Spartan Assembly

The Spartan Assembly, was the assembly of full citizens in the ancient Greek city-state of Sparta. Its principal role was to ratify the proposals brought to it by the gerousia and the ephors. Unlike its more famous counterpart the Assembly of ancient Athens, the Spartan Assembly had more limited powers. Its concurrence was required for legislation, and it helped determine state policy, particularly in foreign affairs. It voted by acclamation, and whether it debated is uncertain. The Assembly had regular meetings, which were probably convened and chaired by the ephors. Its official name is generally considered to have been 'the Ekklesia',The same name used by the Athenians for their popular assembly. rather than 'the Apella' as once commonly thought.For general references, see: Gomme, Cadoux, and Rhodes 2015, s.v. ekklēsia; Cartledge 2015, s.v. Apellai (1); Rhodes 2006, s.v. Ekklesia; Welwei 2006, s.v. Apella, Apellai.

Description The Spartan Assembly consisted of the entire adult male citizenry, the Spartiates.Gomme, Cadoux, and Rhodes 2015, s.v. ekklēsia; Cartledge 2015, s.v. Apellai (1), which adds the qualifier "in good standing". Its total number of members is estimated to have been at least 3,000 during the fifth century BC.Andrewes 1967, p. 6; Kelly 1981, 48. It was one of the three institutions involved with decision-making at Sparta,Esu 2024, p. 125. its principal function being to ratify the proposals of the other two decision-making bodies, the gerousia (the council of elders, including the two Spartan kings), and the ephors.Esu 2024, p. 127. For discussions of the government of Sparta, see: Esu 2024, pp. 125–151; Kennell 2010, pp. 93–114; Ehrenberg 1968, pp. 31–47; Andrewes 1967, pp. 1–20. In contrast to its Athenian counterpart, very little is known for certain about the Spartan Assembly.Kennell 2010, pp. 111–112. Compare: Luther 2006, p. 75, which remarks on the relative rarity of mentions of the Spartan Assembly in antiquity, and notes that these may be concealed behind more general expressions such as οἱ Λακεδαιμόνοι (Lakedaimonioi, 'the Lacedaemonians' i.e Spartans), ἡ πόλις ('the polis') or τὸ κοινόν (to koinón, 'the body politic'); Esu 2024, p. 129, which notes that Sparta lacked the same "epigraphic habit" of Classical Athens. It could not, unlike the Athenian assembly, introduce legislation; it could only vote on legislation brought before it by the gerousia or ephors.Kennell 2010, p. 112. The Assembly was probably convened and chaired by the ephors and, in addition to its legislative powers, it also decided issues of war and peace, appointed military commanders, elected the gerontes (i.e. the members of the gerousia), and could emancipate helots.Luther 2006, p. 73; Cartledge 2015, s.v. Apellai (1). Decisions of the Assembly were determined by shouting (or occasionally by division), rather than the counting of votes.Cartledge 2015, s.v. Apellai (1); Gomme, Cadoux, and Rhodes 2015, s.v. ekklēsia; Thucydides, 1.87.1–3; Plutarch, Lycurgus 26.2–3. Whether ordinary members of the Assembly had the right to speak is unclear.Kennell 2010, pp. 111–112; Ste. Croix 1972, p. 125.

History Archaic period The Spartan Assembly probably existed, as an official Spartan institution, at least by the seventh century BC, and at first presumably met only when summoned. The earliest source concerning the Assembly is the Great Rhetra (c. 700 BC?). As quoted by the first-century historian Plutarch, and attributed to the legendary lawgiver Lycurgus, the Rhetra describes the Assembly's role in governing Sparta. According to the Rhetra, decision-making was divided among the archagetai ('kings'), the gerousia ('elders'), and the damosThe Doric spelling of the more familiar demos, see LSJ, s.v. δῆμος. ('people', i.e. the Assembly). The Assembly had regular meetings, at a fixed time and place, during which the two kings and the gerousia could put proposals for approval before the Assembly, and the kings and gerousia could veto any enactment passed by the Assembly.Ehrenberg 1968, p. 32; Welwei 2006, s.v. Apella, Apellai; Gomme, Cadoux, and Rhodes 2015, s.v. ekklēsia; Plutarch, Lycurgus 6.1–7.1. For translations and discussions of the Great Rhetra, see: Esu 2024, pp. 126–127, 136–137; Nafissi 2010; Kennell 2010, pp. 45–50; Raaflaub and Wallace 2007, pp. 37–40; Ehrenberg 1968 pp. 32–36; Wade-Gery 1958, pp. 37–85. According to modern scholarship, the Rhetra did not, as Plutarch thought, establish Sparta's form of government, rather it described an existing form, see: Nafissi 2010; Esu 2024, p. 127: "Nafissi has demonstrated that the rhētra does not, in fact, outline the original foundation of the Spartan constitution; rather it is a piece of retrospective history elaborated and accepted by Archaic Spartan society".

