Units of History - The Sacred Band of Thebes DOCUMENTARY

In this ancient history documentary we take a closer look at one of the most famous units of history, the Sacred Band of Thebes. The video begins with an over view of the the history of Thebes. We cover its mythology, founding in the bronze age, and rise to power over the course of the Greco Persian wars, the Peloponnesian war, and the ensuing wars in greek history.

The Sacred Band actually only exists for a brief period of 40 years around the height of Theban power. It was formed in response to Spartan aggression following the restoration of the Theban democracy. The unit was supposedly composed of paired male lovers according to Plutarch. They were garrisoned on the acropolis of Thebes and became a jack of all trades for their polis, capable of serving as not just front line troops but also fire fighters and strategic strike forces.

The history documentary then covers their military training, equipment, and service history. This includes a discussion of the battle of Tegyra where they defeated a superior Spartan force and the famous battle of Leuctra where the Sacred Band of Thebes helped defeat a spartan army. Finally we conclude with the battle of Chaeronea where the Sacred Band faces its match in the invading Macedonian Army of Philip II of Macedon and his son, Alexander the Great.

Stay tuned for more episodes in our Units of History series!

Credits:
Research: Roel Konijnendijk
Writing: Roel Konijnendijk
Narration: Guy Michaels
Artwork: Penata Limited
Editing: Penta Limited

#History
#Documentary
#SacredBand

[pipikaka]

I’m living in Thebes and it’s a nice little city. In the past, it was a powerful city-state indeed, bringing fear to its enemies. Now the only thing bringing fear to the hearts of the people is the search for car parking space in the city center.

[deuratusanimatedhistory]

Historical fact:
None of the sources dealing with the battle of Chaeronea mentions the cavalry charge led by Alexander which have destroyed the sacred band of Thebes (the sources are: Diodorus Siculus, Plutarch, Justin, Polyaenus, Frontinus). This theory (about cavalry charge) was developed by historan N.G.L. Hammond in 1930s (since Diodorus Siculus attests that Philip had 2000 cavalry at his disposal, it seemed reasonable to assume he used them in the battle). This theory was later expanded by historian Minor M Markle. But in "The annihilation of the sacred band at Chaeronea" from 1981 historian Paul A Rhae objected this theory pointing out that the ancient sources actually suggests otherwise (that Alexander did not lead cavalry charge): that Diodorus Siculus describes the battle of Chaeronea as long, hard fought infantry clash; and that Plutarch reports that after the battle members of sacred band lied dead among sarissa (long pike used by phalanx) which they have faced in the battle.
And recently there has been a discovery of a strategem found in Sylloge Tacticorum describing a battle which was identified as one of two battles preceeding battle of Chaeronea. It describes how Philip lost significant amount of horsemen in the engagement with Thebans. This new evidence prompted historian Jacek Rzepka to imploy a new reconstruction of the the battle of Chaeronea in his paper "The First Battles of Chaeronea Campaign 339/8 BC" from 2018, where he supports Paul A Rhae reconstruction. Jacek Rzepka suggests that since Diodorus Siculus omits two early battles (winter/spring 338 BC) fought shortly before battle of Chaeronea in which Greeks were victorious (mentioned by Demosthenes: "On the Crown"), the numbers of troops (2000 cavalry) refers to Philip's army strength at the beginning of the campaing and not in the actual battle of Chaeronea. Taking under the account significant losses of macedonian horsemen in the battle preceeding Chaeronea (described in recently discovered strategem in Sylloge Tacticorum) Jacek Rzepka suggests that cavalry in fact had played little or no role in the battle of Chaeronea.

The prevailing reconstruction in academic world nowadays (as Jacek Rzepka says himself) is: that Alexander led infantry and not cavalry in the battle of Chaeronea. But the cavalry charge theory will still remain the most known in popular history, since it cannot be erased from all the books already released.

