The state of the Lacedaemonians

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The state system of the Lacedaemonians (ancient Greek Λακεδαιμονίων Πολιτεία) is the oldest known writing about the constitution of the Spartans . In addition to Plutarch's Lykurg vita, the Lacedaemonian state system can be regarded as the most important source of the Spartan constitution and society.

About the author

The work has been ascribed to Xenophon since ancient times , but this assignment is sometimes doubted. The majority of researchers currently assume, however, that Xenophon is actually the author of the - quite short - text. Similar to the way his work “ Kyrupädie ” does not depict the “real” Cyrus II and his upbringing, but rather an idealized Cyrus, this work also serves less to depict the “actual” state of the Spartans than to depict the ideal image of a state. The "Kyrupädie" deals with the education of an individual, while the state system of the Lacedaemonians deals with the education of the citizens of a state. The goal and result in both cases is "size", the way to get there is education. However, it is mostly assumed that the script represents the Spartan constitution of the early 4th century correctly.

investment

The author's motive, as he writes in the introductory chapter, is the attempt to explain why a state as small as Sparta was able to become the most powerful and famous city in Greece . The explanation can be found in the introductory chapter: In the author's opinion, the reason lies in the legislation of Lycurgus . In the Spartan "Basic Law", the "Great Rhetra", the latter did not simply imitate the laws of other Greek cities, but often even issued contrary provisions.

Content and structure

The work comprises 15 chapters, in which the elements of the state are described, from the upbringing of women who are to give birth to powerful Spartians , to the rules for raising children, the way of life for men, the military, warfare and the distribution of power in the state towards the position of the two kings (the double kingship was a Spartan peculiarity) as well as their rights and duties. Often one aspect of the Spartan constitution is compared with that of other Greek city-states .

chapter

Elements of the state

Chapters 1 to 11 describe all the elements of the state that would apply in both times of peace and times of war. Obedience to officials and the laws is clearly emphasized several times as an outstanding feature of the Spartan state. Xenophon attributes this in Chapter 8 to the fact that Lycurgus involved the powerful before the promulgation of the laws and gave them a platform to co-govern by setting up the Ephorate . Plutarch also attributed the great stability of the Spartan state to this distribution of power. Today, however, it is often assumed that the ephorate was a later institution - and that the Spartan constitution really went back to a legislature named Lycurgus was doubted even in antiquity. In addition to the ephors had in Gerusia (old Greek γερουσία) gathered 28 Gerontes a big impact since their meeting could decide on actions against the Kings and in criminal cases.

Rules of Warfare

Chapters 11 and 12 deal with warfare and the rules for setting up camps. Xenophon emphasizes that the Spartan order of battle is very simple, but is viewed by many as complex. The most important feature is that the orders are always given by the men in the front row. Unless natural landforms promise advantages, the camps would be laid out in a circle. There is a guard inside the camp and guards outside to ensure the safety of the Spartans. No soldier is allowed to move so far from his weapons and the camp that he cannot be there within a very short time.

The king in the field

Chapter 13 deals with the role of the respective commanding king in the field. During the march, as long as there was no enemy, the king always marched in front of the army. The only exceptions were the Skiritai (ancient Greek Σκιρἵται), a total of 600 men strong unit of the Spartan army (but not all Skiritai were on a campaign), and the scouts. During the battle the king is between two divisions.

Decay of Laws

Chapter 14 then laments the alleged collapse of the laws (by the way, this also parallels Cyrupedia). Two conspicuous signs are listed for this: on the one hand, the fact that some Spartans now boasted that they owned gold, on the other hand, the attempt by some Spartans to live abroad as a Harmost . Some researchers suspect that this chapter came after the total defeat of the Spartans at Leuktra , 371 BC. BC, and the end of Spartan hegemony was inserted. Since Xenophon experienced this as a contemporary, this chapter could very well have been written by himself, even if it was inserted afterwards. In any case, the choice of position in the text tended to be unsuccessful, because Chapter 15 goes back to the special role of the two kings.

literature

  • John K. Anderson: Military Theory and Practice in the Age of Xenophon . Berkeley / Los Angeles 1970.
  • Stefan Rebenich: Xenophon The constitution of the Spartans . Edited, translated and explained by Stefan Rebenich. Darmstadt 1998, ISBN 3-534-13203-3 .