“At the battle of Leuctra in 371 BC, a resurgent Thebes led by its great statesmen and tactician reformers Epaminondas and Pelopidas defeated the army of Sparta. The defeat was one of the greatest shocks Greece had witnessed – not only did the Thebans defeat the Spartans but the Spartans turned and fled from the … Continue reading 3809 – The (second) battle of Mantinea