371 BC and the time for talk is over. Two Greek city-states, bound in their hatred for one another, prepare to settle their dispute with spear and shield.

On the plain of Leuctra, thousands of Theban-lead Boeotian soldiers stand ready. Their leader, none other than the virtuous Epaminondas – a man who’s tactical innovations would completely revolutionise the Greek art of war. Now this force aimed to topple the dominant military power of its time: Sparta.

The odds appeared firmly stacked against the Thebans – their army outnumbered and against a Spartan-lead force confident of victory. Nevertheless, the result of this encounter would decide the future of these respective cities: A future of supremacy or subjugation.

Background: Greece from 400-371BC

Greece at the start of the fourth century BC was one still reeling from its recent history. The Spartan victory in the Peloponnesian War had decimated Athens’ military power and left the victors the dominant city in the Greek world.

Yet dominance, as it only too often does, lead to resentment and open rebellion to their presence. Already wars had broken out again in this civilisation, with proud and prestigious cities such as Corinth and Athens desperate to be freed from the Spartan yoke.

For Sparta, victory in the Peloponnesian War was just the start. They had won the first prize award among the Greek cities. Now, they had to maintain it. It is this that would prove more difficult than first thought.

And that’s where Thebes comes in. Like Athens and Corinth, Thebes had huge resentment of the influence Sparta had over their renowned city. By 378BC, enough was enough.

That year, a successful coup by a small group of Theban exiles succeeded in expelling both Sparta’s military and political presence from the city. Thebes celebrated: They had thrown off,

the fetters of the Lacedaemonian supremacy, which were thought indissoluble and not to be broken

(Plut. Pel. 13.4).

They had got their city back. Yet such an action would have consequences.

378BC: The Boeotian War breaks out

For the next seven years, war between these two cities ensued. Yet neither side could land anything near to a decisive blow. This indecisiveness benefited Thebes significantly as their influence and control in their homeland of Boeotia (you can see its location here) grew stronger. With that came confidence; a confidence from its leaders that they could topple this superpower in its own field of expertise. That expertise was none other than what we epitomise Sparta for today. An expertise in military warfare.

No more so was there a feeling of confidence among the Theban leaders than in Epaminondas and Pelopidas. Both men had, according to Plutarch, a divine desire of seeing their country glorious by their exertions (Plut. Pel. 4.3). Their dream of a powerful Greece, lead by their own glorious city, was everything they lived for. Remember the names, for it would be their actions that would radically change the face of Greece forever. The rewards to such an achievement would be bountiful.

Failed negotiations

And so, we get to 371BC. Following an attempt to end the war, Sparta made peace with Athens and other major Greek cities that had also taken part in this conflict. Yet there was one notable failure.

Epaminondas, perhaps buoyed by his ambition, confidence or hatred of Spartan leadership, refused to agree to the treaty. The reason? Such a treaty would have removed all the Theban influence it had gained over its neighbouring cities and reinstated Sparta as the evident dominant power.

This he could never agree to, it would have reversed all the steps he had so far taken to achieve his dream of a powerful Thebes. Epaminondas’ argument seemed fair; why should his city give up control of its allies when Sparta would not consider doing the same with theirs?

Negotiations were at loggerheads and the peace talks failed. But it had achieved one critical matter. Now, the war was solely between these two main contestants for Greek supremacy and their respective allies. Battle was imminent.

Within twenty days of the failed talks, both armies now faced each other on the plain of Leuctra to settle their differences through blood.

The Battle of Leuctra 371BC

Leuctra’s landscape was well-suited for Classical Greek warfare centred around the hoplite infantryman. Armed with a spear and shield these men fought as one in trained formations called phalanxes. Although cavalry and light troops were usually also at these battles, it was these heavy infantrymen that almost always decided the fate of the engagement.

Leuctra was ideal for this warfare. A flat plain with dry ground and zero obstacles allowed the formations to be maintained with relative ease. Indeed, the plain of Leuctra became so ideal for settling Greek disputes that it became known as the ‘dancing floor of Greek war.’

