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

[@InvictaHistory]

Find out what it was like to raise a Spartan army: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqfFfHSkq65nisU

[@Drew_Thompson]

15:00 if they say the skiritai filled all those roles they likely did. There’s no reason that a organized military couldn’t have separated them based on requirement just because the rest of their army was separated based on ethnicity.

[@leonardohormillosa4491]

6

[@NPC-xd6on]

That’s why I am here lol

[@leediasen2643]

@@Drew_Thompson p

[@braydoxastora5584]

Why no skiritai in total war rome 2,?

[@acerock013]

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

[@mortarion9813]

Quite. I'm surprised this joke isn't more liked.

[@leewilson5917]

For the machine god.

[@nicoyoung8019]

They hadn't yet learned that the flesh is weak.

[@davidhinojosa1328]

From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh, it's disgusted me.

[@kinocorner976]

There is no truth in flesh, only betrayal." "There is no strength in flesh, only weakness." "There is no constancy in flesh, only decay." "There is no certainty in flesh but death.”

[@Γιάννης4527]

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.

[@davidedbrooke9324]

Thanks very interesting.

[@ApostolosFilms]

I love the stories about the battle of Thermopylae and it reminds me from that scene from the 1962 movie “the 300 Spartans” when they raided the Persian camp. I want to find more source material talking more about this

[@proudinfidel7658]

Thanks for the great reply!

[@CitrisJones]

@@ApostolosFilms Check out Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield. Best book I've ever read. It includes the assassination attempt in the Persian camp

[@s.a.7011]

Ωραίος και εγώ απο την Αρκαδία είμαι και αυτούς τους πολεμιστές τους είχα ακούσει αλλα δεν ήξερα τα κατορθωματά τους σε ευχαριστώ που ανέφερες αυτήν την νυχτερινή επιδρομή

[@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.

[@TukozAki]

This, much appreciated @Invicta :-) Also « we talk about a unit you likely have not heard of [:] the Skiritai » well, unless one plays the game 0AD (0 A.D.) where Skiritai are Sparta's strong semi-elite units :-) Actually I watched this nice ly sourced documentary because said game sparkled my curiosity.

[@tofuteh2348]

It should be the bare minimum for a historical documentary tbh

[@oddish2253]

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".

[@monadsingleton9324]

It was a bad idea. Agis deployed his army on unfavorable terrain at Mantinea, and his ploy to make the left-wing vulnerable to attack back-fired spectacularly, almost costing him the battle (and the Peloponnesian War itself).

[@herpyderpy2869]

Although to be fair, the troops that refused to move weren't native Spartans

[@Joe-po9xn]

Actual Spartans- Getting smacked down and having their king killed in by a merry Theban band of homosexuals.

[@rosiehawtrey]

We should train our men like Spartans - don't worry, the Catholic Church already does 😂😂 bar the plate armour, swords and whacking slaves at 12 years old as a Spartan Bar Mitzvah.

[@satouhikou1103]

@@xunqianbaidu6917 Indeed. I want to put my life and the lives of others into the hands of those that can't think for themselves.

[@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.

[@szarekhthesilent2047]

I hope he means the protective value not the overall weight. Bronze especially hammered bronze (up to 258 on the vickers scala) is extremly hard. much harder than iron, harder than stainless steel or low carbon steel, for instance. Hammered Bronze is basically the hardest material that they could have used for armor. Including their "best"steel. It is also extremly dense, very heavy and very expensive. Iron, linen and leather were cheaper and/or lighter (in terms of weight) options. Linen is also (slightly!!!) more flexible than metal or hardened leather, which might be better for climbing, ducking (...) As armysize increased cost-effectivness became was more important than top linen was popular among greek mercenaries (cheapest hence easier to afford for poor people, gets the job done, also certainly to be available almost everywhere at reasonable prices(unlike leather which requires an abundance of boarhide...). The majority would upgrad that with iron over time (unless of course they struck it rich somewhere, in which case everything would have been theoretically available). Linen was also the main armor of the Iphicratic Peltast (Athenians armed like basic mercenary hoplites), who were often used together with light Infantry. Because those "Peltast" were also used to successfully destroy Hoplites in weird terrain and in smallscale conflict it is assumed that the armor is somehow lighter (which, it is not. not necessarily).

