the conflict on this account； and when one of his men； running up to him； exclaimed； 〃We are fallen into the midst of the enemy；〃 he replied； 〃Why so； more than they into the midst of us？〃 In the battle which ensued the two Spartan commanders fell at the first charge； and their men were put to the rout。 So signal a victory inspired the Thebans with new confidence and vigour； as it showed that Sparta was not invincible even in a pitched battle； and with the advantage of numbers on her side。 By the year 374 B。C。 the Thebans had succeeded in expelling the Lacedaemonians from Boeotia； and revived the Boeotian confederacy。 They also destroyed the restored city of Plataea； and obliged its inhabitants once more to seek refuge at Athens。
The successes of the Thebans revived the jealousy and distrust of Athens。 Prompted by these feelings； the Athenians opened negotiations for a peace with Sparta； a resolution which was also adopted by the majority of the allies。
A congress was accordingly opened in Sparta in the spring of 371 B。C。 The Athenians were represented by Callias and two other envoys； the Thebans by Epaminondas； then one of the polemarchs。 The terms of a peace were agreed upon； by which the independence of the various Grecian cities was to be recognised； and the Spartan harmosts and garrisons everywhere dismissed。 Sparta ratified the treaty for herself and her allies； but Athens took the oaths only for herself； and was followed separately by her allies。 As Epaminondas refused to sign except in the name of the Boeotian confederation； Agesilaus directed the name of the Thebans to be struck out of the treaty； and proclaimed them excluded from it。
The peace concluded between Sparta； Athens； and their respective allies； was called the PEACE OF CALLIAS。 The result with regard to Thebes and Sparta will appear in the following chapter。
CHAPTER XVII。
THE SUPREMACY OF THEBES； B。C。 371…361。
In pursuance of the treaty； the Lacedaemonians withdrew their harmosts and garrisons； whilst the Athenians recalled their fleet from the Ionian sea。 Only one feeling prevailed at Spartaa desire to crush Thebes。 This city was regarded as doomed to destruction； and it was not for a moment imagined that； single… handed； she would he able to resist the might of Sparta。 At the time when the peace was concluded Cleombrotus happened to be in Phocis at the head of a Lacedaemonian army； and he now received orders to invade Boeotia without delay。 The Thebans on their side； were equally determined on resistance。 The two armies met on the memorable plain of Leuctra； near Thespiae。 The forces on each side are not accurately known； but it seems probable that the Thebans were outnumbered by the Lacedaemonians。 The military genius of Epaminondas； however； compensated any inferiority of numbers by novelty of tactics。 Up to this time Grecian battles had been uniformly conducted by a general attack in line。 Epaminondas now first adopted the manoeuvre； used with such success by Napoleon in modern times； of concentrating heavy masses on a given point of the enemy's array。 Having formed his left wing into a dense column of 50 deep； so that its depth was greater than its front； he directed it against the Lacedaemonian right； containing the best troops in their army； drawn up 12 deep； and led by Cleombrotus in person。 The shock was terrible。 Cleombrotus himself was mortally wounded in the onset； and with difficulty carried off by his comrades。 Numbers of his officers； as well as of his men； were slain； and the whole wing was broken and driven back to their camp。 The loss of the Thebans was small compared with that of the Lacedaemonians。 Out of 700 Spartans in the army of the latter； 400 had fallen； and their king also had been slain； an event which had not occurred since the fatal day of Thermopylae。
The victory of Leuctra was gained within three weeks after the exclusion of the Thebans from the peace of Callias。 The effect of it throughout Greece was electrical。 It was everywhere felt that a new military power had arisenthat the prestige of the old Spartan discipline and tactics had departed。 Yet at Sparta itself though the reverse was the greatest that her arms had ever sustained； the news of it was received with an assumption of indifference characteristic of the people。 The Ephors forbade the chorus of men； who were celebrating in the theatre the festival of the Gymnopaedia； to be interrupted。 They contented themselves with directing the names of the slain to be communicated to their relatives； and with issuing an order forbidding the women to wail and mourn。 Those whose friends had fallen appeared abroad on the morrow with joyful countenances； whilst the relatives of the survivors seemed overwhelmed with grief and shame。
