The Battle of Leuctra 371 BCE in Greece (audio)

The Battle of Leuctra was fought in 371 BCE between the city-state of Thebes and the powerful Spartan army. The battle took place near the town of Leuctra in Boeotia, Greece.
The Spartan army, led by King Cleombrotus, was on a campaign to restore their dominance over the region. Thebes, led by the general Epaminondas, had been growing in power and sought to challenge Spartan dominance.
Epaminondas devised a new battle formation called the "oblique order" which allowed Theban troops to concentrate their strength on one side of the Spartan line while stretching the other side thin. The Thebans had around 7,000 hoplite soldiers, while the Spartans had a force of approximately 10,000.
The battle began with the Theban army launching an attack on the Spartan left wing. The Thebans were able to successfully drive back the Spartan soldiers on that side of the line, while their own right wing held off the Spartan counterattack. The Theban cavalry, under the command of Pelopidas, also played a crucial role in the battle by disrupting the Spartan line and attacking from the rear.
As the battle progressed, the Theban left wing, led by Epaminondas himself, broke through the Spartan line and began to rout the enemy. King Cleombrotus was killed in the fighting, and the Spartan army was forced to retreat in disarray.
The victory at Leuctra was a major turning point in Greek history. It marked the first time that a Greek city-state had defeated the powerful Spartan army in a pitched battle. The victory also elevated the power and prestige of Thebes, which became the dominant power in Greece for a brief period.
The oblique order formation used by the Thebans at Leuctra was revolutionary in its design and became a model for future battle tactics. The victory also inspired other Greek city-states to challenge the Spartan hegemony, leading to a period of increased military and political competition known as the "Theban Hegemony."