[@daviddoherty7171]

Amazing Yu learn something new everyday, it's a true

[@dutchlancer2562]

@@szarekhthesilent2047 I think part of that "lighter armor" theory might also arise from the fact that in instances such as Sphacteria, a number of Spartan hoplites (presumably, with a strong emphasis on I have no idea how to prove or disprove that) wearing linothoraxes and or bronze bell cuirasses, were decimated by Athenian light infantry in that aforementioned rough terrain that left the Spartans open to encirclement. Thucydides specifically states, about this whole affair, that the Athenian missiles - read arrows - pierced straight through the enemy's armor. Again, highly hypothetical reasoning here... Currently writing a piece on the Classical Greek origins of Macedonian employment of specialized missile troops, and I happened to come by Thucydides' writing on Sphactria. I'd have to read up on it again to fact check my own argument here tho XD

[@szarekhthesilent2047]

@@dutchlancer2562 does he elaborate on the armor? Maybe if the Spartans were some Ekdromoi type of hoplites (Spolas, tunic+thickclothes or even just helmet&naked.)...? I am not even sure if Sparta was still using Ekdrome in battle. I just vaguely remember that during the peloponesian war the formations got denser and the hoplites were wearing much less expensive armor in Laconia (and elsewhere).

[@BeKindToBirds]

It is light armor, that is the proper term. Many many light armors in history were highly sophisticated composites that offered protection, the most commonly famous being a woolen gambeson or a silk shirt. I think you read something emotional into the choice of words which says more about your perception of the term. I'm guessing video game generation since it's almost always semantics debates because of the perceived ranking systems in video game culture.

[@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.

[@sevirz13]

Random question you may not be able to answer. Is there a tablet or laptop that can handle rome 2? I've been out of the game for a long time

[@JMObyx]

In DeI for Rome 2 they can be a nightmare to deal with, and when charging them head on with cavalry, unlike other sword units they actually can inflict significant casualties despite "losing decisively" tot he cavalry destroying them!

[@samc9133]

@@sevirz13 You'd need a gaming laptop or general high performance laptop. Favor lower core Intel cpu in my opinion. I have an AMD (2600 I think?) and an RTX 2070 6 GB and frankly the performance is kinda garbage, in part I think because of the CPU and in part because the 32 bit Rome 2 can't use the entire GPU.

[@legiohysterius4624]

@@JMObyx whose scarier pergamese Peltasts or skiritai peltasts?

[@JMObyx]

@@legiohysterius4624 Been a while since I fought either in DeI, so I'm not sure, but one thing's for certain, the Skiritai MURDER.

[@InvictaHistory]

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

[@lols8844]

Scottish picts

[@awesomehpt8938]

Ottoman janissaries

[@pelleas2681]

the cossacks

[@donnydonadio1185]

I believe the Feudal Japanese Ashigaru (infantry) would make for an interesting video. Samurai, ronin, and ninja get plenty of attention already. Common soldiers deserve more focus.

[@Themannis93]

Napoleons old guard

[@j.jbodvar8195]

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

[@NobodyHere115]

No. Waiting for someone to call it out. Thank you lol.

[@assarhadon]

I am a week late to it, but yes. I chuckled too.

[@Music-sm9bq]

Leonidas: Arkadian what is your profession ? Arkadian : Skiritai sir Leonidas : Oh

[@snappysnu1154]

ahahhahaha

[@wytsevenema2418]

Lol 😂

[@MarvinT0606]

Leonidas: By Ares, we're glad you made it here

[@ToneWoN]

Nobody cares

[@tylerdurden3722]

🤣🤣🤣

[@giacomoromano8842]

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."

[@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.

[@ToneWoN]

Such his as why don’t you! Nobody cares

[@LitCrease]

@tyler wyatt *future historians* "Ahhh trolling, such is appropriate for the time."

[@mortarion9813]

@@LitCrease Can't wait for a professor to say "It seems this particular artist ran out of inspiration, as you can see he simply copy/pasted his replies."

[@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.

[@shorewall]

I read an article that stated that the rank and file Pikemen of Alexander's Army may have been so cross trained. Use pikes in the big open set piece battles, and then use javelins and loose order when that isn't possible, or in sieges.

