Spartan elite warriors after the Bronze Age...

Spartan military was arguably the finest army in Greece. I wonder, after the Roman invasions and the decline of Greece... what happened to Spartans? Did they slowly declined until it became a small regular city, or what?

Join us.

Originally posted by Spartakus

When the Romans came, Spartans had already declined.

Yes, but the Spartan military was still there. According to wikipedia, Sparta is now a normal small city, no longer possesses any significant military.

Or so we are told...

Edited by pekau - 16-May-2007 at 10:28

Join us.

Originally posted by pekau

Originally posted by Spartakus

When the Romans came, Spartans had already declined.

Yes, but the Spartan military was still there. According to wikipedia, Sparta is now a normal small city, no longer possesses any significant military.

Or so we are told...

Well, to be honest I think Sparta was bigger before than it is now (~20 000 inhabitants)... :(

However, the whole Laconia kept a rich history and language over the years. They were also the last province in Greece to became Christians as late as the 11th century. Before that, they were still into Hellenic religion.

Så nu tar jag fram (k)niven va!

Originally posted by Nick1986

Didn't the remaining Spartans become mercenaries?

I think I read somewhere that unlike almost all of the rest of the Greeks, the Spartans chose to side with Octavian, instead of with Mark Anthony. So it would seem they did fight on behalf of others.

Edited by TheAlaniDragonRising - 08-Jun-2012 at 23:43

What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

After the end of Spartan hegemony, they kept their economy afloat by sending out citizens as mercenary commanders. One of the most famous was Xanthippus, who reorganized a Carthaginian army and defeated the Romans at the Battle of Tunis, and the Siege of Lilybaeum, during the First Punic War.

As to famous Roman Commanders of Spartan descent...none that I can think of. However, the commander of the Spartan contingent at Actium, was rewarded heavily by Octavian. Eurycles of Sparta was allowed to take the praenomen and nomen of Octavians adopted father, and was forever known as Gaius Julius Eurycles. His family, the Euryclids, were named the "Rulers of Sparta", and entered the Roman Senate at the time of Trajan. One of the descendants, Quintus Roscius Coelius Murena Silius Decianus Vibullius Pius Iulius Eurycles Herculanus Pompeius Falco, or Quintus Pompeius Falco for short, was the Govenor of both Moesia Inferior and Britannia.

You guys could have a little Spartan blood coursing through your veins.

Just a hobby.