Marines were used as an autonomous corps in Greek warfare for the first time at the naval tyrrany of Samos. Its ruler, Polykrates (562-522 BCE) according to what is alluded at Herodotos and Thucidides (1.13) was the first to institute a solid marine unit ceasing the practice which existed until then for the hoplites to be put to ships, be called marines, and then taken out if the situations would call for that. By having a solid core of Epibatai marines, a state would be at a big advantage, as at the cramped confines of a wooden oar propelled warship, there isn’t room for any hoplitic shieldwall, or even room to move a spear without hurting someone. In those cramped spaces, the Epibatai by necessity would use their swords primarily, be covered only by their helmets and large argive shields for protection, and wear not a heavy armor like a bronze muscle cuirass or a linothorax but a light quilted chiton. A muscle cuirass would be their undoing if they would fall into the sea, which shouldn’t be considered unlikely. In that event even the worlds’ greatest swimmer can’t swim for long when carrying an extra 25-32 kgs. A linothorax would start to suck water in and would be more heavy by the second, hence a deathrap as well. Or greaves if those were to be worn. So, the Spartiatai Epibatai abandoned all other forms of metal armor protection but for the helmet and the big round aspis argive shield. Equipped with their trusty kopis curved sword they would be entrenched in the small “ikrion proras” or “perithranon” meaning the externally armored sides and bow of the warship from which the marines will attempt to board the enemy ship literally “jump into” it, (eispedesis) as the ship they are on will probably try to ram it at an angle. Its stern would also be heavily armored so much so that some triremes would be called “Kataphraktoi trieireis” or Cataphract triremes. The armored stern made it possible for the Epibatai to defend against enemy navy archers. Spartiatai Epibatai will be recruited at the highest possible barracks outside of Sparta and highest harbor level not because of their battle worth, as there are equally good and possibly cheaper units, but to simulate the fact that it was Sparta on its highest peak which could create them, and that would take time and money. They would be an elite cadre with officers and a small part of its men from Sparta but the big majority will be provided by conquered or allied states and territories. In the Spartan triremes, Epibatai would be Spartans and other Lakedaimonians, the sailors would be Laconian Perioikoi, while the rowers would be Helots. Captains (Trierearchoi) would be Spartans or Perioikoi.
Historically Sparta had a small but very proud navy. It is often forgot that it contributed 16 ships and crews for even more at Salamis, it was the 5th city in amount of ships given and was commended by that, especially so when Sparta, as most other Pelponnesian cities, kept their armies fortifying in Corinth. Sparta’s proudest naval achievement however was the formation of the Dorian Antiathenean league “synaspismos” meaning joining of shields. At that time the dorian cities of Byzantion, Kyzikos, Rhodos, Lampsakos, Samos, Issos, Knidos and Effesos jointly adopted as an emblem the baby Hercules strangling the snakes which the Godess Hera had unleashed upon him, snakes signifying the poisonous influence of the Athenians. Approximately 180 triremes were built, a much lower number than what the Athenians had but the destruction at Syracuse of the Athenian force did cut it down to size. Admiral Lysandros, who commanded the Spartan fleet and its compliment of Spartan Epibatai refused to fight the bigger Athenian fleet at sea, knowing full well that Athenians were much better sailors. The previous defeat at Oinousai was definitely on his mind. Instead he bid his time, docked waiting for the Athenians to break off. They did. Then Lysandros’ followed them from a distance and as they made landfall and left the ships trying to scavenge/find some food in the surrounding country side, the much outnumbered Spartan Marines landed ashore at Aigos Kephalai capturing and killing most of the 4.000 Athenian Epibatai, forcing Athens to sue for Peace. Sparta was blamed for using Persian money to build that fleet, but it was a common practice at the time. Any fledging Hellenic power could “borrow” money from Persia to fight off its rivals, but then its rivals would ask money as well, which Achaimenid Persia was only too happy to provide, letting those Yuna (Greeks) fight it out amongst themselves. Still the moment of triumph against the Athenians was were the Spartan fleet started to crumble. After Athens was only allowed 12 triremes, Spartan navy was downsized accordingly. The rise of the Thebans put the finishing blow on the Spartan navy at 369 BCE, which was completely abandoned after the defeat by Antipatros at 331 BCE. The final glow of Spartans at sea was at the time of the “Tyrant” Nabis. At 207 BCE he started rebuilding the Navy. He used Laconian Perioikoi again. He created a base of Operations at Gytheio. He then instituted a crack pirate navy( using “lemboi” boats of the “liburna” type) alongside his Kretan allies. He must have used other ships as well, biremes, triremes and specific pirate ships like hemiolies and trihemiolies. He had become such a menace to the surrounding Romani protectorates that once Flaminius fought Sparta at 195 BCE he used naval forces from Rhodes, Pergamon and Roma itself. Nabis defeat meant that he could only keep 2 Lemboi, dismantle his port facilities, and abandon Spartan Navy forever. Still the so called descendants of Lakedaimonian Spartans, Tzakones (from Lakones) kept on their piracy habits up until the middle ages.
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Originally Posted by Keravnos
or the Sassanids in Barbarian Invasion!
