Battle of Oenophyta

The Battle of Oinophyta took place in 457 BC at the beginning of the First Peloponnesian War ( 457-445 BC). In it, the Athenians and the Boeotians were compared.

The First Peloponnesian War was triggered when the cities of the Central Greek landscape Doris Sparta asking for help, to defend themselves against the Phocians. The Spartan army marched on the way back through Boeotia. Athens found itself threatened by a Boeotian Spartan alliance, and marched against the Spartans. First, it came between Spartans and Athenians to the battle of Tanagra, which were won by the Spartans and then marched back home. Athens took advantage of this opportunity to regroup and just two months after the battle of Tanagra strike at Boeotia.

In Oinophyta, immediately east of Tanagra, the Athenians managed a decisive victory against Boeotia. Athens gained control not only over Boeotia, but throughout Central Greece with Locris and Doris and could subjugate his old rival Aegina next year. Sparta remained quiet; It was probably politically paralyzed by heavy losses at Tanagra.