THE DEATH OF EPAMINONDAS
Thebes was now the most powerful city in Greece. But Epaminondas was
not yet content. He wished to invade Sparta.
In November 370 B.C. he marched with his army into Arcadia, which lay
to the north of Laconia. Here he was joined by all those who wished to
throw off the Spartan yoke. His army soon numbered forty thousand, some
even say it was seventy thousand strong.
Sparta could hardly believe that any one had dared to invade her
territory. She was used to fighting in other states of Greece or in
other countries, but it would be a new experience if she was forced
to fight for her own homes. Yet there was Epaminondas and his army
encamped within sight of the city.
The Spartan women had never before seen the smoke of an enemy’s fire
camp, and they gave way to despair, in spite of their stern training in
self-control.
But the Theban general was too wise to attack the city. He knew that
the Spartans had gathered together a large army, and that they would
fight to the death for their homes. So, satisfied that he had encamped
in sight of Sparta, he turned away, destroying the land through which
he passed. The Spartans were eager to follow and fight with the enemy
who had defied them, but their king refused to lead them to battle.
Epaminondas was not yet ready to leave Spartan territory. He led his
army to the country of Messenia, which the Spartans had conquered many
centuries before, banishing or making slaves of the people.
The Theban general roused the descendants of these slaves, and
encouraged them to build a new city on Mount Ithomé, where Aristomenes
had made his gallant stand against the Spartans.
While the first stones of the new city were being laid, the sound of
flutes was heard. When it was finished it was named Messenia. A large
piece of ground which belonged to Sparta was given by Epaminondas to
the citizens of the new town. Those who had been slaves or Helots were
now free men.
The army then marched back to Thebes, which it reached four months
after the time for which Epaminondas had been appointed commander.
In spite of all he had done for his country, his enemies wished him to
be punished, because he had not laid down his command on the proper
day. But he appealed to the people, and they gladly made him, along
with Pelopidas, general for another year.
When the year had passed, Epaminondas was treated coldly, not only by
his enemies but by the people also, because he had failed to surprise
and take the city of Corinth.
In Thessaly at this time there was a cruel king named Alexander. So
badly did he treat his subjects, that they begged the Thebans to come
to their help.
Pelopidas was sent to Thessaly to punish Alexander, unless he promised
to treat his people less harshly. The king was forced to listen to
the Theban general, but he was angry because Pelopidas had dared to
interfere with him and he resolved to punish him.
For some time the king found no opportunity to reach his enemy, but at
length Pelopidas was foolish enough to go through Thessaly with only a
few followers.
Alexander was overjoyed to have the general in his power, and he at
once sent a band of men to capture him and throw him into prison.
But the Thebans were very angry when they heard that their favourite
general was a prisoner, and they determined to set him free. So they
sent a large army into Thessaly to rescue Pelopidas.
Epaminondas went with the army as an ordinary soldier, and you can
imagine how he must have longed to be at its head, so that he might
himself deliver his friend.
The Theban generals were not clever, and though they did all they could
to conquer the army that Alexander sent against them, they soon saw
that the battle was going against them.
Then they showed that if they were not clever they were wise, for they
went to Epaminondas, and begged him to take command of the army.
But it was too late for even a clever general to rescue Pelopidas,
and all Epaminondas could do was to save the Theban army from being
destroyed.
The Thebans were so grateful to Epaminondas for his help that they made
him general once more, and sent him back to Thessaly with a larger army
that he might save his friend.
Alexander knew that he need not hope to conquer the great Theban
general, and a few days after Epaminondas entered Thessaly, the king
set Pelopidas free. He then asked the Thebans to make peace with him.
Three years later, in 364 B.C., Pelopidas was ordered to go at the head
of an army against his old enemy.
As he was ready to leave Thebes, the sun was eclipsed and the
soothsayers did not hesitate to say that this was a bad omen. Many of
the soldiers were afraid to march, and Pelopidas was too angry to wait
to force them to go with him, so he set out with only a few men. When
he reached Thessaly he bade all those who hated the tyrant to join him.
Thousands who had groaned under the cruelty of the king flocked to his
side, but even then the army of Alexander was twice as large as his.
The two forces met at a place called Cynoscephalæ, where a great battle
was fought.
Pelopidas led his men well, and himself fought so bravely that the
battle was all but won in spite of the greater strength of the enemy.
Suddenly Pelopidas caught sight of Alexander, and forgetting everything
save his desire to avenge his imprisonment, he sprang forward to slay
the tyrant. Ere his followers could reach him, he himself was struck
down and killed.
Alexander was defeated and his kingdom was taken from him. But the
Thessalians could not rejoice, because Pelopidas, to whom they owed
their deliverance, had been slain. They buried him with great pomp on
the field where he had fallen.
Epaminondas was filled with grief at the loss of his dear friend. He
tried to forget his sorrow in serving his country.
In 362 B.C. he fought at Mantinea against the Spartans, on the field
where long before he had saved the life of Pelopidas.
Never had Epaminondas fought more bravely than on this day, leading the
Bœotians against the foe ‘as a war-galley ploughs through the waves
with its beak.’
The victory was well-nigh gained, when a Spartan thrust his pike
through the breast of Epaminondas. He fell, and his men carried him off
the field to a little hill, from which the battle could be seen.
For a short time the great general lay unconscious, but at length he
opened his eyes and asked if his shield was safe. He was told that it
was safe and that the battle was won.
Then he begged to see his two chief officers. They had fallen on the
field, and when the news was broken to him, the dying man said,
‘Then you had better make peace.’
The head of the spear that had struck the general was still in the
wound. As it was withdrawn he breathed his last.
It was Epaminondas who had made Thebes great. After his death she
slowly slipped back into her old insignificant position.