Leuktra 371 BC by Nic Fields

Leuktra 371 BC by Nic Fields

A decisive afternoon in 371 BCE saw Thebes shatter Sparta's hoplite supremacy at Leuctra, ending its hegemony and ushering in a new era of tactical innovation under Epameinondas. The famous Spartan débâcle at LeÅ«ktra was a gamechanger both politically and militarily. Having won the Peloponnesian War and inherited the Athenian hegemony of the Greek world, Sparta for the next three decades had proven unbeatable in hoplite battle. All that was to change during one afternoon in the high summer of 371 BCE. Kleombrotos was killed with most of his royal guard when Epameinondas' Theban phalanx, which he had stacked 'fifty-shields deep' and fronted with the veteran Sacred Band, mowed down that of the Spartan king's. Moreover, the Theban general's use of what we know as the oblique order foreshadowed the combined arms tactics that was to be fully developed by Philip II of Macedon (onetime political hostage held in the house of Epameinondas), and subsequently employed to brilliant effect by his son Alexander the Great during his eye-opening success against the Persian Empire. The innovative generalship of Epameinondas had given the Thebans a critical victory over the best hoplite force in Greece. Crucially, the fall of their king virtually signalled the end of Sparta's hegemony over the Greek world, facilitating the, albeit brief, rise of Thebes.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781804517697
ISBN 10	1804517690
Title	Leuktra 371 BC
Author	Nic Fields
Series	From Alexander To Adrianople 3000 Bce-400 Ce
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Helion & Company
Year published	2025-04-26
Number of pages	168
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.