[@ToneWoN]

Nobody cares

[@taylorleeforcongress8470]

Many ancient units kept a standard issue outfit. The Romans always had their short swords as did the Spartans, and the Spartans always had their doris and shields, too.

[@KP-hm1dn]

@@ToneWoN you're on the wrong side of yt then lol

[@DylanJo123]

@@ToneWoN speak for yourself

[@christopherg2347]

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.

[@georgekosko5124]

You're not wrong but when it specifically comes down to ancient Greek pitched battles, the outer left flank would be composed of medium to heavy hoplites as well. Battles in these days were almost comically choreographed, and no one would try putting lighter troops in a flank to stand their ground against the advancing enemy right flank. Therefore it makes more sense to me that the skiritai were traditional hoplites before later changing to skirmishing mobile troops. I agree with everything else that you said.

[@ToneWoN]

Nobody cares

[@christopherg2347]

@@ToneWoN Given that I am part of the "everybody" group, your argument was wrong before you made it.

[@mightym00]

@@ToneWoN I'm sure you have a lot going on in your life, keep at it son.

[@Correon28]

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.

[@kongming66]

Because the Greek armies of the time were famously lacking in cavalry, at least as far as we know. While I tentatively agree with the hypothesis and came to the same conclusion before, I haven't heard of any evidence backing up the presence of a skiratai calvary force or there ever being enough units to make one. Also the facts that horses were expensive for soldiers, the Peloponnese where the Skiratai came from was mountainous and hilly, and - most importantly - the Ancient Greeks lacked stirrups means that Skiratai horsemen would be severely limited in number and scope. The best case scenario is that a limited few would be individual mounted scouts, and more than likely those wouldn't take part in combat on horse, if at all.

[@5478f4]

Rpd Nf

[@bradleyschlarb2549]

In my mind they started sounding like some sort of classical dragoon type unit. Mounted on horseback to move quickly, but they are also armed as line infantry. They move quickly to a weak point in the line then dismount and enter the battle in formation. A unit like that would be useful as scouts when on the march, make good guards at night, and it's easy to see them evolve from line infantry in the early wars.

[@taylorleeforcongress8470]

There are cultural contexts beyond simple strategy. Early Spartans almost never used missile troops for example, as archery and spindles are for women. Real men get close to their enemy. I can imagine Spartans felt the same about cavalry, but also Greece's rugged terrain makes major cavalry deployments nearly impossible. Which is why the Mongols aren't particularly known for their military actions in Greece.

[@_lime.]

Both is a possibility even looking to more modern warfare. Example would be the Light Horse units during the first world war, famously the Australian 4th Light Horse, which were a light infantry unit that was mounted to travel but fought on foot. This made them a mobile force. A flanking force could use horses to get into position then dismount to engage in the ancient context.

[@Euan_Miller43]

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

[@GeneralSantucci1st]

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

[@suomusintti]

It's a weird feeling when you think you know a lot about something but then there's always something new

[@taylorleeforcongress8470]

The culture is rich and worth learning about deeply.

[@jaojao1768]

There is a reason this episode was written by Roel Konijnendijk, a professional historian

[@Señor-Donjusticia]

I read the title as “The Skitarii”. Praise the Omnissiah

[@rizalalbar]

And praise the mighty toaster.

[@Señor-Donjusticia]

@ cool! I didn’t know that.

[@anxioussamurai9017]

I love seeing 40k comments in unrelated videos. I don't know why, it just makes me happy. The Emperor Protects!

[@Sinistaire]

Glad I'm not the only one

[@clockwork2985]

Same its cool they are an anagram tho

[@brianshissler3263]

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

[@InvictaHistory]

We cover the rise and fall of Sparta, from Ancient Superpower to Tourist Attraction in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2ebkIOphqtsb6c

[@viciousvictortee1298]

They sound like Spartas version of Minute Men.

[@mitwhitgaming7722]

Its good to know ancient Spartans had ODSTs, too.

[@baronthedestroyer6270]

Hello sir, can you featured Byzantine Cataphract

[@GallowglassAxe]

I love these videos. Could you do videos on any of the Irish units? Gallowglass, kerns, horseboys, bonnaghts, Hoblars, and Irish noble/heavy cavalry are all units virtually unheard of to most.

[@soroushtorabi98]

Please do pushtighban cataphracts of the sassanid empire

[@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!!!

