battle of Mantinea, and set up the fort at Decelea - where he remained for the rest of the rest of the war, until the Athenian surrender of 404 BC.
What does Thucydides say of the importance of King Agis’ placement at Decelea?
The importance here was in the powers he could wield as a king outside of Sparta. Thucydides writes ‘He did this all independently of the Lakedaimonian state. For Agis, as long as he was at Decelea with his own army, had full powers to dispatch an expedition wherever he wished, to levy an army, and the raise money.’ (The History of the Pelopponesian War, 8.5)
Why did having two kings lead to weaker government?
Would often follow different policies which could lead to disunity and weaker government.
Why was there often a power inbalance between the two kings?
Often succession came at different time, so the older king would become dominant over the newly apointed monarch.
What does Herodotus claim about Spartan succession?
That only sons born of the king during his reign could succeed to kingship; an elder brother could be skipped for the younger brother given he was born outside his fathers reign.
What were the two dynasties called?
Agiad and Eurypontid.
What was the order of succession of the Agiad family during the study period?
Leonidas (d. 480 BC) - Pleistarchus too young in 480 so Regent Pausanias - Pausanias disgraced and died circa 470 BC - Pleistarchus ruled until 458 BC - Pleistoanax son of Pausanias claimed the throne in 458, exiled in 446/5, recalled 427/6 - Pausanias 408 - 395.
What was the order of succession of the Eurypontid family during the study period?
Demaratus in exile so replaced by a distant relation - Leotychidas (491 - 469) - Archidamus (469-427) - Agis (427-400).
What were the Gerousia? what could they do?
A group of 30 men (two being the kings) that alone could make proposals to the assembly. Additionally they could veto a crooked proposal. As only they could propose to the assembly, this is normally interpreted as meaning that attempts to change or amend these proposals could be vetoed.
What does Xenophon say the Gerousia could do?
That they were judges.
Who was Hetoemaridas?
A member of the gerousia who attempted to persuade the assembly not to declare war on Athens. Diodorus places this debate in 475 BC, though it could have been placed in 477 BC.
Where did the power and influence of the Gerousia lie?
In probouleusis. Debated matter first and then brought them to the assembly for it to vote on.
What does Plutarch say of the Gerousia?
(Lycurgus 5.6-7, LACTOR 21, D14) Plutarch says that the gerousia was a source of stability, mentioning Plato as a source, an that it normally supported the kings and was a balance to the common people.
Who does Plutarch claim introduced the ephors?
King Theopompus (late eighth-early seventh century).
What does Xenophon say of the ephors?
That five were elected every year from any full Spartiate, they received foreign envoys. That they called the meetings of the assembly, and maybe the gerousia too.
What event, relating to the ephors, does Xenophon write of?
Xenophon records an occasion in 405BC when the ephors prevented the Athenian envoys entering Sparta (Hellenica 2.2.13).
What is written of Sthenelaidas?
Influential in the debate to declare war on Athens in 432 BC.
What did the assembly consist of?
All male Spartiates over the age of twenty.
What were the assembly responsible for?
1) The assembly decided on whether to go to war in 432, despite Herodotus’ statement about the Kings making the decision.
2) Both the Gerousia and the ephors were elected by the assembly.
3) Changes in law had to be approved by the assembly.
4) We have also seen that the assembly could not be put forward its own proposals, had to come from the Gerousia. It is thought that the ephors could also make proposals. As Sthenelaidas seems to do this in 432 BC.
5) It may be that the assembly could not debate the proposal, but listened to the opinions of the kings, gerousia, and ephors.
Who was Brasidas?
A non-royal Spartan commander.
What did Brasidas do in 431 BC?
Saved the southern perioikic town of Methone from an Athenian attack (Thucydides, 2.25, LACTOR 21, E34).
What event involving Brasidas happened in 430 BC?
The popularity he gained from his action in 431BC may be what resulted in him being elected eponymous ephor (Xenophon, Hellenica 2.3.10).
What happened in 429BC? and what does Thucydides write happen as a consequence?
Athenian general Phormio was operating a fleet in the corinthian gulf. The Spartans sent a fleet under Cnemus to oppose him, which had been operating against the Athenian possessions in the Western Greek islands. The Spartan fleet was defeated, partly because Cnemus arrived late. Thucydides writes ‘The Spartans sent Timocrates, Brasidas, and Lycophron as advisers to Cnemus concerning the fleet, ordering them to better prepare for a second sea-battle and not to be kept off the sea by so few ships…’ ‘…they didn’t think it was so much that their fleet was weaker, but that there was a softness; they did not balance the great experience of the Athenians with their own brief training. Therefore they sent their advisers out of anger.’ (History of the Peloponnesian War 2.85)
In 429 BC what does Brasidas do as advisor to Cnemus?
