Pelopidas

Pelopidas (c. 410 BC in the Greek Thebes; † 364 BC at Cynoscephalae ) was a Theban general and statesman. Together with Epaminondas He laid the foundation stone for the supremacy of Thebes in Greece.

382 BC, he was driven away by the support of Sparta oligarchs of Thebes and had to flee to Athens. From there, however, he was able to return 379 BC to Thebes and reconquer the Kadmeia by the Spartans.

371 BC, he refused to make peace with Sparta. As a result, Sparta sent an army with about 7,000 hoplites and 300 horsemen. The Theban army had about 7,000 to 8,000 hoplites and 1,000 horsemen. Through the Theban general Epaminondas developed by the oblique order, however, succeeded in Thebes to beat the Spartans at the Battle of Leuctra. Cited by Pelopidas Sacred Band played a big part in this victory.

To 368 BC Pelopidas but fell during the campaign of the Thebans against the Thessalian tyrant Alexander of Pherae in captivity. He could be freed of Epaminondas in the following year. 367/366 BC, he went as an envoy to the court of the Persian king, by which he attained the recognition of Thebes as the new order of power in Greece. His attempts similar to Sparta 20 years ago in the King's Peace, enforce a guaranteed of Persia general peace of all Greek cities under Theban hegemony, but failed.

364 BC defeated Pelopidas Alexander of Pherae in the Battle of the Cynoscephalae in Thessaly. Pelopidas himself was killed in this battle.