EPAMINONDAS, a Theban statesman and soldier, in whose praise, both for talents and virtue, there is a remarkable concurrence of ancient writers. Nepos observes that, before Epaminondas was born, and after his death, Thebes was always in subjection to some other power: on the contrary, while he directed her councils, she was the head of Greece. His public life extends from the restoration of democracy by Pelopidas and the other exiles, n.c. 379, to the battle of Mantineia, Esc. 362. In the conspiracy by which that revolution was effected betook no part, refusing to stain his hands with the blood of his countrymen; but thenceforward he became the prime mover of the Theban state. His policy was first directed to assert the right and to secure the power to Thebes of controlling the other cities of Bosetia, several of which claimed to be independent. In this cause lie ventured to engage his country, single-handed, in war with the Spartans, who marched into Bmotia, Ao. 371, with a force superior to any which could be brought against them. The Theban generals were divided in opinion whether a battle should be risked—for to encounter the Lacodmmouians with inferior numbers was universally esteemed hopeless. Epaminondas prevailed with his colleagues to venture it, and devised on this occasion a new method of attack. Instead of joining battle along the whole line, he concentrated nu overwhelming force on one point, directing the weaker part of Ids line to keep back. The Spartan right wing being broken, and the king slain, the rest of the army found it necessary to abandon the field. This memorable battle was fought at Leuctra. The moral effect of it was much more important than the mere lose inflicted on Sparta, for it overthrew the prescriptive superiority in arms claimed by that state ever since its reformation by Lycurgus.
This brilliant success led Epaminondas to the second object of his policy—the overthrow of the supremacy of Sparta, and the substitu tion of Thebes as the leader of Greece in the democratical interest. lu this hops a Theban army, under •his command, marched into Peloponnesue early in the winter, n.e. 369, and, iu conjunction with the Eleiana, Arcadians, and Arglans, invaded and laid waste a largo part of Laconia. Numbers of the Helots took that opportunity to shake off a most oppressive slavery ; and Epaminondas struck a deadly blow at the power of Sparta, by establishing these descendants of the old Meseeuians [Anissomerses] on Mount Ithomo, in Messenia, as an independent state, and luviting their countrymen, scattered through Sicily and Italy, to return to their ancient patrimony. Numbers, after the lapse of 200 years, obeyed the call. This memo rable event is known in history as the return of the Messenians.
In B.C. 368 Epaminondas again led an army into Poloponneaus; but not fulfilling the expectations of the people, he was disgraced, aud, according to Diodorus (xv. 71), was ordered. to serve in the ranks.
In that capacity ho is said to have saved the army in Thessaly, when entangled in dangers which threatened it with destruction ; being required by the geuersl voice to assume the command. He is nut again heard of in a publie capacity till n.c. 366, when he was eeut to support the democratic interest in Acluda, and by his moderation and judgment brought that whole confederation over to the Thcbau alliance without bloodshed or banishment.
Ae the narrowness of our limits forbids us to trace the motives which led to the formation of so powerful a Theban party in Pelops's mans, so we cannot enter into the causes of its decline, except by flaying, that it soon became plain that a mere change of masters, Thebes instead of Sparta, would be of no service to the other states. Achaia first, then Ells, then Mantineia and great part of Arcadia, returned to the Lacedmmonian alliance. To check this defection Epaminondas led an army into Peloponnesus for the fourth time, B.C. 362. Joined by the Argians, Messenians, and part of the Arca dians, he entered Laconia, and endeavoured to take Sparta by surprise; but the vigilance of Agesilaus just frustrated this scheme. Epami nondas then marched against Mantineia, near which was fought the celebrated battle in which he fell. The disposition of his troops on this occasion was an improvement on that by which ha had gained the battle of Leuctra, and would have had the same decisive success, but that in the critical moment, when the Lacedsemonian line was just broken, he received a mortal wound. The Theban army was paralysed by this misfortune; nothing was done to improve a victory which might have been made certain, and this battle, on which the expecta tion of all Greece waited, led to no important result. "Each party," says Xenophon, "claimed the victory and neither gained any advan tage : indecision, trouble, and confusion, more than ever before that battle pervaded Greece." Whether Epaminondas could much longer have upheld Thebes in the rank to which he had raised her, is very doubtful : without him she fell at once to her former obscurity. His character is certainly one of the fairest recorded in Greek history. His private life was moral and refined ; his public conduct uninfluenced by personal ambition, or by personal hatred. He was a sincere lover of his country, and if, in his schemes for her advancement, he was indifferent to the injury done to other members of the Grecian family, this is a fault from which, perhaps, no Greek statesman, except Aristides, was free.
(Xenophon, Hellen. ; Plutarch, Pelopidas, Agis, dc.)