Леуктра шайқасы: Тебаның Спартаға жеңісі (371 ж.б.д.)

Thebes' victory against Sparta in 371 BC

The Battle of Leuctra (, ) was fought on 6 July 371 BC between the Boeotians led by the Thebans, and the Spartans along with their allies amidst the post–Corinthian War conflict. The battle took place in the vicinity of Leuctra, a village in Boeotia in the territory of Thespiae. During this period, Thebes had an ally in Athens, but Athens was far from happy with the treatment Plataea had received. (According to Xenophon, the Thebans signed as "the Thebans", and asked the next day to change their signature to "the Boeotians", but one of the Spartan kings, Agesilaus II, would not allow it.) In this, Sparta saw an opportunity to reassert its shaky authority in central Greece. Hence, the other Spartan king, Cleombrotus I, marched to war from Phocis. Rather than take the expected easier route into Boeotia through the face defile, the Spartans marched over the hills via Thisbae and took the fortress of Creusis (along with twelve Theban warships) before the Thebans were aware of their presence, and then proceeded to Leuctra where they were confronted by the Boeotian army. Initially, the six Boeotian generals present were equally divided as to whether to offer battle, with Epaminondas being the main advocate in favor of battle. Only when a seventh arrived and sided with Epaminondas was the decision made. In spite of inferior numbers and the doubtful loyalty of their allies, the Boeotians would offer battle on the plain before the town. Modern scholars' estimates have varied from 6,000 to 9,000 for the Boeotian force. For the Spartan side, most modern scholars favor Plutarch's figure of 10,000 in infantry and 1,000 cavalry. There followed a cavalry engagement, in which the Thebans drove their enemies off the field. at its head. The decisive engagement was then fought between the Theban and Spartan infantry. Seeing their right wing beaten, the rest of the Peloponnesians, who were essentially unwilling participants, retired and left the enemy in possession of the field. Diodorus claimed the Spartan loss was believed by some to have been foretold by a comet.

The battle is of great significance in Greek history.

The battle is fictionalized, though in some detail, in David Gemmell's book, Lion of Macedon, which includes the significant deviation from historical canon in that it is credited to a young Parmenio(n) instead of Epaminondas, who serves merely to gain permission to carry out the echelon tactic. The battle is also the subject of Victor Davis Hanson's 2011 historical fiction novel, The End of Sparta. The battle was also featured in an episode of the BBC's Time Commanders. It was also featured in the historical fiction graphic novel Serpent and Prey, which takes few creative liberties with the battle's portrayal. In "The Expanse: Persepolis Rising" by James S. A. Corey, the final major engagement is referred to as the "Battle of Point Leuctra" in a literary homage to the historical battle.