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Spartan Metoikoi Hoplites

Historicaly, Metoikoi (meaning immigrants) or “Xenoi” as the Spartans would call them were very few and far between until the middle of the 5th century. After that point, their number started to increase as a lot of Mercs were needed to fill in the ranks that wars and Helot rebellions depleted. In fact in later years their presence was absolutely crucial for the survival of Sparta. Metoikoi hoplites would be armed with a bronze muscle cuirass, a thracoattic helmet with cheek guards which ended up in a plume, pteruges that protected his vitals, leather pieces to cover his shoulders and greaves to protect his feet. They have been given a plot of land in Sparta or opened up shop and stayed. They still retain the “tools of the trade” however, in case there is ever a reason to use them. When compared to Sparta hoplites’ they have greater armor rating due to the bronze muscle cuirass, but much less morale as the “Agoge” training effect of the Spartans kicks in. An army of 12.000 mercenaries led by a Spartan General marched into the middle of the Achaimenid Persian empire, and made it back. It has been suggested that it was the Spartan training of those mercs that allowed them to return. Then many of them joined the Spartan army which fought Achaimenid Persia at 399 BCE under the general Thibron and Derkylis and King Agesilaos. This Spartan army was Spartan in name only as it was comprised by Neodamodeis (freed helots) and mercs. It wasn’t the only one.

Historically mercs took a vital interest in both working for Sparta, but also working with a Spartan General. In Cape Tainaros, after explicit permission from Sparta itself a general would recruit any kind of troops were available and his own employer could afford and head on to campaign. Mercs fought in all battles that Sparta gave in the era Roma Surrectum begins in. Valiant Mercs were given Spartan identity in the reforms of Kleomenes III. They fought under his orders and lost. Machanidas was the personification of the Metoikoi Hoplitai. He came in Sparta as leader of a Taras mercs detachment, became a regent, and would be a king if he hadn’t foolishly gave chase to fleeing enemies whereas he should have flanked the opposing Achaians. Then there would be Nabis, in whose case Mercs in Sparta were at their biggest number. Nabis fought a Roman army of 50.000 men and 20-30.000 who were crewing ships blockading Sparta. Against them Nabis had 10.000 Lacedaimonian phallangites (Spartan phalanx and Perioikoi phalanx), 2.000 cretans, 2.000 warriors from Argos and 4.000 other mercs. Spartans lost. Along with them, Sparta dwindled even more, down to bare minimum of its former territory. Spartans, it seems, weren’t cut up to be anything but stubborn. Even defeated, they turned against the Achaians again. So, Philopoemen, captain general of the Achaian league occupied Sparta again in 188 BCE, and drove away the Mercs who had become citizens. If Sparta rises and prospers, it will be because of the services of those Metoikoi (immigrant) hoplites who gave back much more than they were paid for, and even did so long after they stopped getting paid.

Recruitable via Lvl 3 Mercenary camp