Brasidas was involved in a daring raid which was intended to attack the Athenian port at Piraeus, but instead lay waste to the island of Salamis instead (Thucydides, The History of the Peloponnesia War, 2.85)
In 427 BC what is Brasidas doing?
Brasidas is now an adviser to the commander of the Spartan fleet, Alcidas. Their target was Corcyra, an Athenian ally currently going through a civil war (Thucydides, 3.76). Brasidas was in favour of an immediate attack , but was overruled by Alcidas (Thucydides, 3.79).
What happened in 425 BC relating to Brasidas?
Brasidas distinguished himself in the Spartan attack on the Athenian fortification at Pylos (Thucydides 4.11-12, LACTOR 21, E88).
What was Brasidas doing 424 BC?
Brasidas was at Corinth putting together an army to take to Thrace when the Athenians attacked Megara. Brasidas hurried to attack them and eventually the Athenians retreated (Thucydides 4.70-74). Eventually Brasidas set off for Thrace with his army of mercenaries and helots (Thucydides 4.81, LACTOR 21, E35). In Thrace, Brasidas moved quickly and daringly, winning over the cities of Thrace from Athens. His success was not well received in Sparta who, initially, refused to sent reinforcements (Thucydides, 4.108.7), although they were later sent (Thucydides 5.12-13)
What happened in 423 BC between Sparta and Athens? What happened shortly after this?
A truce was made between the two states so that negotiations for a more lasting peace could take place (Thucydides 4.117, LACTOR 21, H40). Two days after the truce, the city of Scione went over to the Spartans and Brasidas refused to give it back, and then Mende also defected to the Spartans
What happened in 422BC relating to Brasidas?
The truce ended and the Athenians sent Cleon to try and recover the taken cities in Thrace, mainly Amphipolis. The Spartans were successful in defending the city, mainly because of a charge led by Brasidas from the city (Thucydides 5.10), but he was killed in the action.
What do Plutarch and Thucydides write of Alcibiades?
Plutarch tells us that his wet-nurse was Spartan (Alcibiades 1). It is normally assumed that she wasn’t a Spartan citizen. Thucydides mentions a long-standing relationship between Alcibiades’ family and the family of a Spartan named Endios (The History of the Peloponnesian War, 8.6)
What does Alcibiades do in 420BC relating to the peace of Nicias?
Alcibiades took advantage of the bad relations between Sparta and Athens, tricking the Spartan negotiators, including Endios, who were in Athens. Alcibiades denounced the Spartans in the Athenian assembly (Thucydides 5.45) paving the way for the Athenian alliance with Argos. Alcibiades had hoped to attract Elis and Mantinea into the anti-Spartan Peloponnesian alliance. All three of these states were democracies, despite Sparta’s preference for its allies to be oligarchies (Thucydides 1.19).
What does Alcibiades do in 419 BC?
Alcibiades persuaded the Athenians to inscribe on the pillar recording the Peace of Nicias, ‘The Spartans have not kept their oaths’ (Thucydides 1.19).
What did the Spartans do in 418 BC? What did this mean for Alcibiades?
The Spartans had decided to act and marched against Argos (Thucydides 5.57) eventually this led to the Battle of Mantinea, a resounding victory for the Spartan. This ended the anti-Spartan Peloponnesian alliance that Alcibiades had hoped for (Thucydides 5.63-74). Sparta also signed another 50 year peace with Argos (Thucydides 5.79).
What did Alcibiades convince the Athenian assembly of in 415BC? What was the decision in this matter?
Alcibiades persuaded the assembly to send a large expedition to Sicily. The expressed purpose was to aid their allies, Egesta, against Syracuse, but Alcibiades clearly had hopes to conquer the whole island. Alcibiades was appointed as one of the generals. However, just as the expedition was to set sail, some sacred statues outside Athenian homes were vandalised and Alcibiades was accused of being involved. He was allowed to depart with the expedition, but was then recalled to stand trial.
What happened to Alcibiades in 414BC after his recall?
After being exiled, and fearing for his life, Alcibiades defected to Sparta (Thucydides 6.89); in a speech to the Spartan assembly he persuaded the Spartans to both send a Spartan officer to take over the command of the Syracusan resistance in Sicily and establish a permanent episteichismos in Athenian territory near Decelea.
What did the Spartans decide to do 413BC in regards to Alcibiades advice?
The Spartans accepted his advice, sending Gylippus to Sicily and decided to fortify Decelea (Thucydides 6.93; 7.11-12) under the command of King Agis (Thucydides 8.3, 5,)
What did Alcibiades persuade the Spartans to do 411 BC? What did he promise them?
Alcibiades persuaded the Spartans to intervene in the Aegean and promised them that he could persuade the Ionian cities to revolt from Athens (Thucydides, 8.12).