[@diavolo3436]

I believe he gets a lot of his ideas from Total War Rome 2, however he actually goes into research and finds cool information

[@Amsterdamned33]

@@diavolo3436 also, sacred band is one of the most well known units in antiquity. These guys are rather niche though, I had never heard of them

[@NobleKorhedron]

The Carthaginian Sacred Band weren't exactly obscure. They were so well understood, they feature in Rome: Total War.

[@brandonwalker5011]

Carthaginian Sacred band is not obscure at all.

[@NobleKorhedron]

@@brandonwalker5011: Agreed. They're so well understood they're in several RTS games that feature Carthage.

[@terrenusvitae]

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

[@MCNshot2shot]

should of played more Rome II mate

[@rantymcrant-pants9536]

Can't know everything.

[@thucydides7849]

It’s literally one of those things you won’t know unless you take notice of it in some obscure line in Thucydides or such lmao. I’ve read it and only just hear about it

[@oddpoppetesq.3467]

@@MCNshot2shot TW Rome 2 is the only reason ive heard of these guys 🥶🤣

[@tonyromano6220]

Why?

[@thabomuso6254]

Fantastic. It was very unpredictable of Invicta to make a video like this. Of course the Spartans must have used light infantry but as the video says, they are practically never described or even mentioned. Keep up the good work guys!

[@kongming66]

They're never mentioned because the people writing about Spartan warfare were Athenian nobles who used their military virtues to criticize the ruling democracy. They made sure not to praise peltasts and archers either

[@thabomuso6254]

@@kongming66 Great point. When it comes down to it, the Spartan army must arguably have the same troop composition as most other Greek city states. Just with better trained heavy hoplite infantry.

[@I.am.Vunderful]

I've always thought the brilliance of the Skiritai was their adaptive flexibility for use in a variety of battle tactics. So their role would change depending on the strategy used that day. Hoplite phalanxes were expected, but throw in a spiritual force that was unpredictable, and the opposing force would never know what to expect beyond the phalanx and where the skiritai force would come in.

[@eagleofceaser6140]

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.

[@kongming66]

I think that makes some sense given some trends I've seen brought up: 1) Some modern scholars are challenging the perception we have of hoplites as being both universally defined and universally drilled, meaning that many non-Spartan phalanxes were essentially ad hoc shield walls of militia that could deviate wildly in quality and quantity, so chances are there wouldn't be a standard to hold to. 2) Actual Spartan hoplites were relatively low in number (I think before or during the Peloponnesian War was their peak, and it dropped by the thousands later) and they definitely lacked in other types of troops, so it makes sense they needed to fill gaps wherever they could. 3) What we do know about the equipment is that it definitely changed, and so did likely the roles to match it

[@jacquesfrancois4275]

Based. On Real History.

[@wanderinghobo4917]

Based on wh... nevermind sir, carry on.

[@Sandrodziej]

well meme'd

[@smoadia85]

I keep reading Skiritai as Skitarii. Damn the exhaustion kicking in.

[@leviblanchard7437]

These are such well put together videos! I’m listening to some of this series as I drive and it’s like I’m sitting through hyper focused history lectures.

[@tiggytheimpaler5483]

The skiritai role sounds similar to Marines when we fight along side larger Army units in conventional combat; scouts, command safety screen, reserves and gaurd operations to support the larger forces, and when we do get sent into the shit we are either turning the enemy's flank or acting like a hammer at the best points to which acting like a hammer is the most effective. At least in theory since we haven't done our assigned combined forces role since this plan was first dreamed up in 70s

[@todo9633]

I've always been fascinated with the idea of bronze covered shields.

[@Jauhl1]

I always got the impression that the Skiritai light infantry screened the regular hoplites of the left flank, That their job was to skirmish, intercept ambushes and flanking units so the actual hoplite battle line could remain secure. Not that they fought as heavy infantry.

[@moncapitaz8969]

Invicta must be one of the best history Channels on KZbin. Keep it up. :)

[@whiterun5263]

It could be interesting to talk about the Almogavres. I love these videos!!

[@fnersch3367]

Thanks. Never heard of the Skiritai. My professors never mentioned them. Fascinating stuff.

