The Battle of Leuctra 371 B.C.: Epaminondas and the End of Spartan Supremacy

At Leuctra, the strongest army in Greece collapsed in a single afternoon.

In 371 B.C., on a plain in Boeotia, the Spartan army-undefeated in open battle for generations-was broken by a force it had long dismissed. The Battle of Leuctra was not decided by numbers, bravery, or chance. It was decided by innovation, concentration of force, and a commander willing to abandon tradition at the decisive moment.

This book examines the Battle of Leuctra as a turning point in Ancient Greek warfare and l...