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red 70 cities； was chiefly organised through the exertions of Chabrias； and of Timotheus the son of Conon。 Nor were the Thebans less zealous； amongst whom the Spartan government had left a lively feeling of antipathy。 The military force was put in the best training； and the famous 〃Sacred Band〃 was now for the first time instituted。 This band was a regiment of 300 hoplites。 It was supported at the public expense and kept constantly under arms。 It was composed of young and chosen citizens of the best families； and organized in such a manner that each man had at his side a dear and intimate friend。 Its special duty was the defence of the Cadmea。
The Thebans had always been excellent soldiers； but their good fortune now gave them the greatest general that Greece had hitherto seen。 Epaminondas； who now appears conspicuously in public life； deserves the reputation not merely of a Theban but of a Grecian hero。 Sprung from a poor but ancient family； Epaminondas possessed all the best qualities of his nation without that heaviness； either of body or of mind； which characterized and deteriorated the Theban people。 By the study of philosophy and by other intellectual pursuits his mind was enlarged beyond the sphere of vulgar superstition； and emancipated from that timorous interpretation of nature which caused even some of the leading men of those days to behold a portent in the most ordinary phenomenon。 A still rarer accomplishment for a Theban was that of eloquence； which he possessed in no ordinary degree。 These intellectual qualities were matched with moral virtues worthy to consort with them。 Though eloquent； he was discreet； though poor； he was neither avaricious nor corrupt； though naturally firm and courageous； he was averse to cruelty； violence； and bloodshed； though a patriot； he was a stranger to personal ambition； and scorned the little arts by which popularity is too often courted。 Pelopidas； as we have already said； was his bosom friend。 It was natural therefore； that； when Pelopidas was named Boeotarch； Epaminondas should be prominently employed in organizing the means of war； but it was not till some years later that his military genius shone forth in its full lustre。
The Spartans were resolved to avenge the repulse they had received； and in the summer of B。C。 378 Agesilaus marched with a large army into Boeotia。 He was unable； however； to effect any thing decisive； and subsequent invasions were attended with the like result。 The Athenians created a diversion in their favour by a maritime war； and thus for two years Boeotia was free from Spartan invasion； Thebes employed this time in extending her dominion over the neighbouring cities。 One of her most important successes during this period was the victory gained by Pelopidas over a Lacedaemonian force near Tegyra； a village dependent upon Orchomenus （B。C。 375）。 Pelopidas had with him only the Sacred Band and a small body of cavalry when he fell in with the Lacedaemonians； who were nearly twice as numerous。 He did not； however； shrink from 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 th