Chapter LXXX

FROM THE DEATH OF PELOPIDAS TO THE BATTLE OF MANTINEA.

Conspiracy of the knights of Orchomenus against
Thebes—destruction of Orchomenus by the Thebans.—Repugnance
excited against the Thebans—regret and displeasure of
Epaminondas.—Return of Epaminondas from his cruise—renewed
complications in Peloponnesus.—State of Peloponnesus—Eleians and
Achæans in alliance with Sparta.—The Eleians aim at recovering
Triphylia—the Spartans, at recovering Messênê.—War between
the Eleians and Arcadians; the latter occupy Olympia.—Second
invasion of Elis by the Arcadians. Distress of the Eleians.
Archidamus and the Spartans invade Arcadia.—Archidamus
establishes a Spartan garrison at Kromnus. The Arcadians gain
advantages over him—armistice.—The Arcadians blockade Kromnus,
and capture the Spartan garrison.—The Arcadians celebrate
the Olympic festival along with the Pisatans—excluding the
Eleians.—The Eleians invade the festival by arms—conflict
on the plain of Olympia—bravery of the Eleians.—Feelings of
the spectators at Olympia.—The Arcadians take the treasures
of Olympia to pay their militia.—Violent dissensions arising
among the members of the Arcadian communion, in consequence
of this appropriation. The Arcadian assembly pronounces
against it.—Farther dissensions in Arcadia—invitation sent to
the Thebans—peace concluded with Elis.—The peace generally
popular—celebrated at Tegea—seizure of many oligarchical
members at Tegea by the Theban harmost.—Conduct of the Theban
harmost.—View taken by Epaminondas.—His view is more consistent
with the facts recounted by Xenophon, than the view of Xenophon
himself.—Policy of Epaminondas and the Thebans.—Epaminondas
marches with a Theban army into Peloponnesus, to muster at
Tegea.—Agesilaus and the Spartans are sent for.—Night-march of
Epaminondas to surprise Sparta. Agesilaus is informed in time
to prevent surprise.—Epaminondas comes up to Sparta, but finds
it defended.—He marches back to Tegea—despatches his cavalry
from thence to surprise Mantinea.—The surprise is baffled,
by the accidental arrival of the Athenian cavalry—battle
of cavalry near Mantinea, in which the Athenians have the
advantage.—Epaminondas resolves to attack the enemy near
Mantinea.—View of Xenophon—that this resolution was forced upon
him by despair—examined.—Alacrity of the army of Epaminondas,
when the order for fighting is given.—Mantinico-Tegeatic
plain—position of the Lacedæmonians and Mantineans.—March of
Epaminondas from Tegea.—False impression produced upon the
enemy by his manœuvres.—Theban order of battle—plans of the
commander.—Disposition of the cavalry on both sides.—Unprepared
state of the Lacedæmonian army.—Battle of Mantinea—complete
success of the dispositions of Epaminondas.—Victory of the
Thebans—Epaminondas is mortally wounded.—Extreme discouragement
caused by his death among the troops, even when in full victory
and pursuit.—Victory claimed by both sides—nevertheless the
Lacedæmonians are obliged to solicit the burial-truce.—Dying
moments of Epaminondas.—The two other best Theban officers
are slain also in the battle.—Who slew Epaminondas? Different
persons honored for it.—Peace concluded—_statu quo_ recognized,
including the independence of Messênê—Sparta alone stands
out—the Thebans return home.—Results of the battle of Mantinea,
as appreciated by Xenophon—unfair to the Thebans.—Character of
Epaminondas.—Disputes among the inhabitants of Megalopolis. The
Thebans send thither a force under Pammenes, which maintains the
incorporation.—Agesilaus and Archidamus.—State of Persia—revolted
satraps and provinces—Datames.—Formidable revolt of the satraps
in Asia Minor—it is suppressed by the Persian court, through
treachery.—Agesilaus goes as commander to Egypt—Chabrias is
there also.—Death and character of Agesilaus.—State of Egypt
and Persia.—Death of Artaxerxes Mnemon. Murders in the royal
family.—Athenian maritime operations—Timotheus makes war
against Amphipolis and against Kotys.—Ergophilus succeeds
Timotheus at the Chersonese—Kallisthenes succeeds him against
Amphipolis—war at sea against Alexander of Pheræ.—Ergophilus
and Kallisthenes both unsuccessful—both tried.—Autokles in the
Hellespont and Bosphorus—convoy for the corn-ships out of the
Euxine.—Miltokythes revolts from Kotys in Thrace—ill-success of
the Athenians.—Menon—Timomachus—as commanders in the Chersonese.
The Athenians lose Sestos.—Kephisodotus in the Chersonese.
Charidemus crosses thither from Abydos.—Assassination of
Kotys.—Kersobleptes succeeds Kotys. Berisades and Amadokus, his
rivals—ill-success of Athens—Kephisodotus.—Improved prospects of
Athens in the Chersonese—Athenodorus—Charidemus.—Charidemus is
forced to accept the convention of Athenodorus—his evasions—the
Chersonese with Sestos is restored to Athens.—The transmarine
empire of Athens now at its maximum. Mischievous effects of her
conquests made against Olynthus.—Maximum of second Athenian
empire—accession of Philip of Macedon. 311-383