The Battle of Leuctra

The Thebans made Pelopidas and Epaminondas Boeotarchs (chiefs). Epaminondas commanded the army; Pelopidas drilled the Sacred Battalion—300 who swore to die rather than retreat. They met the Spartans at Leuctra. The omens were unfavorable, but Epaminondas said no omen forbade defending one's country. The Spartans laughed that a scholar led the enemy—then lost. Cleombrotus was killed. Epaminondas marched into Laconia; Spartan women saw enemy campfire smoke for the first time. He could have destroyed Sparta but was gentle: he spared them if they freed the Messenians and stopped attacking Thebes. Sparta agreed, yielding supremacy to Thebes.