Units of History: The Skiritai - Sparta's Elite Irregulars DOCUMENTARY

In this history documentary we continue our Units of History series by turning once again to Sparta. But rather than talking about their more famous units like the Spartan Royal Guard or even the Spartan Hoplite of Perioikoi, we talk about a unit you likely have not heard of. These were the Skiritai, a mysterious unit from the Skiritis mountains north of Laconia who served alongside Sparta for nearly its entire history. Our sources tell us they were the first into battle and the last to leave. However what role they played in ancient warfare is unclear as our sources mention them taking up the left flank, the vanguard, and the reserves.

In this episode we tease apart the small morsels of information left to us by our sources to then build a reasonable model for the Skiritai. We cover their origins, equipment, tactics, and service history through the Greco Persian Wars, the Peloponnesian War and more.

What units of history do you want to see covered next?

Bibliography:
"A History of Trust in Ancient Greece" by Steven Johnstone
"The Spartan Army" by John Lazenby
Xenophon, "Constitution of the Lacedaimonians" 12.3
Xenophon, "Hellenica" 6.5.24
Xenophon, "Cyropaedia" 4.2.1
Thucydides, "History of the Peloponnesian War"

Credits:
Research: Roel Konijnendijk
Script: Roel Konijnendijk
Narration: Guy Michaels
Artwork: Penta Limited

#UnitsOfHistory
#Sparta
#Documentary

[acerock]

Their transition from the Mechanicum to the Adeptus Mechanicus is a really fascinating period as well.

[Γιάννης]

I am from Greece and I live in Arcadia. My village is called Vlachokerasia and it belonged until recently to the former municipality of Skiritida which covered roughly all the lands of the ancient Skiritai. There is also a village nearby called Karyes from where the caryatid statues of the Acropolis in Athens take their names. I would like to mention that the Skiritai during the battle of Thermopylae attacked the Persian camp at night and tried to assassinate king Xerxes but he was not in his royal tent at that time and they only managed to kill two of his brothers. Their official symbol was the white hawk.

[Quagigitymire]

It's so refreshing to hear a documentary actually admit uncertainty and express a realistic degree of the factual evidence upon which the merits of what's being said is based on.

[SteampunkGent]

Please do not assume that linothorax was a "light" armour because it was made of linen. I have made linothorax with natural glues such as casein and blood. 8 layer linothorax is more resistant to penetration and deformation than boiled leather and I'm fairly certain that 12 or 16 layer is at least as resistant as bronze. Waterproofing can be achieved through the use of linseed oil either natural or as artists stand oil, additionally beeswax can be rubbed into the surface.

Note: one glue that should NOT be used is rabbit skin glue or hide glue, it is too brittle and too vulnerable to damp.

[oddish]

Modern armies - we should train our men like Spartans.

Actual spartans -refusing to follow direct order from the commanding officer during combat due to it being "a bad idea".

[InvictaHistory]

The Units of History list grows!!! Who do we cover next?

[AssassinKID]

In Rome II Wrath of Sparta campaign, this unit is awesome, best light screening unit there is. They have lots of ammo and wear heavier armour vs other javelin units, outclass them in 1v1 then can be used as a very effective flanking force.

[christopherg]

I see no real contradiction in the reported uses:
- outer flank guard
- vanguard/skirmisher
- mobile reserve
All these uses favor light and mobile troops. All these roles have overlap.
The main army was a phalanx. A formation so rigid and notoriously immobile, the Roman Legions heavy infantry seemed hyper-mobile in comparision.
Regarding training: IIRC, among the germanic/norse it was not uncommon for the old warriors to train the new ones. So however they were used predominantly by the Spartans, would be how they would be trained predominantly while at peace.
"If you want to raise a longbowman, start with his grandfather." The same could be said about any use the Skirittai had.

[j.jbodvar]

Are we just gonna ignore that brilliant reference?
"With particular set of skills, acquired over a long career"

[TheSgruby]

Contrary to modern notions, ancient warriors often changed their equipment according to the requirements of the battlefield. The most famous are the Hypaspists, but also the Cretan mercenaries and the Thyreophoroi / Thorakitai.

[Señor-Donjusticia]

I read the title as “The Skitarii”.

Praise the Omnissiah

[giacomoromano]

Me, seeing invicta posted a video: "Oh? A episode over Sparta again? Hmmm, i am kind of saturated by things over Sparta as i recovered their videos, i wonder how they can make this interesting..."
*Liam Neeson quote*
"Ok, you have my attention."

[Correon]

While there is a lot of confusion about equipment, there is one thing that may be overlooked though.
One of the questions raised is if the Skiritai were mounted and acting as light cavalry or simple light/medium infantry covering a flank or acting as reserve.

My question would be: Why not both? We know of other armies that used special units as sort of irregulars or flanking force that were both mounted and acting as infantry. For example we have proof that Roman Batavian Auxiliary units were at least partially mounted and they, like the Skiritai, served multiple purposes, for example scouting parties and mounted escort duties but also flanking force and even amphibious assaults over rivers, according to Tacitus (Battle of the river Medway, 43 AD).

I find it weird that historians try to attach generalised equipment to an irregular unit, which is, even by name, by all means *irregular*. Their equipment could have changed not just over time, but also depending on commanders and their orders. I imagine them as some kind of multi-role special forces, where they swapped equipment depending on their task. Cause compared to the strict and kind of one-purpose-only phalanx troops this is what most greek armies lacked and some tried to fix by using Peltasts.

This, and a change in commanders and how they would use the irregulars, would explain the large differences in what the Skiritai did in the Spartan army according to the different historians.

[LitCrease]

I know everyone comments about the artwork. But it really helps my mind fill in the gaps of what these ancient scenes and stories really looked like! I think humans will be observing this content for many hundreds of, if not thousands of years.

[GeneralSantuccist]

Just when I thought I knew it all about the Spartan military I actually learned something new .

[MCorpReview]

It’s amazing how u find obscure topics like this and Carthaginian sacred band. Invicta is the true victor in the blood 🩸 soaked monetization battlefield that is you tube. For glory!!!

[terrenusvitae]

I am thoroughly embarrassed that I didn't even know this unit existed

[Euan_Miller]

I’ve always loved Spartan history, thank you for your continued work on the subject

[brianshissler]

I have been learning about this era and topic for decades, but never before have I heard of the Skiritai. Great find!

[eagleofceaser]

Is it possible the Skiritai were multi role troops? Perhaps they acted as light troops to screen the army on the march but could also be formed into a phalanx during a pitched battle.