Theban Rebellion — 379 B.C. Fall of Sparta — 373-362 B.C.
Death of Pelopidas and Epaminondas — 364-362 B.C.
The Boeotian Wars were a series of battles, primarily between Thebes and Sparta which grew out of their long hostility to each other, dating from the time of the Corinthian War. They were notable because they all occurred during the era when Thebes was under the leadership of Epaminondas and Pelopidas, unquestionably the two most capable men who ever assumed the leadership of that city. These wars were fought during a period when, for the first and only time in Greek History, Thebes, the dominant city in the region of Boeotia, became the master of all Greece. The Theban Hegemony began with the career of these to men, and ended with their death in battle, but it was very significant, because during the Boeotian Wars Sparta lost, and never regained, its pre-eminence among Greek cities.
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Helped to liberate Thebes. Leader of the "Sacred Band" of Theban Warriors. | |
Head of the Spartan appointed Theban government. Primary target of conspirators. | |
Theban patriot who hosted the conspirators. |
Valiant Helper in | Tales of the Greeks: The Children's Plutarch by F. J. Gould |
Pelopidas in | Our Young Folks' Plutarch by Rosalie Kaufman |
Seven Conspirators in | The Story of Greece by Mary Macgregor |
Rescue of Thebes in | Historical Tales: Greek by Charles Morris |
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Finally only one city in Boeotia was still in an alliance with Sparta. Thebes attacked it but was repelled, and unexpectedly met a Spartan garrison on its way back to Tegyra. Although the Thebans were outnumbered, they routed the Spartans. This victory gave them great confidence, and in their dealings with Sparta over the next year they refused to back down from their insistence on maintaining the Boeotian League.
Sparta finally marched on the Thebans and met them on the field of Leuctra. Again, the Spartan forces outnumbered the Thebans, but due to the brilliant generalship of Epaminondas, the Thebans dealt the Spartans a crushing defeat, killing over 1000 Spartans including their king. Over the next few years Epaminondas followed up this victory by marching into Spartan territory, freeing Spartan slaves, releasing her neighbors from their alliances to her, and building up two walled cities at Messenia and Megalopolis. Although her enemies encroached on Spartan territory, and turned her former allies against her, even the brave Epaminondas did not attack the city of Sparta itself, knowing that any victory there would be won only at a tremendous cost. The only bright spot for Sparta in this period, was an incursion into Arcadia, known as the Tearless battle, in which she repulsed a force of Arcadians without a single loss.
Date | Battle Summary | |
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Battle of Tegyra
Thebes victory
Fought B.C. 373, when Pelopidas, with the Sacred Band of 300 Thebans, routed a large force of Spartans in a narrow pass near Orchomenus, slaying 600, including their two generals. | ||
Battle of Leuctra
Thebes victory
Fought July, 371 B.C., between 11,000 Spartans, under Cleombrotus, and 6,000 Thebans, under Epaminondas. The principal fighting took place on the Theban left, where Epaminondas had massed his best troops, and after a fierce encounter the Spartans were driven back, leaving 1,000 dead, including Cleombrotus, on the field. As a result of this defeat, the Spartans evacuated Boeotia. | ||
Battle of The Tearless Battle
Spartans victory
Fought B.C. 368, when a force of Arcadians endeavoured to cut off a Spartan army, under Archidamus, in a narrow defile in Laconia. They were repulsed with heavy loss, and not a single Spartan was killed, whence the engagement came to be called the Tearless Battle. |
Greatest General of his age. Defeated the Spartans at the Battle of Leuctra, and made Thebes predominant. | |
Helped to liberate Thebes. Leader of the "Sacred Band" of Theban Warriors. | |
Son of Agesilaus, Spartan Prince who fought against Thebes during the Boeotian Wars. | |
Spartan king who was killed at the battle of Leuctra. |
One Hero of Thebes in | Pictures from Greek Life and Story by Alfred J. Church |
Battle of Leuctra in | The Story of the Greeks by H. A. Guerber |
Epaminondas and Pelopidas in | Famous Men of Greece by John H. Haaren and A. B. Poland |
How Epaminondas Made Thebes Free in | Greek Gods, Heroes, and Men by Caroline H. and Samuel B. Harding |
Pelopidas and Epaminondas in | Stories from Greek History by Ethelwyn Lemon |
Battle of Leuctra in | The Story of Greece by Mary Macgregor |
Humiliation of Sparta in | Historical Tales: Greek by Charles Morris |
When Thebes Was in Power in | The Story of the Greek People by Eva March Tappan |
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Date | Battle Summary | |
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Battle of Mantinea
Thebes victory
Fought B.C. 362, between the Boeotians, under Epaminondas, and the combined forces of Athens, Sparta, and Mantineia. Epaminondas attacked strongly with his left, holding back his right in reserve, and after the driving back of the Mantineians, routed the Spartans in the centre. The Athenians were hardly engaged, but the Boeotian victory was complete. In the pursuit Epaminondas, fell and the loss of the great leader so disheartened the Boeotians that they did not further press their victory. | ||
Battle of Cynoscephalae
Thebes victory
Fought July 364 B.C., between the Thebans and Thessalians under Pelopidas, and the forces of Alexander, Despot of Phera. Both armies made a forced march to seize the heights of Cynoscephalae, and reached the spot almost simultaneously. The Theban cavalry drove back Alexander's horse, but lost time in the pursuit, and his infantry made good their position on the heights. However, after very hard fighting, they were dislodged, and Alexander completely routed, though Pelopidas fell in the battle. |
Greatest General of his age. Defeated the Spartans at the Battle of Leuctra, and made Thebes predominant. | |
Helped to liberate Thebes. Leader of the "Sacred Band" of Theban Warriors. | |
Vicious despot of the town of Pherae in Thessaly. | |
Leader of Sparta after the Peloponnesian War. Campaigned in Asia Minor and warred with Thebes. |
Death of Pelopidas in | The Story of the Greeks by H. A. Guerber |
Battle of Mantinea in | The Story of the Greeks by H. A. Guerber |
Death of Epaminondas in | The Story of Greece by Mary Macgregor |
Image Links | ||
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![]() Avenge yourselves by killing my only child.' in The Story of the Greeks |
![]() Epaminondas rescues Pelopidas, Vogel in Famous Men of Greece |
![]() Epaminondas Saves the Life of Pelopidas in Greatest Nations - Greece |
![]() Pelopidas and Epimanondas in Stories from Greek History |
![]() Plan of the Battle of Leuctra (The Spartan King was on the right of the Spartan line.) in The Story of the Greek People |
![]() Pelopidas setting out for Thebes in Plutarch's Lives W. H. Weston |
![]() Epaminonas defending Pelopidas in Plutarch's Lives W. H. Weston |