Leuctra, Battle of

Leuctra, Battle of

▪ Greek history [371 BC]
      (371 BC), battle fought on the plain of Leuctra (near modern Levktra) in southern Boeotia, in which a Boeotian army under Epaminondas defeated a Spartan army under King Cleombrotus. This Spartan defeat in the Boeotian–Athenian war against Sparta of 379–371 destroyed the reputation of the Spartan hoplite phalanx and established Theban hegemony in Greece (371–362). Epaminondas' tactical innovations of oblique order and concentration of forces against the enemy's command brought about the Theban–Boeotian victory.

      After the Theban refusal to sign the peace agreement of 371, Cleombrotus, who was in Phocis with about 10,000 Spartan and allied hoplites and 1,000 cavalry, was ordered to invade Boeotia and attack Thebes. He was met by Epaminondas' Theban force, consisting of about 6,000 hoplites (heavily armed infantrymen) and an unknown number of cavalry. Eschewing the usual battle formation of cavalry heading a continuous hoplite phalanx, with the commander on the right wing, Epaminondas massed hoplites to a depth of 50 on his left wing and advanced it ahead of the centre and right wings. When the superior Theban cavalry drove the Spartan cavalry back on the phalanx, the Theban left wing attacked and routed the Spartan right, killing Cleombrotus, the Spartan king. Xenophon, a contemporary historian, reports nearly 1,000 Spartan dead.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Leuctra — was a village in ancient Greece, in Boeotia, seven miles southwest of Thebes. It is primarily known today as the site of the important 371 BC Battle of Leuctra in which the Thebans, under Epaminondas, defeated the Spartans. The Spartan hegemony… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Leuctra — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Leuctra partof=the post Peloponnesian War conflicts caption= date=371 BC place=Boeotia result=Decisive Theban victory combatant1=Thebes combatant2=Sparta commander1=Epaminondas commander2=Cleombrotus I …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Mantinea (362 BC) — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Mantinea partof=the post Peloponnesian War conflicts caption= date=362 BC place=Mantinea, Arcadia result=Theban victory combatant1=Thebes, Arcadia, Boeotian League combatant2=Sparta, Athens, Elis,… …   Wikipedia

  • battle of Leuctra — noun Thebes defeated Sparta in 371 BC; the battle ended Sparta s military supremacy in Greece • Syn: ↑Leuctra • Regions: ↑Greece, ↑Hellenic Republic, ↑Ellas • Instance Hypernyms: ↑pitched battle …   Useful english dictionary

  • Leuctra — noun Thebes defeated Sparta in 371 BC; the battle ended Sparta s military supremacy in Greece • Syn: ↑battle of Leuctra • Regions: ↑Greece, ↑Hellenic Republic, ↑Ellas • Instance Hypernyms: ↑pitched battle …   Useful english dictionary

  • Battle of Tegyra — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Tegyra partof= caption= date=375 BC place=Near Orchomenus, Boeotia casus= territory= result=Theban victory combatant1=Thebes combatant2=Sparta commander1=Pelopidas commander2=Unknown strength1=300… …   Wikipedia

  • pitched battle — noun a fierce battle fought in close combat between troops in predetermined positions at a chosen time and place • Hypernyms: ↑battle, ↑conflict, ↑fight, ↑engagement • Instance Hyponyms: ↑Agincourt, ↑Austerlitz, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Epaminondas — Infobox Military Person name= Epaminondas caption= Epaminondas allegiance= Thebes rank= commands= nickname= lived= ca. 418 BC ndash; 362 BC placeofbirth= placeofdeath= laterwork= battles= Battle of Leuctra, Battle of Mantinea… …   Wikipedia

  • ancient Greek civilization — ▪ historical region, Eurasia Introduction       the period following Mycenaean civilization, which ended in about 1200 BC, to the death of Alexander the Great, in 323 BC. It was a period of political, philosophical, artistic, and scientific… …   Universalium

  • Epaminondas — /i pam euh non deuhs/, n. 418? 362 B.C., Theban general and statesman. * * * born с 410, Thebes died 362 BC, Mantineia Theban statesman, tactician, and leader. He defeated the Spartans at Leuctra in 371, using a new strategy that attacked the… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”