Units of History - The Spartan Royal Guard DOCUMENTARY
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Published 2020-10-18
In this history documentary we explore the best of the best that the Spartan Army had to offer, the hippeis or 300 Royal Guard. The video begins with a history of Sparta staring from its slow development during the bronze age and emergence as a regional power in the early archaic. At this points its armies featured bands of elite armored warriors accompanied by their lightly armed retinues. Using these forces, Sparta was able to gain control of the communities to its south in Laconia and to its west in Messenia. These wars made Sparta the largest polis in all of Greece. However such vast territories were difficult to manage and were subject to frequent uprisings. Historians now believe that around the 6th century, Spartan government and society was thus reformed to better deal with its domestic issues. This mean grouping its subjects into the classes of Helots or Perioikoi whilst more strictly controlling what it meant to be Spartan. Through these changes the army was reformed into one of a massed militia whereby the whole army would fight on foot. Thus Sparta's previously mounted forces of the Hippeis dismounted to join their comrades and became the Royal Guard who defended the King of Sparta in battle.
The sparta documentary then covers the equipment of the guard which was typical of most greek army forces. We then discuss how guardsmen were recruited through a selection process each year and what sorts of spartan training and spartan workout activities they took part in. The video then discusses their military tactics and role in hoplite warfare. Finally we then cover the service history of the guard which stretches from the Greco Persian wars to the Peloponnesian war. This includes discussions of the 300 spartans at the battle of Thermopylae, the battle of Mantinea, and the battle of Leuctra against Thebes and the Sacred Band.
Bibliography
T. Figueira, ‘The Spartan hippeis’, in S. Hodkinson and A. Powell (eds.), Sparta & War (2006), 57-84
Credits:
Research: Roel Konijnendijk
Writing: Roel Konijnendijk
Narration: Guy Michaels
Artwork: Penata Limited
Editing: Penta Limited
#History
#Documentary
#Sparta
All Comments (21)
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Another critical unit of the Spartan Army were the elite irregular forces of the Skiritai. We cover them here: https://youtu.be/MSsUYZBd414
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So you are telling me the Spartans weren't these half-naked 6 pack with a Scottish accent warriors?
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"So, now that we've driven the invaders away... What do we do?" "Idk. Kill each other?" "Okay. Cool. Cool cool cool" - Greek history basically
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“The Spartans do not ask how many enemy there are, but where they are.”
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"The Best of the Best... were no more" Step 1: Tries not to Cry Step 2: Cries alot
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As a Greek, whenever i hear the phrase 'the Dory spear', I hear the phrase 'the spear spear'. Anyway, excellent production. Well done.
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The biggest problem of Sparta is that, even during its prime, it was a rather small to middle-sized city with a mere 20.000 citizens living inside. And it dwindled in comparison with her direct rivals (Argos, Corinth, Athens, Thebes...).
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Just a massive thank you for this incredible, inspiring and insightful history lesson.
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Sorry for the late upload but this one was a real monster to produce as its our longest Units of History episode yet. Super happy with the outcome! What units do we do next?
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kinda sad to think about how such a renowned warrior culture just ceased to exist. Sparta was eventually defeated in the Laconian war and it's last king was overthrown and murdered leaving Sparta broken as a major power and was forced to join the Achaean League but played no part in the following Achaean war. Afterwards Rome annexed Greece and Sparta was made a self governing free city in the roman empire and would spend the remainder of the empire as a tourist attraction for the Roman elite who came to observe exotic Spartan customs. eventually after falling into further decline as a local power Sparta was eventually sacked by the Visigoths in 396AD In fact modern Sparta was only repopulated in 1834 by the decree of King Otto.
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“Stand warrior stand - feet firmly planted, even in sand. Our spirits soar on high, for a Spartan never truly dies.”
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Would love to see a video on Cleomenes III's attempted reform of Sparta.
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I like how you say we don’t know! It’s actually refreshing to hear. To many videos I watch say things as if they are pure facts when they are just a good theory
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Those Spartans has some really cool shield designs!
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8:06 That guy might need more training he's holding the sword the wrong way round.
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Modern talk about Spartans: Greatest warriors that ever lived! Ancient Greek talk about Spartans: Them got some fine women and wine!
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Only Spartans would brag, "Mine is smaller!"
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This is probably the best units of history for me This is my favorite channel
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“But we just don’t know.” How refreshing to hear this on a YouTube history channel. So many are so full of hyperbole with regard to this period, that it is hard to take even the facts they report seriously. As to the Spartans, after the hype of the “300” films, I guess more than anything else they exemplify the adage: “The bigger they come, the harder they fall.” PS (this is the edit): Reading through more of the comments, I am pretty impressed by the knowledge and civility in debate they demonstrate 👍).
