Battle of Leuctra (371 BC)

By Chris Jones

For generations the Spartan army had been the best in Greece. Despite some small scale defeats against light troops in the Peloponnesian War, Spartan hoplites had proven invincible in large scale actions. Their military power was challenged by Epaminondas of Thebes who claimed to speak for all of Northern Greece. This led inevitably to war and at Leuctra, the Thebans found themselves facing a far superior force of the Spartans and their allies.

In fact Epaminondas had only 6,500 hopites to face over 10,000 enemy heavy foot including 2,000 Spartiates, the finest drilled troops in all Greece. He had an advantage in cavalry but that was rarely if ever decisive in Greek Hoplite warfare. It was the push of the spear armed hoplites who decided the day. And in this department Sparta appeared to hold all the cards.

The Spartans lined up in their usual manner in a shallow crescent with the Spartans holding the place of honour on the right wing. Their cavalry was concentrated on their right flank. Their hoplites were lined up 8 to 12 ranks deep as usual.

The Thebans lined up their superior cavalry opposite the Spartan and allied horse. A formation of hoplites 50 deep spearheaded by the elite Sacred Band was formed up facing the Spartans and their king Cleombrotus. The rest of the Theban army was arrayed in oblique order away from the enemy to their front.

Cleombrotus attempted to reinforce his right wing when he realised the Theban intent but the attack was too rapid. The Theban cavalry drove off their opposite numbers while the deep column of hoplites struck and broke the Spartans opposite and pursued them to their camp. The Spartan king was killed and the whole army withdrew in disarray. 500 Spartans were killed in the fighting with a similar number in the retreat. 300 Thebans fell in the battle. This battle destroyed the myth of Spartan invincibility.

Simulating Leuctra in DBA

Order of Battle

Theban (Later Hoplite Greek, #32) -- 1xSp (+1), 9xSp, 1xCv(+1) and 1xPs

Spartan (Later Hoplite Greek, #32) -- 2x Sp(+1) 8x Sp 1x Cv 1x Ps

Terrain

Mostly open ground.

Deployment

Deployment can be normal DBA but to reproduce the special features of the battle the armies should deploy as follows:


                  Spartans 

               G
Cv     Sp(+1) Sp(+1) Sp Sp Sp Sp Sp Sp Sp Sp Ps


Cv(+1) Sp(+1) Sp
              Sp     Sp Sp
              G            Sp Sp
                                 Sp Sp Sp Ps
       
                   Thebans

Special Rules

The Spartiates and Theban Sacred band are upgraded to Sp(+1) gaining a +1 in close combat as elite units. The Theban cavalry is also upgraded to take account of their superiority over their opposite numbers. Only the Theban forces can double rank their Sp gaining a +1 for support.

Victory conditions

Normal DBA.

Last Update: June 23, 2000

My thanks to Chris Jones for this scenario. Comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome. Send them to Chris Brantley at brant@erols.com.

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