Spartan Mora regiments at Battle of Plataea

[Paullus Scipio]

Paralus/Michael wrote:

It is worth remembering that the “soldiers of Brasidas from Thrace” were, originally, 700 hoplites (ignoring the Peloponnesian mercenaries). Adding “the neodamodeis with them” makes for something rather larger than a lochos or mora – unless one supposes decimation of the Brasideans or very severe loss.

...perhaps a little more detail/explanation is called for. Thucydides himself frankly admits "...but it would be impossible for me to give the exact numbers either of the whole armies or of the various divisions on either side. The secrecy with which their affairs are conducted meant that no-one knew the numbers of the spartans, and for the rest it was impossible to rely on the estimates given, since it is human nature to boast about the size of one's own forces..." He then goes on to estimate these. On that basis, the Brasideoi and Neodamodeis together apparently number a mere 512, which is clearly wrong since as you have pointed out the Brasideoi alone originally numbered 700 ( roughly 'lochos' size). Thucydides numbers for the Spartans/Lacedaemonians would then be a mere 3,072 - an all but impossibly small number. There are reasons to believe that Thucydides confused 'Morai' and 'Lochoi' here, and so is out by factor two.
Thus there were in fact something like 6 'Morai', 12 'lochoi' of Lacedaemonians present, numbering some 6,144 men plus the 2 'lochoi' of 'Brasideoi' and 'Neodamodeis', equivalent to a seventh 'Mora' and adding another 1200 or so men.

Ghostmojo/Howard wrote:

And are there not references to the Hippeis as actually fighting with/within/part of the first Morai? I must admit to being not to clear about this one. The 300 figure does not accord easily with later morai subdivisions into lochoi, pentekostyes etc. where the numbers are more usually 512, 256, etc. depending upon age call-ups/phalanx depths. I'm curious to how others view this particular anomaly.

...I don't believe so. There are references to the Spartan 'Agema' ( lit:leading unit) which at this time was literally the vanguard/leading unit without being 'elite/guards', but by Macedonian times the 'Agema' of the 'Hypaspists' were an elite inner bodyguard, hence modern writers confusedly assuming that 'Agema' and 'Hippeis' were the same. As you point out, the 300 simply does not fit into the 'Mora/Lochos' structure, and whereas the normal 'lochoi/Morai' were made up of all the age classes, it appears that the 'Hippeis' were all "men in their prime" i.e. young, hand-picked by the 'Hippagretai' ( 'Constitution of the Lakedaemonians' IV.3)
It would appear Thucydides has overlooked these, who were presumably around the King in the centre at Mantinea. The Lakedaemonian total would therefore appear to be aprox 6 x 1,024 = 6,144 Lakedaemonians in six 'Morai'; plus roughly 1,200 or more in the 'lochoi' of the 'Brasideoi' and 'Neodamodeis' brigaded together to be equivalent to a seventh 'Mora' plus the 300 'Hippeis' making roughly 7,500- 7,750 or so.

Thucydides gives no numbers for the Allies from Heraia, Mainalia and Tegea, but the former two would be unlikely to raise more than 500 or so Hoplites each at most and Tegea could raise roughly 2,500. Diodorus gives 3,000 for the Spartan Allies which corresponds well with this, giving us some 10-11,000 in the Allied Spartan Army.

For the reasons set out above, Thucydides gives no figures for the Mantinean allied Army. There are reasons for thinking the Mantineans numbered roughly 3,000 (Diodorus XII.78.4 and Lysias XXXIV.7 ), the Athenians around 1,000 plus 300 cavalry, plus 1,000 'picked' Argives, then 3-4,000 or so other Argives, then a few hundreds each of Arcadians and the men of Kleonoi and Orneai, giving roughly 9-10,000 which accords well with Thucydides observation that "..the Spartan Army looked the larger.."

Paralus wrote:

Whatever one makes of the above Agis, as the Mantineans reached “far beyond the Sciritae”, ordered the latter as well as the Brasideans to move left to counter the large overlap. In order to cover the resulting gap Agis orders two polemarchs to take two companies (duo lochos) "taken from the right wing". These lochoi can only have come from the Spartans on the right wing beyond the Tegeans.

...the former statement is undoubtedly correct, but the latter one is highly unlikely. Agis orders two 'Polemarchs' ( i.e. 'Mora' commanders/Brigadiers) called Hipponoidas and Aristocles, to detach two 'Lochoi' - in other words, each of them to send half their men - to plug the gap caused when Agis orders the Brasideoi/Neodamodeis to move left ( the Spartan allies on their right heavily overlap the Athenians, but the Mantineans on their right overlap the Brasideoi/Neodamodeis). Thucydides has already told us that all the Spartans form the left and centre, with the Sciritae and Brasideoi/Neodamodeis the extreme left units, save for "a few Spartans at the very [right flank] end". Now, there can hardly have been a third of the Spartan Army (whether 'Morai' or Thucydides 'Lochoi') on the right flank for they are hardly "a few Spartans", nor is it logical, given that the armies were about to meet, to order those furthest away ( on the right flank) to re-inforce the left. Thucydides can only realistically mean 'two lochoi' from the 'right wing' of the Lakedaemonians themselves i.e the centre ( and presumably the Allies would close up to their left, to close the 2x 128 = 256 yard gap). In the event, since both armies had begun their advance, the two Polemarchs refused Agis' order but the Sciritae/Brasideoi/Neodamodeis moved left as ordered, opening up a gap. A near diaster ensued as inevitably the Mantineans and picked Argives broke through this gap, roughly handled the leftmost 'Mora' taking it in flank, and some swept on to the lakedaemonian camp, killing some of the 'older men' guarding it. Meanwhile the Spartan Centre, led by Agis and the 300 'Hippeis' put the 'older' Argives and the Argive 'Five Lochoi' to flight, and then in turn the Athenians fled. Thucydides tells us that "most of them, in fact, did not stand up to the first shock, but gave way immediately, some being actually trampled underfoot in their anxiety to get away before the Spartan enemy reached them". Agis promptly wheeled to the aid of his beleagured left flank , and the Mantineans and picked Argives also fled. Spartan losses were around 300 ( mostly from the Sciritae and Brasideoi/Neodamodeis together with some 'older men' of the camp guard), their Allies negligible. The Mantineans lost 200, the Argives, Orneans and Kleonaens 700, and the Athenians and Aeginetans 200, including both their Generals ( who presumably did not turn tail quick enough, and were probably too old to run fast (!)
As for the Polemarchs Hipponoidas and Aristocles, who had the difficult decision to obey orders and risk chaos/destruction, or to disobey orders for the better good of the Army; disobedience was as much a serious thing then as now. They paid the inevitable price and were cashiered for 'cowardice and disobedience' but were not executed, and were lucky to be only banished from Sparta ( perhaps a candid recognition that they had in fact acted correctly)....