Battle was imminent and the Spartan force, outnumbering that of the Thebans 3:2, was confident of victory. Who could beat them at hoplite warfare; something they had monopolised for centuries?

To summarise, the outnumbered Theban force was faced against the most renowned land army of its time, at a place that strategically benefited the type of warfare Sparta excelled in! You can see why the Spartans were confident. Yet that is where the preparations by Epaminondas and Pelopidas come in. Their zealous desire to see their city the greatest in Greece had made them realise the necessity of defeating Sparta at its own game. To do this, the Thebans did one of the greatest things to overthrow a traditional-fighting foe. They innovated.

The critical innovation

By being masters of the traditional hoplite warfare, Epaminondas knew how the Spartans would fight. Most importantly, he knew two things of the enemy: that their cavalry was atrocious and their best troops would be located on the right flank. These troops would be none other than the Spartans themselves, hoping to bulldoze their opposing forces and then envelop the rest of the opposing army. It had worked in the past, why change it?

What we must remember is that in their army, the Spartans themselves numbered only 700-strong! The majority of its army was made up of its allies, forced to send troops due to treaty obligations. If the Spartans themselves were defeated, Epaminondas realised, these allies would have no reason for fighting. Cut off the Spartan head and watch the rest crumble.

And so here came the simple, but deadly innovation. Rather than lining up in a similar fashion to the Spartan-lead army, Epaminondas concentrated his strongest forces on the LEFT wing. The intent, to destroy the Spartan force before the rest of the army had even engaged. Rigorous military training of these Thebans, instigated by Epaminondas, meant that these men were no mere levies, but very capable fighters. Spearheading these soldiers was Thebes’ ancient equivalent to the Grenadier Guards, the Sacred Band.

The Sacred Band

Lead by Pelopidas, these 300 men were the cream of the Theban army and their answer to the full-time professional soldiers of Sparta. Consistent training and fitness had made this Band more than equal to their counterparts. For the first time, Sparta was now not the only Greek power that had full-time soldiers.

Quickly following on from the rapid destruction of the Spartan cavalry by their own more superior mounted troops, the Thebans, fronted by the Sacred Band, charged the Spartan foot. Despite defiant resistance – even after their King, Cleombrotus, had fallen – the Spartans succumbed to the sheer power of this innovated Boeotian phalanx. Plutarch recalls,

That there began such a flight and slaughter amongst the Spartans as was never known before

(Pel. 23.4).

The Result

Seeing this supposed hegemonic-city in such a flight, Sparta’s allies refused to even fight. The battle was over. Epaminondas’ innovative tactics and militarisation of the Theban army had resulted in a victory as glorious as those gained at Marathon and Salamis over a century before. Pausanias even went as far to state that this victory, was the MOST FAMOUS ever won by Greeks over Greeks (Description of Greece, 9.6.4). The Spartans had simply been outgeneralled; undone by the Theban development in the art of war.

From this one encounter, Spartan supremacy began to crumble and Thebes became the new dominant city in the Greek world. Epaminondas and Pelopidas, through their undeterred efforts to make this Theban dominance happen, had achieved their patriotic dream.

Theban dominance however would be short-lived. Both these virtuous men died shortly after Leuctra in their own respective battles (Epaminondas at Mantinea and Pelopidas in Thessaly). Following their deaths, Theban power crumbled and Greece again became divided and weak. Such division would directly pave the way for a new power; that of Philip II of Macedon and his son, Alexander.

What if?

Yet despite its short-lived rewards, Leuctra’s outcome was critical to Greek history. Just consider a reality where Epaminondas had not used such innovative tactics that day in 371BC – a Greek World where rather than supremacy, Leuctra marked subjugation for Thebes.

In such a reality, it is hard to see Thebes maintaining any authority or independence. Sparta would ensure that this bitter enemy of theirs had no chance of challenging its authority ever again. Its allies deserting them and their influence eroded, Thebes’ subjugation would appear inevitable and Spartan hegemony maintained.