A fragment of the mid-seventh-century BC Spartan poet Tyrtaeus—using the terms "men of the people" (dēmotas andras) and "mass of the people" (dēmou plēthei)—seems also to refer to the Spartan Assembly during the Archaic period, saying that, after the kings and elders, then:

As reported by fifth-century BC historian Herodotus, the Assembly had enough power in the mid-sixth century BC such that the threat of action by it could force the Spartan king Anaxandridas II to give in to the demands of the ephors and gerousia and take a second wife.Kennell 2010, p. 104; Andrewes 1967, pp. 3–4; Herodotus, 5.39.2–40.1.

Classical period By at least the Classical period, the Assembly was involved in the election of public officials.Cartledge 2015, s.v. Apellai (1); Luther 2006, p. 73. These included the gerontes and "very probably" the ephors.Ste. Croix, p. 130. Plutarch, Agis 8.1, mentions Lysander's "election as ephor" in c. 243 BC. The election of the gerontes, by the Assembly, is attested in the fourth century BC.Aristotle, Politics 4.1294b.31. A century earlier Herodotus had already connected the Assembly with elections, saying that for ten days after a Spartan king is buried, "there are no assemblies or elections".Luther 2006, p. 76; Herodotus, 6.58.6. Plutarch, writing in the first century AD, places the election of the gerontes, by the Assembly, in the legendary past, attributing its establishment to Lycurgus.Plutarch, Lycurgus 26.1. Plutarch describes the procedure for these elections as follows:

In the fifth century BC, the most notable actions of the Assembly involve war with Athens. In the 470s, a debate was held in the Assembly concerning the issue of whether Sparta should go to war with Athens for control of the sea. According to Diodorus Siculus, "the younger men and the majority of the others were [at first] eager" for war, but were eventually persuaded otherwise.Wade-Gery 1958, p. 65; Andrewes 1967, p. 4; Diodorus Siculus, 11.50. Thucydides describes a debate in the Assembly, in 432 BC, in which "the opinions of the majority all led to the same conclusion; the Athenians were open aggressors", and ended with the Assembly voting, by division, to declare war on Athens.Andrewes 1967, p. 4; Wade-Gery 1958, p. 65; Thucydides, 1.79-87. The Assembly is recorded as being involved in several other significant events, in the fifth and fourth centuries—most regarding the issues of war and peace (see below).Andrewes 1967, pp. 4–8; Ste. Croix, pp. 128–130.

Other than the Great Rhetra and the Tyrtaeus fragment, no general statements concerning the Spartan Assembly are found until the fourth century BC, in book two of Aristotle's Politics. Aristotle describes the Spartan Assembly as having "no powers except the function of confirming by vote the resolutions already formed by the Elders [gerousia]".Andrewes 1967, pp. 2–3; Aristotle, Politics 2.1272a. In a following passage Aristotle says that, unlike at Carthage, where "anybody who wishes may speak against the proposals introduced", at Sparta (and Crete), the "people" must "merely ... sit and listen to the decisions that have been taken by their rulers".Andrewes 1967, p. 3; Aristotle, Politics 2.1273a. For a discussion of this problematic passage see Wade-Gery, pp. 51–54.

