hoplita haploi?, this is sparta!

[theoldbelgian]

the question is rather simple:
why can't I recruit the Greek levy hoplites in Sparta?
I need them to cripple the makedons in the beginning

[Maion Maroneios]

I've been wondering this as well to be honest. It seems reasonable enough to me to be able to recruit them, representing Helot levies for example.

Maion

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

I don't think the Spartans would ever try to arm their helots unless the situation would be desperate enough to warrant it. The chance that they could turn against their masters was the biggest risk.

[Maion Maroneios]

True, but even so they used them exessively. Especially during the Hellenistic era, where the numbers of the Homioi had been reduced significantly.

Maion

[theoldbelgian]

and maybe the fact that several makedonian armies where lurking nearby and besieging your ally Athens would be persuasion enough to levy them

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I thought the helots made up ranks of units such as skirmishers, slingers, and peltasts. Did the Spartans ever equip the helots as hoplites?