[@daharos]

A good source for both learning about elite and lesser known units of the time period and having fun while watching them in battle would be playing the Europa Barbarorum mod for the original Rome Total War or Medieval 2

[@ruskyalmond1977]

PLEASE please please, I beg you. :( Please do more of these "Units" of history. Please. I've been looking for something like this for a long time.

[@ruskyalmond1977]

Maybe there are even other units/warriors of history from other cultures like India, Africa, Aztec, ancient Europe, and ancient China. The Middle East is very ripe and I love the Mediterranean cultures and civilizations. I would want more variety as well, but as we have limited history I understand. I'm just full of joy over this series I found today.

[@MementoMorituri]

The movie 300 owes Arcadia (and for that matter Thespis) an apology for portraying them as weak and cowardly.

[@Nomans_Nomen]

That movie owes apologies over a lot more than that, historically speaking. Still a fun watch, but it was basically fantasy anyways.

[@taylorleeforcongress8470]

No, the director does.

[@ThePecky1966]

Given that the movie 300 was based on a comic book, I didn't expect it to be very accurate or truthful.

[@robertagu5533]

Its also over stylized. An there was actually WAY more then just an elite Spartan heavy company holding the pass. They actually had closer to 1000 other volunteers backing them up the vast majority of the time. Had the force been even twice or 3 times what it was at the end or even a part the whole Spartan military decided to join them the surround and shoot them to death tactic woulda been too risky to try an probably would've even failed. Any more Spartan/Greeks then there was. Especially if reinforcements had mobilized an shown up an Thermoply probably would've ended much differently then it historically did

[@eduardmanecuta5350]

It's based on a comic book by Frank Miller.

[@Sonics1DiscordKitten]

I like to imagine in the end they simply went on to live simple lives of shepherds.

[@jxslayz6663]

Yup, they helped fight the major wars, but stayed to themselves to avoid being political pawns.

[@wutgreens443]

@@jxslayz6663 i find it hilarious, these guys had the experience and battle prowess of Spartan soldiers and chose to live humble lives. Imagine attacking their village thinking it would be easy picking and BOOM. One of the shepherds kills like 5 of your soldier by himself

[@talscorner3696]

About the ancient authors saying that something always went a certain way: it should not sound weird, because, at those early stages of storeography, many Greek authors simply limited to stating what they saw, meaning that probably (again, as Invicta very well said, we won't have confirmation until we find a first grade source that openly states it) they said the Skiritai always did X or Y because that was what they usually did at the time of the specific author, which in turns seems to suggests that their fighting style changed drastically in time. Because such a change is quite important, I'd love to know why, but unfortunately we may never know.

[@queldron]

Maybe the Skiritai had a diverse fighting force. I mean they could have horsemen, skirmishers and Hoplites at the same time.

[@ostaruempire]

History has some heavier lore than a regular series on television

[@someshtbaglcpl5455]

No shit. (Sorry, had to)

[@Stickyrolls123]

Truth is oft stranger then fiction

[@HotMonkeyDik]

Lore = fictional history

[@niklask8753]

History is real life lore

[@carlosthejakl8493]

Ikr who writes this shit they got a fire team of loremasters

[@donnydonadio1185]

Anyone else misread the title as “Skitarii” from Warhammer 40K? lol

[@zoch9797]

GW borrows names, mythology, and styles heavily from Roman Republic era antiquity.

[@thegamecrasherthemastergam8485]

Yes

[@nightrunner3701]

I knew I had heard it somewhere!

[@user-gk8ss6mt1d]

@@zoch9797 GW borrows names, mythology, and styles heavily from everywhere else in the world except for their own originality lmao.

[@BlitzMekanika]

Thanks for commenting. I did it too.

[@LeonardoFiesel]

How about a video about the city-state of Thespiae and his hoplites. Almost no one talk about on many important battles they participate, such as the Battle of Thermopylae lead by Demophilus of Thespiae and his 700 hoplites, where together with the Spartans made the last stand again Xerxes.

[@ymaizosz]

I really like this guy's voice and narrative style

[@miserychickadee]

6:17 I usually prefer my archers on the left flatnk.

[@mostafamohy8494]

Any total war player will put skirmishers there to shoot unprotected right flank, more evidence that they might be skirmishers

[@SkyrekGaming]

Heard of the Skiritai before, but not much about them. Great information!

