1. The Spartan Army

2. The reputation of the Spartan hoplite was well established
The reputation of the Spartan hoplite was well established. Their equipment was excellent, especially compared to that of non-Greeks. They had willpower and no fear of dying on the battlefield; to die in this way was the greatest honour a Spartan could hope for. To retreat was, for a Spartan, unthinkable. Hence the loss of a shield was considered cowardice. If a Spartan was killed in battle, his comrades carried his body on his hoplon back from battle for burial.
Comradeship in the Spartan army was extremely strong. According to Spartan tradition, Lycurgus had been most particular in fostering it. The agoge (Spartan system of education) had comradeship and belonging as one of its cornerstones. Young boys were drilled in packs. As a youth of 20 a Spartan male sought membership to one of the dining clubs. This syssition, as it was called, comprised some 15 members who spent considerable time with one another, even when not in training. When in battle, the syssition was the hoplite's "tent".

3. 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
Hoplite – heavily armed infantry

4. ‘Panoply’ of Spartan Hoplite
Helmet in Corinthian style, made hearing difficult
Long thrusting
Spear 3m
Distinctive red
Cape, not worn in
battle
Short stabbing sword
Attached at the
waist
The panoply of the Spartan hoplite (consisting of helmet, corselet, greaves, round hoplon, short sword and thrusting spear) was not very different from an Athenian hoplite. The most noticeable differences were the Spartan symbol on the hoplon, and the red cape (which was not worn during a battle).
aspida – Spartan equivalent to hoplon was a large, round wood and metal shield (large enough to act as a stretcher to be carried on if wounded), that covered the hoplite from chin to mid‐thigh – usually emblazoned with the Greek letter ‘Λ’ (lambda) for Lacaedaemon.
• dory – a pike or thrusting spear – wooden handle (4 cm thick and between 1.5‐3 metres long) with a metal (iron) spearhead.
• helmet (Corinthian style) – mainly bronze but reinforced with iron and decorated with horses hair.
• kopis – short slashing sword made of cast piece of bronze or iron (about 60 cm in length).
• cuirass – body armour made from leather, glued layers of linen and metal in form of a padded corset.
• greaves – usually bronze, sometimes leather. • phoinikis – red wool cloak.
Bronze shield
bearing the letter L
Greaves made
From learher
Protective corselet of leather
Worn over a cloth tunic

5. "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
Laconian warrior statue – 5th century BC tightly wrapped cloak, carefully dressed hair

6. 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. 

7. Spartan Phalanx https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdNn5TZu6R8
Phalanx – closely packed fighting formation designed to push forward and break the ranks of the opposing enemy – steam roller effect. Example the rugby scrum. They were packed in rows with interlocking shields. Most experiences fighters at the front, if they are to fall the second rank closes the gap.. Advantages and disadvantages.

8. Spartan Phalanx
Tactics
Depth
Formation
Weaponry
Frontline

9. 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.
Enomotia – 4 groups of 8 men

10. 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.
Regardless of the precise composition of the phalanx, in battle the drill was the same. The enomotiai marched behind each other in a large row. Before the battle the last troops of each enemotia positioned themselves on the left behind their leader to form a phalanx of four columns, in total 16 rows wide, and 8 rows deep. A space of two metres was maintained between the columns, but on the order "close ranks" the last troops walked to the left front to close gaps in the front row. The phalanx was in a closed formation and ready for the battle.
Copy down table page 39

11. LIGHT ARMED SKIRMISHERS
Chain of Command
KING
POLEMARCHS
SPARTIATES
PERIOKOI AND HELOTS
LIGHT ARMED SKIRMISHERS
Whatever structure the Spartans might have used, it did not decrease their effective communication system. The king gave his orders directly to the ptolemarchs, who passed them on through the troops via the lower officers. 

12. 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.

13. Spartan Army Strengths Weaknesses
Strengths – Phalanx, discipline trained soldiers prepared for battle, more forces from helots and perioikoi, reputation - leadership role in the Peloponnesian League.
Weaknesses – insufficient cavalry, training tactics inflexible, vulnerable to arches, slingers javelins, could not attack fortifiesd positions only good in open level fields, manpower shortages.

14. 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

15. 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!

16. 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

17. 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 (not following orders)
King Archidamos (lacked seige ability)
Battle of Mantinea. 418 BC - weakness of the flanks
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

18. 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
Government to match phalanx

19. The Role of the Spartan Army
Military
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 Persian
Civic
All warriors were citizens who made decisions about war and peace as members of the Assembly
Domestic
Suppression of helots
Economic
Consumers of goods produced by periokoi and helots
Ideological
Transmitters of military values ie heroism, unity, loyalty, obedience, sacrifice