Historical record: 540–243 BC The historical record of events—as reported by Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Diodorus Siculus, and Plutarch—in which the Assembly is explicitly mentioned as being involved (or not involved)There are several other events in the historical record for which the involvement of the Assembly, although not explicitly attested, can be inferred, see: Ste. Crois 1972, p. 129; Kelly 1981, pp. 51–53. include the following:

Date Actions (or noted non-actions) by the Assembly 540s Ephors threaten to convene the Assembly in order to force king Anaxandridas II to accede to their demands concerning marriage.Kennell 2010, p. 104; Andrewes 1967, pp. 3–4; Herodotus, 5.39.2–40.1. 480s Consults regarding atonement for the murder of the Persian heralds sent by Darius; sends two Spartan volunteers to be executed by Darius's son Xerxes.Luther 2006, p. 75 #1; Herodotus, 7.134. c. 475 Decides not to go to war with Athens, after initially being "eager" for war, but finally being persuaded otherwise.Andrewes 1967, p. 4; Wade-Gery 1958, p. 65; Diodorus Siculus, 11.50 432 Decides, by division, to declare war on Athens.Andrewes 1967, p. 4; Luther 2006, p. 76 #3; Thucydides, 1.79-87. winter 418/417 Agrees to a peace treaty with Argos.Andrewes 1967, p. 6; Luther 2006, p. 76 #4; Thucydides, 5.77–78. winter 415/414 Agrees to aid Syracuse in its war with Athens, after being addressed by envoys from Syracuse and Corinth, and also by Alcibiades on his own behalf.Andrewes 1967, p. 6; Luther 2006, p. 76 #5; Thucydides, 6.88.10. 405Luther 2006, p. 76 #6; Xenophon, Hellenica p. 111; compare Andrewes 1967, p. 6, which says the Assembly met in 404. Decides on the terms of a peace offer to Athens, after being convened by the ephors and addressed by envoys from Corinth and Thebes.Andrewes 1967, p. 6; Luther 2006, p. 76 #6; Xenophon, Hellenica 2.2.19–20. 403 Dispatches a delegation to Athens to settle a dispute between two Athenian factions, after being addressed by both.Andrewes 1967, p. 6; Luther 2006, p. 76, #7; Xenophon, Hellenica 2.4.38. c. 402Luther 2006, p. 76 #8; compare: Unz 1986, p. 41, which suggests the summer of 401 for the Spartan king Agis's subsequent invasion of Ellis; Andrewes 1967, p. 6 ("probably in 402"). Issues (jointly with the ephors?)See Luther 2006, p. 76, n. 17. an ultimatum to Elis.Andrewes 1967, p. 6; Luther 2006, p. 76 #8; Xenophon, Hellenica 3.2.23. 399?Cartledge 1987, p. 164. The precise date depends on the chronology of the Elean War, see Cartledge 1987, p. 99. 397Hamilton, p. xvii. Cinadon conspiracy dealt with "without even convening the Little Assembly".Kennell 2010, p. 112; Luther 2006, pp. 79, 81; Andrewes 1967, pp. 4–5; Xenophon, Hellenica 3.3.8. c. 389 Agrees to aid the Calydon Achaeans against the Acarnanians.Andrewes 1967, p. 6; Luther 2006, p. 76 #9; Xenophon, Hellenica 4.6.3. 383 Agrees to aid Acanthus and Apollonia, after being convened by the ephors and addressed by envoys.Andrewes 1967, p. 6; Luther 2006, p. 76 #10; Xenophon, Hellenica 5.2.11–24. 382Andrewes 1967, p. 6; compare Xenophon, Hellenica p. 49. Decides to bring Ismenias to trial after being addressed by Leontiades of Thebes.Andrewes 1967, p. 6; Xenophon, Hellenica 5.2.33. spring 371 Decides to make peace with Athens.Andrewes 1967, p. 6; Xenophon, Hellenica 6.3.3, 18. summer 371 Decides that the Spartan king Cleombrotus should march against Thebes.Andrewes 1967, p. 6; Xenophon, Hellenica 6.4.3. c. 243 Convened by the ephor Lysander, because of a divided gerousia, to consider the proposed reforms of king Agis IV involving debt cancellations and land redistribution. Although the Assembly apparently favored these reforms, the Gerousia ultimately rejected them by one vote. Andrewes 1967, p. 5; Plutarch, Agis, 9.1 (gerousia "divided", assembly convened), 11.1 (reforms "rejected").

Meetings