These men are the keepers of centuries old heroic military traditions.
They do not rely on heavy equipment, because they are truly masters of war and actually cherish military engagements as a welcome rest from training. Although not all of them are Spartiatai,
their prowess is without peers, in fact the very traditions that forged these Hoplitai often cause men to lose their social status. For such individuals and their descendants, the only redemption available is through military excellence. Thus all these men require are a shield, helmet, spear and short stabbing sword, for they know that it is cohesion that wins infantry engagements.
Historically, Sparte had suffered hugely and plunged into a crisis by 369 BC: half of its territory had been stripped, the most important portion of the servile agricultural workforce was lost, together with a sizeable number of politically subject communities. Even worse the Spartiatai had contracted by more than eighty per cent, compared to the demographics of the 5th century BC. Aristoteles considered the battle of Leuktra the single blow, from which Sparte never recovered. Indeed he speaks of Oliganthropia, stating how Sparte had been destroyed through the dearth of civic military manpower. This situation was also exacerbated by the loss of further dependant communities, for these decided to side with Makedonia. Nevertheless Sparte still clung to its traditions and Hoplitai from Lakonike following their training were capable of breaking infantry lines comprising both Hellenes and Makedones at Megalopolis in 331 BC. However lacking numbers and facing twice as many opponents in the open, the Lakedaimonioi had to retreat, lest even more valuable men died. Also it did not help that Spartan law demanded the disfranchisement of Tresantes, that is tremblers, meaning those who fled from an engagement. Such was the price to pay to have some of the best fighters in the world. Indeed Spartan leaders and men kept on being sought after as mercenaries during the Hellenistic period.
While on the field for their polis the Lakedaimonioi still displayed magnificent fighting spirit and high morale.