[@jonwarland272]

At 10:05 is the bow on the left period accurate? Were composite shortbows used by ancient Greeks? Did they adopt it from the east during the Persian wars?

[@sanderson9338]

No it's not. The Greeks never adopted that bow at that time.

[@ideos5]

composite bows were used and invented by Greeks since Minoan times ( 1600-1400 bc ) as a mater of fact Cretan archers with their composite bows were hired as mercenaries by all the great powers until the invention of gunpowder . Archeologists today, tend to agree that the famous Mongolian bow and its variations ( Turkish , Korean ,Chinese, Persian , Parthian ) was nothing more than a variation of the original Greek composite bow

[@randomelite4562]

@@ideos5 Source that they were invented by the Greeks?

[@sanderson9338]

@@ideos5 yes yes however despite knowing all this the greeks don't emphasise the bow. The Chinese have composite bows circa 4 thousand years ago, Tutankhamen has several buried with him in 1324bc. The greeks never used the bow in a tactical recorded sense. They did understand it but it didn't meet their style of fighting. There are recorded usages but its far from a common weapon.

[@sanderson9338]

So to answer the question the bow represented does not match Greek bows.

[@jordanpaok8685]

Do a video about the Hypaspists. The unit that protected the weak flank of the phalanx. How the were equipped , their position of honor.

[@lols8844]

Love all your videos keep it up can you do the Scottish Picts

[@ericzapata5325]

First time watching, and you had me interested the whole time in the video. Good stuff bro... Keep it up

[@dairydregone7146]

THIS IS!.... A great video. Though I was going to say "SPARTA!!"

[@mattm757]

Great presentations! I'd very much to learn about how different armies and cultures dealt with logistical support, as well as comparative analysis of organizational structure and areas of responsibility.

[@TheSalamander_]

I get the feeling in a few thousand years a similar documentary will be made about the mythical Scottish.

[@taylorleeforcongress8470]

I doubt that. The Spartans had international acclaim from their existence into the time beyond their falling. The Scottish don't seem to have much acclaim anywhere. I think a more apt analogy would be Waffen SS, Spetznatz, US Marines, maybe the Basque but not likely.

[@strikemasterice2004]

I doubt anyone would be alive after a few thousand years.

[@taylorleeforcongress8470]

@@strikemasterice2004 We're the most adaptable species on the planet. We'll be fine.

[@nana-rs8en]

Check out "Scottish History Tour's" channel.

[@akSeR2010]

@@strikemasterice2004 That is what people must have said some thousands years ago. Humans already exist for 200.000 years.

[@ianskinner1619]

15:25 not sure why the description is confusing, you described what in Canada is the recce Reserve forces.. In Particular the units working under the Rogers Rangers legacy.

[@flyboymike111357]

It's not hard to imagine they could have acted like thorakitia/thureophoroi, or similar medium infantry troops who were mobile, optionally armored, and could serve as scouts, skirmishers, screeners, flankers (in offense and defense), and as a quick reaction or "flex" unit.

[@UnexpectedWonder]

I absolutely Love you filling in this part of my ignorance towards the Ancient Spartans. The Spartans have probably been my Favorite people historically after the Vikings, although there a few other groups I absolutely Love as well.

[@connorgolden4]

Sparta will never not be interesting

[@nightrunner3701]

1 must admit however, they stank at governing, and… didn’t have enough children. The Macedonians had enough kids to constantly slaughter each other after Alexander died.

[@sanderson9338]

They were pederasts small minded paranoid delusional alpha males. More free thinking people , Athens, Thebes, Macedonia destroyed them in war. A soldiers job is not to die 4 his country, its to make the enemy die 4 theirs.

[@aaronbasham6554]

The Spartan local console meeting on improving the potholes in their local roads would beg to differ

[@sanderson9338]

@@aaronbasham6554 lol correct sir. There were debates on grain rations recorded I don't find that interesting.

[@roadkill8098]

@@sanderson9338 athens destroyed them in war?

[@okramronan]

Yes. Another video. Thank you so much. Love this channel

[@Jordan-dw7bp]

I recommend everyone to read 'Gates of Fire' absolutely epic historical fiction revolving Spartans at Thermopylae, featuring the epicness of the Skiritai!

