Leuctra 371 BC

"Leuctra was one of the most important and decisive battles fought in the ancient world. Not only did it witness the destruction of the Spartan dominance of Greece, it also introduced several tactical innovations still closely studied to this day. The Spartan hegemony (strengthened since her victory in the Second Peloponnesian War of 431-404 BC) was wiped out in a single afternoon, and Sparta would never recover from the losses in manpower suffered during the battle. The resultant power vacuum led to the Theban Hegemony (371-362 BC) and, eventually, to the dominance of Macedon from 338 BC (the Battle of Chaeronea) onwards. In this study, author Murray Dahm explores the rich source material available for this pivotal battle, highlighting key differences between the accounts of Xenophon, Plutarch, Pausanias, Diodorus, and other sources, whilst discussing the composition of forces and tactical choices made by the opposing sides. Featuring superb illustrations that bring this epic battle to life, this work also covers the preceding Battle of Tegyra in 375 BC, the first clash in which the idea of Spartan military superiority was fundamentally challenged by the Thebans."--Back cover.

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