Immediately after the battle the Thebans had sent to Jason of Pherae in Thessaly to solicit his aid against the Lacedaemonians。 This despot was one of the most remarkable men of the period。 He was Tagus； or Generalissimo； of all Thessaly； and Macedonia was partially dependent on him。 He was a man of boundless ambition； and meditated nothing less than extending his dominion over the whole of Greece； for which his central situation seemed to offer many facilities。 Upon receiving the invitation of the Thebans； Jason immediately resolved to join them。 When he arrived the Thebans were anxious that he should unite with them in an attack upon the Lacedaemonian camp； but Jason dissuaded them from the enterprise； advising them not to drive the Lacedaemonians to despair； and offering his mediation。 He accordingly succeeded in effecting a truce； by which the Lacedaemonians were allowed to depart from Boeotia unmolested。
According to Spartan custom； the survivors of a defeat were looked upon as degraded men； and subjected to the penalties of civil infamy。 No allowance was made for circumstances。 But those who had fled at Leuctra were three hundred in number； all attempt to enforce against them the usual penalties might prove not only inconvenient； but even dangerous； and on the proposal of Agesilaus； they were； for this occasion only； suspended。 The loss of material power which Sparta sustained by the defeat was great。 The ascendency she had hitherto enjoyed in parts north of the Corinthian gulf fell from her at once； and was divided between Jason of Pherae and the Thebans。 Jason was shortly afterwards assassinated。 His death was felt as a relief by Greece； and especially by Thebes。 He was succeeded by his two brothers； Polyphron and Polydorus； but they possessed neither his ability nor his power。
The Athenians stood aloof from the contending parties。 They had not received the news of the battle of Leuctra with any pleasure； for they now dreaded Thebes more than Sparta。 But instead of helping the latter； they endeavoured to prevent either from obtaining the supremacy in Greece； and for this purpose called upon the other states to form a new alliance upon the terms of the peace of Antalcidas。 Most of the Peloponnesian states joined this new league。 Thus even the Peloponnesian cities became independent of Sparta。 But this was not all。 Never did any state fall with greater rapidity。 She not only lost the dominion over states which she had exercised for centuries； but two new political powers sprang up in the peninsula； which threatened her own independence。
In the following year （B。C。 370） Epaminondas marched into Laconia； and threatened Sparta itself。 The city； which was wholly unfortified； was filled with confusion and alarm。 The women； who had never yet seen the face of an enemy； gave vent to their fears in wailing and lamentation。 Agesilaus； however； was undismayed； and saved the state by his vigilance and energy。 He repulsed the cavalry of Epaminondas as they advanced towards Sparta； and so vigorous were his measures of defence； that the Theban general abandoned all further attempt upon the city； and proceeded southwards as far as Helos and Gythium on the coast； the latter the port and arsenal of Sparta after laying waste with fire and sword the valley of the Eurotas； he retraced his steps to the frontiers of Arcadia。
Epaminondas now proceeded to carry out the two objects for which his march had been undertaken； namely； the consolidation of the Arcadian confederation； and the establishment of the Messenians as an independent community。 In the prosecution of the former of these designs the mutual jealousy of the various Arcadian cities rendered it necessary that a new one should be founded； which should be regarded as the capital of the confederation。 Consequently； a new city was built on the banks of the Helisson； called Megalopolis； and peopled by the inhabitants of forty distinct Arcadian townships。 Here a synod of deputies from the towns composing the confederation； called 〃The Ten Thousand〃 was to meet periodically for the despatch of business。 Epaminondas next proceeded to re…establish the Messenian state。 The Messenians had formerly lived under a dynasty of their own kings； but for the last three centuries their land had been in the possession of the Lacedaemonians； and they had been fugitives upon the face of the earth。 The restoration of these exiles； dispersed in various Hellenic colonies； to their former rights； would plant a bitterly hostile neighbour on the very borders of Laconia。 Epaminondas accordingly opened communications with them； and numbers of them flocked to his standard during his march into Peloponnesus。 He now founded the town of Messene。 Its citadel was placed on the summit of Mount Ithome； which had three centuries before been so bravely defended by the Messenians against the Spartans。 The strength of its fortifications was long afterwards a subject of admiration。 The territory attached to the new city extended southwards to the Messenian gulf； and northwards to the borders of Arcadia； comprising some of the most fertile land in Peloponnesus。
So low had Sparta sunk； that she was fain to send envoys to beg the assistance of the Athenians。 This request was acceded to； and shortly afterwards an alliance was formed between the two states； in which Sparta waived all her claims to superiority and headship。 During the next two years the Thebans continued