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enthat 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 steadily to increase their power and influence in Greece； though no great battle was fought。 In B。C。 368 Pelopidas conducted a Theban force into Thessaly and Macedonia。 In Thessaly he compelled Alexander； who； by the murder of his two brothers； had become despot of Pherae and Tagus of Thessaly； to relinquish his designs against the independence of Larissa and other Thessalian cities； and to solicit peace。 In Macedonia he formed an alliance with the regent Ptolemy： and amongst the hostages given for the observance of this treaty was the youthful Philip； son of Amyntas； afterwards the celebrated king of Macedon； who remained for some years at Thebes。
In the following year Pelopidas and Ismenias proceeded on an embassy to Persia。 Ever since the peace of Antalcidas the Great King had become the recognised mediator between the states of Greece； and his fiat seemed indispensable to stamp the claims of that city which pretended to the headship。 The recent achievements of Thebes might entitle her to aspire t