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Leuctra July [?], 371 BC
Strategic Context
Spartan King Cleombrotus launches a sudden invasion of Thebes due to its rising influence in the Boetian League. Sparta tries to negotiate on the matter by organizing a peace conference but Theban King Epaminondas walks out in protest when his claim to represent all of Boetia is rejected. The Thebans are capable of defeating Sparta on land and sea but these victories are usually won with the help of Athens. Cleombrotus is understandably overconfident and has been drinking with his men all afternoon.
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Stakes
+ A Spartan victory would limit Theban influence and confirm Spartan’s reputation as the premier military force.
+ A Theban victory would weaken Spartan dominance on land and further its own political dominance.
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By Jonathan Webb, 2009

2. Leuctra, 371 BC Strength Spartans & allies Mildly intoxicated
Thebans & allies
Well
Cleombrotus
Epaminondas
8,500 hoplites
6,500 hoplites
1,000 cavalry
1,500 cavalry
1,100 peltasts
1,000 peltasts
By Jonathan Webb, 2009

3. Greece c. 371 BC

4. The battlefield consists of a flat, grassy plain with only a gradual hill to the north.
Spartans
(Cleombrotus)
Thebans
(Epaminondas)

5. The Sacred Band of Thebes
The pressure on the Spartan right from the combined attack of the heavy hoplite phalanx, cavalry, and peltasts proves too much. As the Theban left shoves the Spartan right back stiffly, Cleombrotus is killed. The defeat of their leader and best soldiers causes panic while the Theban left wing wheels to attack the Spartan center’s flank. The Spartans and their allies flee the battlefield, hotly pursued by the Theban cavalry.
The Theban left wing and Spartan right wing collide, Theban peltasts and cavalry joining in to assail the Spartan flank. The Spartan right is stunned by the sheer weight of the Theban left and stumbles backwards. Meanwhile, Epaminondas keeps his weaker center and right away from Cleombrotus’ stronger center and left.
Epaminondas sends his cavalry forward while his hoplite phalanx advances, his overloaded left wing edging ahead of the other units. The Spartan cavalry is driven from the field by the more numerous and highly trained Theban cavalry. Cleombrotus is not too worried though as he possesses the finest hoplites in all of Greece, which now close the distance between the Thebans.
Cleombrotus deploys his hoplites in ranks 12 men deep with his peltasts guarding the flanks. He places his cavalry and veterans on his right wing so that the Theban left wing can be turned and the army routed. Epaminondas expects this tactic as it is the traditional tactic of this region and time period. To counter this tactic and Spartan numbers, he weights his left wing with hoplites 48 men deep, including his elite Sacred Band, and angles his line so that his weakened center and right wing are refused from battle. Epaminondas deploys his peltasts on his flanks and his cavalry ahead of his left wing to mask his radical deployment.
Spartans & allies
(Cleombrotus)
8,500 hoplites
1,000 cavalry
1,100 peltasts
Thebans & allies
(Epaminondas)
6,500 hoplites
1,500 cavalry
1,000 peltasts
Spartans
(Cleombrotus)
Symbol guide
Spartans & allies Thebans & allies
Hoplites Hoplites
Cavalry Cavalry
Peltasts Peltasts
The Sacred Band of Thebes is an elite unit comprised of 150 homosexual couples. The rationale behind this is that lovers will fight more aggressively and bravely when by their lover’s side, never dishonouring themselves and their lover by fleeing.
The Sacred Band of Thebes
Thebans
(Epaminondas)

6. Leuctra, 371 BC Casualties & Aftermath
Spartans & allies:
Thebans & allies:
1,000 or 9%
300 or 3%
The Spartans retreated to a fortified camp where they negotiated a withdrawal, ceding north and central Greece to Theban influence. Thebes grew so powerful in the following years that Athens allied itself with Sparta in 362 BC to check Theban aspirations. The resulting war consequently weakened all Greek states.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009

7. The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps
By Jonathan Webb, 2009