The Theban Wars with Sparta, 382-362 BC
Dr. John Lewis
August 31, 2007
Basic Chronology of the Theban Wars with Sparta
(All dates BC)
(Xenophon Hellenika = Xen Hell)
(Diodorus Sikulus Histories = DS)
431-403 The Peloponnesian War: Athens defeated by Sparta
395-387 The Corinthian War: Sparta versus Greek coalitions
386 The first King’s Peace (The Peace of Antalcidas) (Xen Hell 5.1)
385 Sparta intervenes at Mantinea and Phlius
382-379 Spartan Occupation of the Cadmeia: the acropolis in Thebes
Sparta tries to destroy the Boiotian Federation
378 The Boiotian War breaks out (DS 15.25-27; Xen Hell 5.4)
DS 15.28-35: The Boiotian Alliance
The Second Athenian Sea League formed
Athens allies with Thebes, versus Sparta
Sparta, under King Agesilaos, invades Boiotia twice
Spartan General Sphodriades occupies the Peiraeus without authorization
376 Spartans under Cleombrotos march ineffectually against Thebes
Thebans defeat Spartan garrison at Orchomenos (DS 15.36-37)
Athenians defeat a Sparan fleet at Naxos
375 Second King’s Peace; Thebes is diplomatically isolated (DS 15.38-40; Xen Hell 5.2)
Spartan contingent defeated at the Battle of Tegya in Boiotia
Spartans aid Phokians in Boiotia versus Thebans
Control of the Chalcidice taken by Athens
374 Thebes razes fortifications at Plataea and Thespiae
Civil Strife in Greece (DS 15.45-47)
Corcyra: Sparta vs Athens (15.46-47)
(Athens: Timotheus, Son of Conon, tried, Xen Hell 5.2.3; Nepos Tim 4; Dem 49.9 f.)
372 King’s Peace renewed; Spartan expedition against Thebes (DS 15.50; Xen Hell 6.3)
371 Battle of Leuktra; Spartans defeated by Thebans (DS 15.51-56; Xen Hell 6.4)
Peace Conference in Athens; Agesilaos erases Thebes from the treaty (Plut Agesilaus 28.1-2)
370 Arcadian Federal League is formed; Spartan expedition to Arcadia
Civil Strife in Argos (DS 15.57-60; Xen Hell 6.5)
1st Boiotian invasion of the Peloponnesus (DS 15.64-67; Xen Hell 6.5)
Restoration of Messene (omitted by Xenophon)
369 2nd Boiotian invasion of Peloponnesus (DS 15.68-69; Xen Hell 7.1)
368 Spartans defeat the Arcadians (the “Tearless Battle”) (Xen Hell 7.1.31-32)
Founding of Megalopolis (omitted by Xenophon)
367 3rd Boiotian invasion of the Peloponnesus (DS 15.75)
366 Peace of Thebes (brokered by Persian King Artaxerxes) (DS 15.76; Xen Hell 7.4.1)
365 Civil Strife in Greece (DS 15.77)
Peace Proposals taken to the Persian King (Plutarch Pelopidas 30)
364 Thebes aids Thesally; Death of Pelopidas of Thebes against Alexander of Pherae
(Plut Pelopidas 32: anger was the cause)
363-2 4th Boiotian invasion of Peloponnesus under Epameinondas
Coalitions = Tegea and Boiotia versus Mantineia, Sparta and Athens (DS 15.82-87; Xen Hell 7.5)
Battle of Mantineia; Epameinondas killed in a Theban victory