Theban Patriot and Architect of Hegemony

Inside ALEXEIN, I stumbled upon a significant oversight!

While revising the events surrounding Thebes, I had initially planned to focus on the years from 363 BC to 359 BC. However, I recently discovered that General Pelopidas actually met his end in 364 BC. This revelation prompted me to rethink my approach to this part of the narrative.

My original intention was to kick off the storyline in 363 BC, but now it makes much more sense to start in 364 BC — a pivotal moment that includes the tragic death of General Pelopidas during battle. Furthermore, in 362 BC, his esteemed partner, Epaminondas, also dies in the Battle of Mantinea. Although I had already penned that scene, I was unaware of Pelopidas's earlier demise, which adds another layer of complexity to the events I am portraying.

With this new timeline in mind, I feel inspired to delve deeper into the narrative. I’ll incorporate a more extensive exploration of The Sacred Band of Thebes, a distinguished military unit that played a crucial role in the history of Thebes. By enriching this part of the narrative, I aim to provide more context and depth to the characters and their relationships, ultimately making the story even more compelling.

Though initially hesitant to go further back in history, I now see that expanding the timeline is essential for a fuller understanding of the events that shaped this period. It’s an exciting opportunity that I’m eager to embrace!

Theban Patriot and Architect of Hegemony

Pelopidas (died 364 BC) was a key Theban statesman and general whose efforts were critical in establishing Theban hegemony in mid-4th century BC Greece. His life was characterized by personal virtue along with notable military and political accomplishments.

Born into a prominent and affluent Theban family, Pelopidas chose to live a life of modesty, dedicating his resources to public service and the welfare of his friends. He adopted a rigorous athletic lifestyle, showing a commitment to physical fitness that would later prove advantageous in his military endeavors. This choice to live simply, despite his family’s wealth, became a defining aspect of his character. Plutarch, in his *Life of Pelopidas*, recounts how Pelopidas consistently prioritized the needs of the less fortunate, even to his own detriment. When friends advised him to manage his finances more prudently for his family's sake, he pointed to a blind and crippled beggar named Nicodemus, asserting that money was truly "necessary for Nicodemus," underscoring his strong sense of social responsibility.

Pelopidas began his military career in 384 BC by serving in a Theban contingent backing Sparta during the Siege of Mantinea. A pivotal moment occurred when he was severely wounded in battle against the Arcadians, suffering seven wounds before collapsing amid piles of dead and dying soldiers, both friends and foes. Epaminondas, witnessing this, assumed his friend was dead but courageously stood his ground, single-handedly defending Pelopidas's body against numerous attackers, determined to die rather than abandon him. While Epaminondas sustained injuries during this heroic act, the timely arrival of the Spartan king Agesipolis saved both men. Plutarch highlights that this dramatic incident forged an unbreakable bond between Pelopidas and Epaminondas, marking the beginning of a formidable political partnership that would last for two decades.

In 382 BC, Sparta seized the Theban citadel, the Cadmea, and established an oligarchic government in Thebes as part of their larger quest for dominance. Consequently, Pelopidas was forced into exile in Athens, where he emerged as a leading figure in the movement aimed at liberating his city. Despite Sparta's system of kingship, they consistently imposed oligarchies in conquered city-states. In 379 BC, Pelopidas orchestrated a bold surprise revolt, leading a democratic faction back into Thebes. They assassinated numerous pro-Spartan Theban aristocrats, effectively dismantling the Spartan-supported regime. With the Spartan garrison facing a mounting popular uprising and an army gathered by Pelopidas, they had no choice but to surrender, thus restoring Theban independence.

After the liberation, Pelopidas was elected Boeotarch, a chief magistrate and military leader, a role he held for twelve consecutive years and intermittently thereafter. Around 375 BC, he scored a significant military victory at the Battle of Tegyra, near Orchomenus, where he defeated a much larger Spartan force. This victory can largely be credited to the valor of the Sacred Band, an elite Theban unit of 300 select soldiers. At the decisive Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC, Pelopidas again played a crucial role, contributing to Epaminondas’s innovative tactical victory by swiftly deploying the Sacred Band against the Spartans. Epaminondas’s use of the oblique order at Leuctra represented a groundbreaking tactical innovation. This victory marked a turning point, elevating Thebes to a position of dominance over Sparta in Greece.

In 370 BC, Pelopidas joined Epaminondas, who also served as Boeotarch, on a campaign into the Peloponnese. Together, they refounded Messene as an independent city, which was formerly a Spartan dependency. This strategic move significantly undermined Sparta's influence. Upon their return to Thebes, both generals faced unsuccessful charges of exceeding their legal terms of command. Nonetheless, both the democrats and some aristocrats recognized Pelopidas and Epaminondas as the two most capable and influential figures in Thebes, working towards a policy described by Xenophon as "continuously directed towards securing supremacy in Greece," aiming to unite the region under Theban leadership.

In 367 BC, Pelopidas undertook a diplomatic mission to the Persian king Artaxerxes II. Using the prestige gained from the victory at Leuctra, Pelopidas skillfully persuaded the Persian king to facilitate a settlement of Greek affairs favorable to Theban interests, notably ensuring the continued independence of Messene.

In the first volume of ALEXEIN, titled "The Sacred Band," the narrative delves into the pivotal roles of the Theban generals Pelopidas and Epaminondas. These two influential figures are crucial not only in their own right but also in relation to Philip II, the young prince of Macedon, who would later ascend to the throne as King Philip II. His reign marked a transformative period in Greek history.

Philip II was instrumental in uniting the fragmented Greek city-states under Macedonian dominance. His strategic military reforms, diplomatic acumen, and ambitious vision set the stage for a new era of power and unity. As King, he reshaped the political landscape, laying the groundwork that would eventually empower his son, Alexander the Great.

The relationship between Philip and Alexander is key to understanding their combined legacy. Under Philip's guidance, Alexander received a thorough education in both military tactics and leadership, which would later catapult him to greatness. Together, they would forge a path that not only united Greece but also expanded its influence across vast territories.

Through the lens of this historical interplay, "The Sacred Band" emphasizes how the collaboration between these iconic leaders and their respective contributions set the tone for one of the greatest empires in history. Their actions not only altered the fate of Greece but also resonated through the ages, influencing generations to come.

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