Regarding Pelopidas and Epaminondas, their names may well have been lost to history. Either that, or we would simply remember them as men who ultimately had lead a failed coup to oust their rival. Whichever way, our best sources for them, men like Plutarch, Nepos and Pausanias, would thus look at them with contempt and irrelevance. They would have failed, end of story.

Influencing a king

The most fascinating development from Leuctra I’d say, was its influence on a certain young man. That man was none other than the future Philip II of Macedon. Having fortuitously been a hostage in Thebes at the time of Leuctra, he would have undoubtedly heard of the heroics of this city’s countrymen in detail consistently.

Such stories would inspire him greatly. Epaminondas’ innovative tactics had proven a great example to how the Greek phalanx could be beaten. Philip would not fail to learn this invaluable lesson, undoubtedly shown through his Macedonian phalanx innovations.

Like the Thebans at Leuctra, this phalanx’s strength came from very deep ranks. Its men carried radical six-metre-long pikes (compare this to the Greek 2 ½ metre spears), combined with sufficient training to maintain this radical new formation, even when active on the battlefield!

Not only this, but Philip also increased the effectiveness and importance of his cavalry. Leuctra had shown that the use of cavalry and infantry in joint action could have a devastating impact. Combined-arms warfare of infantry and cavalry was innovated at Leuctra and built upon by this King in the North.

Conquest

Philip’s new-look Macedonian army would prove its worth against the Greek cities (including Thebes’ Sacred Band) 33 years later at Chaeronea. The apprentice had become the master. It would be this victory that would pave the way for this conqueror’s son to become one of the greatest generals in antiquity. I’m sure you can guess who that was.

Philip’s military reforms were crucial to Macedon’s future supremacy and the creation of the Hellenistic world. Without, arguably, one of its greatest sources of inspiration in Epaminondas’ military innovations however, the legendary achievements of these Macedonians could have looked very different.

A Spartan victory at Leuctra would have strengthened its dominance in Greece – its power now appearing exemplary and unbeatable. What is to say that in this alternate reality, Philip would have had the confidence to believe that he could topple Sparta’s military power? Everyone before him had failed.

Consider such a world therefore, where Philip did not conduct his military reforms. There would be no conquest of Greece, no formidable achievements of Alexander and no creation of the Hellenistic World. All very possible in a world where Sparta won the day at Leuctra.

Conclusion

Despite its relatively quietened publicity nowadays in comparison, the result of Leuctra was on par with that of Marathon and Gaugamela in its importance for shaping our antiquity. For warfare, this battle was the epoch of a new era. It was the direct result of the innovations of Epaminondas and Pelopidas that changed Greece forever. If not for the complete dedication of these men to see their city triumph over their former ruler, it is amazing to consider how different an ancient world we would be learning about today.

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Notes, Links and Further Reading

Views are my own unless references stated.

Please subscribe if you enjoy the content. Next topic is on the Battle of Lugdunum 197AD

Plutarch: Life of Pelopidas

Pausanias: Description of Greece

Time Commanders: Battle of Leuctra here

Readings available on Jstor concerning Leuctra

Cawkwell, G. ‘The Decline of Sparta,’ The Classical Quarterly, Vol. 33 (2), 1983, pp. 385-400.

Owen Rees, ‘The Battle of Leuctra,’ Great Battles of the Classical Greek World, Pen and Sword, 2016, pp.41-52.

Cawkwell, G. L, ‘Epaminondas and Thebes,’ The Classical Quarterly, Vol. 22 (2), 1972, pp. 254-278.

Tuplin, C.J, ‘Pausanias and Plutarch’s Epaminondas,’ The Classical Quarterly, Vol 34 (2), 1984, pp. 346-358.

Shrimpton, G. S, ‘The Theban Supremacy in Fourth-Century Literature,’ Phoenix, Vol. 25 (4), 1971, pp. 310-318.

Author: Tristan Hughes Twitter Facebook

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