Battle of Leuctra devastates Spartan elite warriors. The Battle of Leuctra occurred in 371 BC between Sparta and Thebes Spartan forces: about 11,000 men including only 700 full Spartan citizens Theban forces: about 7,000 men under Epaminondas
At Leuctra (371 BC), ~700 Spartans faced ~7,000 Thebans under Epaminondas, who concentrated elite units on the left flank opposite King Cleombrotus. 400 Spartiates died. Aristotle: "the blow that toppled Sparta."
Key Facts
- The Battle of Leuctra occurred in 371 BC between Sparta and Thebes
- Spartan forces: about 11,000 men including only 700 full Spartan citizens
- Theban forces: about 7,000 men under Epaminondas
- Theban general Epaminondas placed his best units on the left wing directly opposite King Cleombrotus
- The Thebans arranged troops in an exceptionally deep formation
- King Cleombrotus was mortally wounded early in the battle
- The Theban Sacred Band led the attack that collapsed the Spartan line
- 400 Spartiates (nearly half the citizen elite) died on the field
- Aristotle: wrote that Leuctra was the blow that toppled Sparta
- The following year (370 BC), Epaminondas invaded the Peloponnese and liberated most helots in Messenia
- Epaminondas founded the new city of Messini with walls to protect freed helots
- Thebes also helped organize the Arcadian League centered on the fortified city of Megalopolis
- These new cities formed a defensive ring around Sparta's territory
Related site: Leuctra — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: The Decline and Fall of Sparta by toldinstone