[@michaelbanks2401]

Great Book, its been a while definitely good enough for a rereading...

[@itsonlyme4812]

So Kal'Buir has a very nice source of inspiration. Well done Karen Traviss.

[@beeebz1192]

its a wonder to me that Spartas downfall wasnt the large disparity of their demographics. The perioikoi and the helots vastly outnumbered the citizen elite and yet there was never a major revolt of the former against the latter.

[@knuckle1493]

There's an interesting phenomenon in authoritarian societies, and my hypothesis is something to the effect that sole power means sole responsibility and so when things go bad, it's easy to fix the problem and whoever is responsible since it lays in the hands of a few individuals. This is in contrast to Athens, which literally has a lottery for who rules next.

[@beepboop204]

i do believe ironically a few women ended up possessing the majority of land, the unique economic and political systems they ran definitely had some quirks, the system itself being so unique/rare probably tells us all we need about how effective it was overall....

[@beeebz1192]

@@knuckle1493 There is this theme in antiquity where the majority poor and oppressed lower class was content with the unequal rule of a minority aristorcratic class. Another similar example being the plebian/patrician dynamic in Rome. Though one could say this applies to most of human history

[@awesomehpt8938]

Actually there were a few major uprisings of the Helots against the Spartans. The most famous of which is the one that happened after the earthquake of 464BC in which Sparta called for help from Athens only for them to be kicked out. This soured relations between Sparta and Athens, resulting in the peloponnesian war. The Helots eventually got their freedom after the battle of Luectra.

[@knuckle1493]

@@prva9347 interesting, thanks for the reply! Not surprised to find out there was a deep superstition behind it, people are still like that today with the economy. If the money gods give the president a blessing, they are a good president.

[@kimckenzie6161]

Beautiful artwork- I really love the style this channel has

[@oddpoppetesq.3467]

0:35 Wait.... Were they trained by LiamNeeson?! 🤯

[@joesjoeys]

I really enjoy these videos quite a lot, but the intro to this one has me rolling! I'm not generally discussing the Spartan military, and especially not enough so to see that there is always a focus on the citizen hoplites XD

[@marcello7781]

Sparta's military élite, la crème de la crème.

[@tomkiernan254]

Delicious 😋

[@SpartanMilitaryPolice]

I'm watching the video from the mountain top of the video main mountain mentioned in Vourvoura region... Priceless

[@darrinscott6612]

Omnissiah bless these holy warriors.

[@shadosnake]

took me a second to realize Skitarii shares the same letters lol

[@darrenrenna]

Really great piece on a lesser known people and their contribution to ancient warfare!!

[@joaquinsulliven5655]

Would love to see a history on auxiliary troops used by the Roman Empire. Or type of troops used by an Ancient Asian culture that isn't really talked about

[@ToneWoN]

Nobody cares

[@HistoryOfRevolutions]

Seneca the Younger once stated: "No tree becomes rooted and sturdy unless many a wind assails it. For by its very tossing it tightens its grip and plants its roots more securely; the fragile trees are those that have grown in a sunny valley"

[@facundocadaa9020]

19:22 but then... everything change when the roman nation attacked

[@ideos5]

Dear friend , there was never a Roman nation or people , they way you perceived to be . It was an amalgamation of different nations and peoples living in the Italian peninsula, Greeks , Etrouskans , Sabinea , Samnitae , etc,, etc,,, that were absorbed in the Roman political system , lost their indigenous language and culture and became Romans . The greatness of Rome lies not in rationality but in its great political system , a system that was completely new at that time

[@facundocadaa9020]

@@ideos5 I suppose that if I say "Avatar" you think about a blue hippie alien and not a jung buddhist monk with superpowers

[@seatonking8136]

By the sounds of the inconsistent information the skirati did all these roles depending on the needed task. Essentially being the lucky card of the spartans. Also spartans were strictly hoplite, therefore skirati were the multiple role soldier not having any subject obligation to the spartans

[@jxslayz6663]

Dammit. Now I HAVE to play Wrath of Sparta, AGAIN. lol

[@jonathanmcniel6483]

Haha I was thinking Rome total war 2 rise of sparta

[@KickapooNinja]

Whenever I saw the title I thought of Kal Skirata from Star Wars. One of the Mandalorians and Cuy'Val Dar who trained the Clone Troopers

[@ariyune7007]

If Sparta focused more on this style of warfare rather than the static hoplite formations they could've probably easily dominated greece

[@taylorleeforcongress8470]

Sparta didn't WANT to dominate Greece though, not until the Peloponnesian War's aftermath. At any rate, their birth rate was too low to sustain any form of hegemony.

