Battle of Leuctra

The battle of Leuctra

This battle was fought between the army of the Beothian League, leaded by Thebas, and the Spartan army. This battle was fought to destroy the Spartan hegemony in Greece and to reinstate the democracy.
Whilst the Spartan tactic was based in a classical hoplite front, the Thebans strengthened their left flank to break the Spartan front. To complete this tactic, the Thebans formed the rest of their infantry in a stepped formation.
Apart from that, both armies counted with some light infantrymen, but they didn´t have relevance in the battle, and some cavalrymen that helped the Thebans to destroy the Spartan flank.
When the battle ended up, Thebas was the main city of Greece and the Spartan army was totally discredited. This situation ended when Lexander the Great conquered Thebas.


The armies

The Beotian army was composed by about 6000 hoplites and about 1500 cavalrymen, meanwhile the Spartan army was composed by about 11000 hoplites and 1000 cavalrymen. 
300 of the Theban hoplites formed the Sacred Band of Thebas, commanded by Pelopidas, the elite troops of Thebas.
The Beotian army was commanded by Epaminondas, one of the best generals of the ancient times.
The Spartan army was commanded by Cleombrotus the first, the King of Sparta that died in the battle.







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