[Jazmillenium]

Fun fact: The Battle of Leuctra was the first time Sparta lost a king in battle since Leonidas and his 300 Spartans at Thermopylae

[Woodsy]

It took one of the greatest military minds of all time to take these badasses down. Truly legendary

[apostolispouliakis]

Philip didn't cry just because they fought bravely growing up he was a captive in Thebes where he learnt military strategy and many of these people were his friends

[CollinBuckman]

Philip of Macedon was actually raised and educated in Thebes, so he knew the reputation of the Sacred Band well, he might've even met some of the men who died at Chaeronea while he was there.

[napoleonibonaparte]

“We are fallen into enemy hands”
Pelopidas: “And why not they into ours?”

*<Romance intensifies>*

[spinakker]

Everybody is obsessed with the Spartans, but up to this point I haven't even heard about this unit. They are truly legendary

[Orgruul]

the Sacred Band of Thebes; bashing shields and butts since 371 BC

[napoleonbonaparte]

Dear Invicta, making this particular video opens up an amazing follow up video opportunity. The commander of the battle of Leutra, Epaminondas has been criminally unrepresented in modern sources. This man not only defeated the Spartans in this battle with his military genius. But then he INVADED Sparta itself for the first time in 600 years. According to Plutarch, this is the first time it's women had seen the smoke of the enemies fires, and signalled the end of Spartan dominance. Infact, although Sparta weathered this defeat, they never again reclaimed there dominance, this is largely impart again to the strategic brilliance of Epaminondas, who not only invaded Sparta but freed and secured the freedom of the helots in Messina, Spartas economic breadbasket. Instead of leaving after raiding and looting, Epaminondas stayed and built a fortified city in Messina to ensure the newly freed helots would be protected. In summary not only did Epaminondas defeat Sparta in battle as this video shows, but then he not only invaded Sparta itself but dismantled their economic power and systemically crippled the Spartans. If anyone has ever deserved praise it is the man who did this to the legendary Sparta. The story of this man is beyond the scope of this post. But not only was he a genius, he was a philosopher, Pythagorean, intellectually and morally sound, and a man worthy of praise. The tragedy is if you YouTube him there's almost no content on him or his achievements. Please read some of Plutarch's accounts, and general history about Epaminondas and make a follow up video. He really does truly deserve it.

[Jinisinsane]

Im surprised netflix hasnt made a series out of greeco brokeback mountain.

[Armorius]

The name Sacred Band :(Ιερός Λόχος) has been used by other Greek Formations. Such as the the Sacred Band which was a picked body of university students that participated in the Revolutionary War of Independence of 1821. The Cretan Sacred Band that participated in the Cretan Uprising of 1866-1869. The Cretan Students Sacred Band that fought in Epirus, Northern Greece, during the Balkan Wars. The Epirote Sacred Band that fought against the Kingdom of Albania and Central Powers forces at World War I. Finally the most famous after the Thebans, the Sacred Band which was established by exiled forces in Egypt, during World War II it aided in the Resistance and Liberation of modern Greece.

[selinuse]

When Sacred Band of Thebes beat the Spartans they had the advantage of understanding enemy tactics and being somewhat unknown, they where finally defeated with the same situation happened to them. Extraordinary history, thank you.

[Mrkabrat]

"First ones in and last ones out...in a fight" had the pause been a bit longer...

[owo]

Theban: Nothing is manlier then two man
Spartans: That’s gay....
Theban: It is gay, everyone is gay.

[bryanthardin]

Spartan general marching on thebes when he hears it's raining men and macho man being played on a pan flute- "zeus save us!"

[exudeku]

"Its not gay if you're the top"
-Romans and Greeks

[MithridatesOfficial]

This is crazy.. was literally the other day thinking, “I wish someone would do a video on The Sacred Band of Thebes..” sure enough 😁👍

[Alexander-tuiv]

They really took the concept of the battle buddy to staggering new heights

[-andyk-]

The part at the end about Phillip weeping at the sight of the bodies of the Sacred Band piled up is amazing. What a time to have lived.