The Battle of Leuctra, 371 BCE

Ancient History Sourcebook, Fordham University ^ | c. 360 BCE | Xenophon: Hellenica

[SunkenCiv]

the Lacedaemonians posted their cavalry in front of their squares of infantry, and the Thebans imitated them. Only there was this difference---the Theban horse were in a high state of training and efficiency, thanks to their war with the Orchomenians, and also their war with Thespiae; the Lacedaemonian cavalry was at its very worst just now. The horses were reared and kept by the richest citizens; but whenever the levy was called out, a trooper appeared who took the horse with any sort of arms that might be presented to him, and set off on an expedition at a moment's notice. These troopers, too, were the least able-bodied of the men---just raw recruits simply set astride their horses, and wanting in all soldierly ambition. Such was the cavalry of either antagonist. The heavy infantry of the Lacedaemonians, it is said, advanced by sections three abreast, allowing a total depth to the whole line of not more than twelve. The Thebans were formed in close order of not less than fifty shields deep, calculating that victory over the [Spartan] king's division of his army would involve the easy conquest of the rest.

[SunkenCiv]

The Thebans loaded up the depth of their phalanx on the left side, so, holding what was usually the weak side with an equivalent force, they brought superior force to bear on the strongest end of the Spartan line, and just rolled them up.

Here's what I just wrote in an earlier FR topic which discusses the battle in more detail:

"This is to commemorate the Battle of Leuctra, in which the army of the ancient fascist pedophile society of Sparta was smashed, leading to the liberation of the 100s of 1000s of their neighbors they'd held in slavery for generations. We're doing the same thing to the armies of the medieval fascist pedophile society that is trying to enslave the world."

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Monument (Trophy) of The Battle of Leuktra

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[SunkenCiv]

USO Canteen FReeper Style
Ancient Greek Military: Mercenaries -- December 16, 2003
Warfare in Hellas | december 16, 2003 | LaDivaLoca
Posted on 12/16/2003 4:19:32 AM EST by LaDivaLoca
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1041201/posts

[SunkenCiv]

Please note: this news story is 2,377 years old. Keep that in mind before you post. Thank you. ;')

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[xzins]

2377 years old

It really should have been in breaking news.

[SunkenCiv]

Yeah, I screwed up.

[Textide]

Found this graphic and caption of the battle formation at Wikipedia's entry.

Top: Traditional hoplite order of battle and advance. Bottom: Epaminondas's strategy at Leuctra. The strong left wing advanced while the weak right wing retreated. The red blocks show the placement of the elite troops within each phalanx.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks.

[bert]

Ah ha...

When reading Greek history there is a battle and then "they put up a trophy"

The graphic says monument (trophy). was the erection of a permanent stone structure the trophy? I somehow envisioned something less permanent.

This is the first opportunity I ever had to ask someone who might know.

[SunkenCiv]

That was a popular thing to do, and that practice has persisted in various ways. Much later, a long way from there, the 1066 Battle of Hastings -- it was fought some distance from Hastings, near the village of Senlac, but the actual site of the battle is at Battle, which grew up around the Battle Abbey, erected on the spot after William the Bastard killed the King Harold and usurped the throne.

The above photo shows the base, which is partially a reconstruction (the rest of the stuff was found on or near the spot). The rest of the monument was a sort of column going up some unknown distance, and probably some kind of capital at the top of that. There are big chunks of stone around the site, possibly former pieces of the column.

[grey_whiskers]

Top: Traditional hoplite order of battle and advance. Bottom: Epaminondas's strategy at Leuctra. The strong left wing advanced while the weak right wing retreated. The red blocks show the placement of the elite troops within each phalanx.

Only in the New York Times's wet dreams.

Sounds like the 1960's if you ask me...

Cheers!

[grey_whiskers]

The author of the piece has "Davis" in his name. He needs writing lessons in clarity from Victor Davis Hansen (unless this is more-or-less a translation of a contemporary account of the battle...)

And what is that monument, a fire hydrant on steroids?

Cheers!

[SunkenCiv]

Xenophon wrote it over two thousand years ago, that's just a translation.

[grey_whiskers]

Yah. I once dated a girl who was a classical civilizations major.

(It reminded me of the Dilbert strip where he was dating a girl. She gave a long list of forbidden topics, to which Dilbert replied, "That would leave Greek mythology...and you.")

Cheers!

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

leuctra battle (image search)

Google

[SunkenCiv]

Restoration of the trophy the Thebans erected at Leuktra, after the battle in which they defeated the Spartans, in 371 BC.

[SunkenCiv]

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