What did Alcibiades do in regards to King Agis II? What did Thucydides say of their relationship?
Whilst King Agis II was at Decelea, Alcibiades had seduced his wife (Plutarch, Alcibiades 23) though exactly when this happened is not clear. Thucydides maintains that Agis and Alcibiades were sworn enemies by 411 BC (8.45) saying that the Spartans now wanted his death. This seduction is assumed to have taken place in 414/13 BC.
What else did Alcibiades do to the Spartans in 411 BC? What did Alcibiades manage around this time?
Started acting against Spartan interests with Persian governer Tissaphernes, hoping for his recall to Athens. Alcibiades successfully ingratiated himself with the Athenian army on Samos and they elected him their general.
What had Alcibiades done by 407BC?
Finally returned to Athens (Xenophon, Hellenica 1.4.10-20) and was elected general.
What did Alcibiades do 406BC? How did the Athenians react to this?
Alcibiades had left his fleet in the command of his helmsman while he went off to obtain supplies and funds. This helmsman foolishly allowed himself to be drawn into a conflict with Lysander off Notium and was defeated. The Athenian people reacted by depriving Alcibiades from command and he retreated to a castle he owned on the Hellespont (Plutarch, Lysander 5, LACTOR 21, E124).
What did Alcibiades warn the Athenians of in 405BC?
Before the final battle of Aegospotami, Alcibiades had warned the Athenian generals of the weakness of their position, but was dismissed (Xenophon, Hellenica 2.1.25-26).
What was Lysander?
A mothax - a Spartan not brought up in his father’s household.
What were the two types of mothakes? and which is Lysander considered to be?
Mothakes were either the son of a Spartan father and Helot mother, or the son of a Spartan who was too poor to pay the syssitia dues and had lost full citizen status. Plutarch (Lysander, 2.1) maintains that Lysander fell into the latter category.
What does Xenophon write of mothakes?
Xenophon writes that the son of a Spartan father and Helot mother was, in fact, a nothoi rather than a mothax (Xenophon, Hellenica 5.3.9)
What happened to Lysander, 407 BC? What did he do here?
Lysander was appointed nauarchos, commander of the Spartan navy, in the Aegean. Whilst in this post, Lysander befriended Cyrus, a Persian prince and commander of the Persian forces (Plutarch, Lysander 3-4).
What did Cyrus, and the Persian alliance, provide the Spartans?
Cyrus provided the funding needed for the navy.
What did Lysander do 406BC?
Won the battle of Notium and set about trying to win over the leading citizens of the cities of Ionia (Plutarch, Lysander 5)
What did the Spartans disallow of admirals? How did this effect Lysander?
Spartan law did not allow an admiral to command for more than a year; after the battle of Notium, Lysander was succeeded by Callicratidas
What did Lysander do to Callicratidas? and what success did Callicratidas have?
Lysander undermined Callicratidas by returning the balance of the funds he had received from Cyrus; Callicratidas had no means to pay his rowers (Plutarch, Lysander 6). Callicratidas did, however, have some success, blockading the Athenian fleet at Mytilene.
What hapened to Callicratidas at the end of 406BC?
A new Athenian fleet had set sail, engaging the Spartans at Arginusae. Here, Callicratidas was killed (Plutarch, Lysander 7)
What did the Spartan allies want by 405 BC? How did Sparta respond?
Cyrus and the allies of Sparta wanted Lysander reappointed as admiral, but this was not allowed by Spartan law. Sparta, therefore, elected Aracus with Lysander as his deputy.
What did Cyrus do in response to Lysander’s re-election?
He resumed his payments to the Spartan fleet (Plutarch, Lysander 8-9; Xenophon, Hellenica 2.1.6-7; 13-14).
What did Lysander with his new command?
Lysander sailed his fleet to the Hellespont. The Athenians had to follow him as they couldn’t afford to lose their grain supply route from the Black-Sea. Here, Lysander won a great victory over the Athenians at Aegospotami through clever strategy (Plutarch, Lysander 9-11; Xenophon, Hellenica 2.1.23-24; 27-28).
What did the Athenians do as a result of Lysander’s victory at Aegospotami?
The Athenians surrendered as they could not recover from having their food supply cut off.
What does Aristotle say of Lysander’s power as Nauarchos? What does Aristotle mean here?
‘This is because on top of the kings who are permanent generals, the naval command had been established as virtually another kingship.’ (Aristotle, Politics, 1271a 39-40). Aristotle is saying that the nauarchos has the same power as the kings, including that of life and death.
Why else did Lysander wield great power?
Lysander’s personal relationship with Cyrus was crucial to the funding of their navy. Additionally, the friendships he had made with the citizens of the Greek cities formed the basis of the councils of ten through which Sparta governed the cities after defeating Athens.
