This city (in Boeotia) is famous for having been the scene of a great
battle between the Thebans and the Lacedæmonians, July 8, B.C. 371.
The two armies were very unequal in number[339]. That of the
Lacedæmonians consisted of twenty-four thousand foot, and sixteen
hundred horse. The Thebans had only six thousand foot, and four hundred
horse; but all of them choice troops, animated by their experience of
the war, and determined to conquer or die. The Lacedæmonian cavalry,
composed of men picked up by chance, without valour, and ill
disciplined, was as much inferior to their enemies in courage as
superior in number. The infantry could not be depended on, except the
Lacedæmonians; their allies having engaged in the war with reluctance,
because they did not approve the motive of it, and were besides
dissatisfied with the Lacedæmonians.
Upon the day of battle, the two armies drew up on a plain. Cleombrotus
was upon the right, consisting of Lacedæmonians, on whom he confided
most. To take the advantage which his superiority of horse gave him in
an open country, he posted them in the front of the Lacedæmonians.
Archidamus, Agesilaus' son, was at the head of the allies, who formed
the left wing.
The action began by the cavalry. As that of the Thebans were better
mounted, and braver troops than the Lacedæmonian horse, the latter were
not long before they were broke, and driven upon the infantry, which
they put into some confusion. Epaminondas following his horse close,
marched swiftly up to Cleombrotus, and fell upon his phalanx with all
the weight of his heavy battalion. The latter, to make a diversion,
detached a body of troops with orders to take Epaminondas in flank, and
to surround him. Pelopidas, upon the sight of that movement, advanced
with incredible speed and boldness at the head of the second battalion
to prevent the enemy's design, and flanked Cleombrotus himself, who, by
that sudden and unexpected attack, was put into disorder. The battle was
very rude and obstinate; and whilst Cleombrotus could act, the victory
continued in suspense, and declared for neither party. When he fell dead
with his wounds, the Thebans, to complete the victory, and the
Lacedæmonians, to avoid the shame of abandoning the body of their king,
redoubled their efforts, and a great slaughter ensued on both sides. The
Spartans fought with so much fury about the body, that at length they
gained their point, and carried it off. Animated by so glorious an
advantage, they prepared to return to the charge, which would perhaps
have proved successful, had the allies seconded their ardour. But the
left wing, seeing the Lacedæmonian phalanx had been broke, and believing
all lost, especially when they heard that the king was dead, took to
flight, and drew off the rest of the army along with them. Epaminondas
followed them vigorously, and killed a great number in the pursuit. The
Thebans remained masters of the field of battle, erected a trophy, and
permitted the enemy to bury their dead.
The Lacedæmonians had never received such a blow. The most bloody
defeats till then had scarce ever cost them more than four or five
hundred of their citizens. They had been seen, however, animated, or
rather violently incensed against several hundred of their citizens, who
had suffered themselves to be shut up in the little island of
Sphacteria. Here they lost four thousand men, of whom one thousand were
Lacedæmonians, and four hundred Spartans, out of seven hundred who were
in the battle. The Thebans had only three hundred men killed; among whom
were few of their citizens.
The city of Sparta celebrated at that time the gymnastic games, and was
full of strangers, whom curiosity had brought thither. When the couriers
arrived from Leuctra with the terrible news of their defeat, the Ephori,
though perfectly sensible of all the consequences, and that the Spartan
empire had received a mortal wound, would not permit the representations
of the theatre to be suspended, nor any changes in the celebration of
the festival. They sent to every family the names of their relations who
were killed, and stayed in the theatre to see that the dances and games
were continued without interruption to the end.
The next day in the morning, the loss of each family being known, the
fathers and relations of those who had died in the battle, met in the
public place, and saluted and embraced each other with great joy and
serenity in their looks; whilst the others kept themselves close in
their houses; or, if necessity obliged them to go abroad, it was with a
sadness and dejection of aspect, which sensibly expressed their profound
anguish and affliction. That difference was still more remarkable in the
women. Grief, silence, tears, distinguished those who expected the
return of their sons; but such as had lost their sons were seen
hurrying to the temples, to thank the gods, and congratulating each
other upon their glory and good fortune[340].
All that remains of this city, so celebrated and so universally known by
the battle just described, and in which the Lacedæmonians forfeited for
ever the empire of Greece, after possessing it for three centuries, are
a few remains near the village of Parapongi, and a few blocks of
stone[341].