[@ariyune7007]

@@taylorleeforcongress8470 True, they would have needed a full revamp of citizenship, etc., but then I guess we wouldn't have the Sparta we all know anymore lol

[@taylorleeforcongress8470]

@@ariyune7007 True haha. But maybe we'd have something better.

[@listrahtes]

Think about what you wrote. The spartan hoplites won countless wars against bigger sized enemy. Sure everyone is outdated at some point but They were highly effective for hundreds of years. Not many armies have such a track record.

[@dimel1347]

@@ariyune7007 "a full revamp of citizenship" That is a bit funny because Sparta did actually a "revamp" but on reverse which is what led to the mess. Basically some useless people in charge made a mess with the economy and revoked the citizenship of a huge number of Spartans. This was irreversible because in that same period, women of the remaining noble houses started consolidating lands which meant that even if Spartan men who lost their citizenship managed to take it back, they would have no land so they wouldnt be able to fullfill their roles. This is why there was such a fast collapse to their manpower...They didnt just die in the civil war with Athens or had low birthrates....some geniuses decided to revoke citizenships left and right imo.

[@MM-kt2wn]

Awesome vids. Bingewatching them all.

[@christianronaldandrewpanja9242]

So, Skritai, is similar to Don Cossack, or Byzantine, Akritai. Wow.

[@damuvang1915]

Thank you for these videos. I’m stuck in the world of Total War right now.

[@Sinistaire]

Not gonna lie, as a Warhammer fan, I misread the heck out of "Skiritai".

[@Razorthx]

Great Video My friend!!!!

[@Suppiluliuma_1]

You should make video about ,Kievan Rus Army or Armenian Cataphracht

[@Doug.Dimmadome]

I love this channel SO much

[@SpeedDemon_Editzzz]

Yesssss Sweeeet waaaar🤩💪🗡🛡👑🔥

[@ajarofmayonnaise3250]

I dont know why history channels are not bringing something obscure and interesting topics than something most already knows. Tho thoroughly enjoyed this video ngl.

[@deathlytree434]

I would think the skiari with the pelt as its sole protection is likely to have used cloth armor and a thin wooden shield both are biodegradable and give more protection than an animal hide alone

[@LaPtaVerdad]

You are an oasis of knowledge beautifully explained and portraited

[@swordguy1243]

So it wasnt 300 spartans : it was 50 spartans and 250 skiritai

[@snookiewozo]

Awesome videos, Invicta.

[@ironnorse]

Ive seen videos like this before, always super interesting. However gotta be careful this one video isn't given the " excellent" just yet. Seen way too many way off the mark in accuracy of information.

[@ZDavidH]

Nice vid! Btw I heard about the devotio Iberica, and it seems really interesting also about how they were integrated in Carthage army and lot of more things, really interesting thing!

[@anonymousidn777]

Bless the Omnissaih

[@Hidrobyte]

I know what a "Flank"-maneuver is, but what is a "Flatnk"-maneuver, the blue troops try to do at 6:21 ? ^^ But great, educational video, thanks. :)

[@awesomehpt8938]

Access denied - Skiritai

[@metallum.perfide]

A video on Aztec eagle and jaguar warriors would be great

[@seifer918]

thank god it's not another game unit video.

[@Ceiling_Gato]

Why can't we have both?

[@barnettmcgowan8978]

Great video! I love this series.

[@dhwwiiexpert]

I wonder if Games Workshop named the Skitarii after this?

[@ATurkeySandwichGAME]

i wonder if games workshop will try to sue the skiritai for having a similar name

[@dhwwiiexpert]

@@ATurkeySandwichGAME It’s sad that I legitimately agreed with this for a moment.

[@caos1925]

I just noticed too, finally hit that 1 million subscribed mark. Gonna do anything special, maybe a Q&A?

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Every army has some sort of “special” foreign unit.

[@louiemcewan4911]

Absolutely loved the Taken reference 😆