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Short description

The best soldiers of Boiotia have been trained to fight in the way of Macedon’s Royal Peltasts since their teenage days.

Description

The best warriors of Boiotia are a flexible infantry force that protects the flanks of the phalanx on the battlefield or executes assault operations. Armed with swords and javelins and protected by Aspis shields and greaves, these men have the means to afford any helmet they like.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

In 245 BC the Boiotian League, long courted by the Achaians to join in their war(s) against the Aitolians, finally gave in: its leaders agreed to an alliance with the Achaian League and declared war on the Aitolian League. While the Boiotians prepared their forces for a campaign to the West, they celebrated the Pamboiotia, their national festival, during which a sacred truce forbade them to fight (Polyb. IV, 3, 5; with Post 2013, p. 85). The Aitolians, however, thought little of the holy nature of the festival and invaded the country with rapid speed. The shocked Boiotians gathered their forces as quickly as possible and met their foes at Chaironeia (Polyb. XX, 4, 4-6). Under the command of the Boiotarch, Abaiokritos, they were crushed and routed, and over a thousand men were killed (Plut. Aratos 16, 1).

The humiliation of Chaironeia in 245 BC forced the Boiotians to become more or less vassals of the Aitolian League, support their military forces, and grant them free passage through their territory (Post 2013, p. 87). The leading politicians of Boiotia saw one of the main reasons for the defeat in the equipment of their soldiers and at some point between the defeat at Chaironeia in 245 BC and the new orientation in foreign policy towards Macedon in 237 BC, reformed their army. We know precisely how the new army was made up thanks to the Great Stele of Thespiai, erected in 210 BC. It lists the complete roster of the city's forces for two consecutive years (IThesp 84). Each city provided as many contingents as possible and since Thespiai was one of the largest cities in Boiotia, it supplied all kinds of troops: Agema, Peltophorai, Epilektoi, Pharetritai and Sphendonatai. The same regiments are mentioned in an inscription from Koroneia, showing that they were not exclusive to Thespiai (SEG 3.354; cf. SEG 3.355).

While the Peltophorai and its Agema were Macedonian Phalangites, who represented the greatest break with traditional Boiotian Hoplite tactics, the Pharetritai and Sphendonatai are simply archers and slingers. Our interest here concerns the Epilektoi, however: Post (2012, p. 93/94) is probably right in thinking that they were formed after the Hypaspists of Alexander the Great and, more precisely, the contemporary Royal Peltasts of the Antigonid army. As in many other Greek confederations or city-states, the teenage male citizens of Boiotia underwent a professional military training, the Ephebeia, which usually also included education on various practical and philosophical subjects and the introduction into adult society by an older lover (erastes). These young men are represented by RIS’ Neaniskoi unit. Post argues that the Boiotians already selected the best fighters among the Ephebes/Neaniskoi at this stage and had them train as an elite corps. Once they finished the Ephebic training, they would become permanent members of this regiment, the Epilektoi. At the Battle of Sellasia in 222 BC, the Boiotians supplied 2,000 foot soldiers and 200 horsemen to the armies of Macedon and the Achaian League, which faced and overcame Kleomenes III of Sparta (Polyb. II, 65, 3). Since the Epilektoi and the Agema were the standing forces of the Boiotian League, it is thus likely that each of them normally numbered 1,000 men and that both regiments were sent to Lakonia to take part in the battle.

The best warriors of Boiotia are a flexible infantry force that protects the flanks of the phalanx on the battlefield or executes assault operations. Armed with swords and javelins and protected by Aspis shields and greaves, these men have the means to afford any helmet they like. Some of them have gone for the traditional Boiotian helmet, others use crested Konos helmets and the rest have opted for the exotic Phrygian helmets. Though Athena Itonia was the war goddess of the Boiotians, their shields depict Demeter, the most revered deity in Boiotia [Paus. IX, 16, 5-6; 25, 5-6 (Thebes); IX, 3, 4 (Skollos); IX, 23, 3 (Askra); IX, 4, 3; 6, 5 (Plataia, cf. Hdt. IX, 57; 65; 69; 101); Paus. IX, 19, 5 (Mykalessos); IX, 24, 2 (Kopai)]. Since the Boiotians were mainly peasants living in a fertile land, it should come as no surprise that they chose to fight for the goddess of agriculture, grain and bread.