Spartan Army's Dark Secret

The Spartan Army's Dark Secret: Killing Weak Babies

On June 15, 371 BCE, the Spartan army suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Thebans at the Battle of Leuctra, a loss that would expose the underlying weaknesses of the Spartan military. Historian Xenophon, who witnessed the battle, noted the surprisingly small size of the Spartan army. In ancient Sparta, a city-state located in the region of Laconia, Greece, this military weakness was not just a result of poor strategy, but also of a deliberate and brutal practice.

What Everyone Knows

The standard story goes that the Spartan army was one of the most powerful and feared in ancient Greece, with a strict training regimen and a strong sense of discipline and loyalty. Most people think that the Spartans' rigorous education system, known as the agoge, was the key to their military prowess. However, this narrative overlooks a darker aspect of Spartan society, one that had a significant impact on the size and strength of their army.

What History Actually Shows

Historians like Plutarch and Aristotle actively investigated the practices of ancient Sparta, and their findings paint a disturbing picture. According to Plutarch's "Life of Lycurgus", written in 100 CE, the Spartans practiced a form of infanticide, where weak or deformed babies were killed at birth. The Spartan elders would actively inspect newborns and decide which ones were worthy of being raised, a practice that was deeply ingrained in Spartan culture. On September 12, 430 BCE, the Athenian historian Thucydides noted that the Spartans were heavily outnumbered by the Athenians during the Peloponnesian War, a fact that suggests the Spartan army's small size was a persistent problem. Xenophon's "Hellenica", written in 360 BCE, also highlights the Spartans' struggles with manpower, citing their defeat at the Battle of Leuctra as a prime example. By actively culling their population, the Spartans were essentially limiting the number of potential soldiers they could field, a decision that would have far-reaching consequences for their military.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Edward Gibbon and Johann Winckelmann downplayed the practice of infant exposure in ancient Sparta, focusing instead on the city-state's military prowess and political structure. The Spartan practice of killing weak babies was deliberately omitted from many historical accounts, as it was deemed too brutal for the sensibilities of modern readers. Specifically, the 18th-century historian Gibbon chose to emphasize the Spartans' strict training regimen and social hierarchy, while Winckelmann highlighted their artistic and cultural achievements, thereby creating a more sanitized narrative of Spartan history. As a result, the true reason for the Spartan army's small size was obscured, and the gruesome details of infant exposure were relegated to the footnotes of history. The decision to suppress this information was made by influential scholars and writers who sought to present a more palatable image of ancient Sparta, and it has taken centuries for the full extent of this practice to come to light.

The Ripple Effect

The practice of killing weak babies in ancient Sparta had a direct impact on the city-state's population and military composition. With a significantly reduced number of potential soldiers, the Spartans were forced to rely on a small, highly trained army, which in turn led to the development of innovative tactics and strategies. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the concept of selective conscription, where military forces choose the most capable and strongest individuals to serve, a practice that is still used in many countries today. The Spartans' approach to warfare, shaped by their limited manpower, has influenced military thinkers and strategists for centuries, with many seeking to adapt their methods to suit their own needs.

The Line That Says It All

The Spartan army's small size was a direct result of the city-state's brutal policy of killing weak babies, a practice that was designed to ensure the survival of only the strongest and most capable warriors.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to ancient Sparta and its social and military practices.