Читать книгу Art of War - Sun-tzu - Страница 14

Nine years after Leuctra, Thebes and Sparta again met in battle far more important in point of numbers engaged and in its results. Leuctra is memorable as the first battle fought on the new tactical ideas introduced by Epaminondas; Mantinea as the last he ever fought, and the end of Theban supremacy.

About four miles south of Mantinea the mountains east and west seem to send out a long spur, forming a ridge across the plain, through which, about the middle, was a depression, and through this depression ran the road from Tegea to Mantinea. Along this ridge, facing south, was formed the army of Sparta and her allies, old King Agesilaus of Sparta being himself present. The entire force numbered probably about 22,000 men, of whom 2,000 were cavalry.

And now Epaminondas (who had been resting his men within the walls of Tegea after the rapid march required in the attempted surprise of Sparta and Mantinea) determined upon a pitched battle with his antagonists. Both armies were filled with long tried and hardy soldiers; both were confident of success, and eager for the coming battle.

Epaminondas marched squarely up the road towards the centre of the enemy’s position. He was aiming so as to march between the right flank of the Spartans and the mountains to the west. Here he halted his men, closed their ranks, and then, deliberately facing them to their right, toward the east that is, he commanded “ground arms;” and the wondering army of Lacedaemon came to the conclusion that Thebes did not mean to fight that day. At the same instant the signal “Take arms!” rang along the Theban line, and the ready soldiers seized shield and spear, awaiting the signal to advance.

And now, in haste and confusion, the allies of the Peloponnesus run to their places in ranks. In three minutes the Peloponnesian horsemen are tumbled over the plain or sent scattering off to the rear. Meanwhile the infantry has formed its lines, eight deep, and yet the men have barely got their places before the phalanx is upon them. The shock is irresistible. In vain Spartans and Mantineans throw themselves upon the wall of shields. Then the Theban cavalry falls upon the flank of the Mantineans, and at last, as the head of the phalanx bursts through the opposing masses, the Spartans had to turn, had to run. In consternation at the utter rout of Sparta they too fall back before triumphant foemen, and the whole army of the Peloponnesus is in full retreat.

But at what cost? Pressing forward in the ardor of pursuit, after killing a Spartan officer in hand-to-hand conflict, Epaminondas receives a thrusting spear full in the breast, and is brought to earth.

Epaminondas felt that his wound was mortal. Then he called for the two officers whom he most trusted, and to one of whom he probably intended to delegate the command. Both had been killed in the charge. “Then you must make peace with the enemy,” said he, for there was now no-one left who was competent to command. Then he directed the spear-head to be withdrawn, and with it the life went out of the greatest soldier Greece had yet known. With it the power of Thebes departed. Peace was signed on the basis of an independence of the separate states, and the era of Epaminondas was over.

(adapted from: Famous and decisive battles of the world by C. King)

Eurytos-Krater, c. 600 BCE.

Corinthian black-figure vase, 46 × 28.2 × 46.5 cm.

Musée du Louvre, Paris.

Alexander at the Battle of Issus, detail from the Alexander Sarcophagus, late 4th century BCE.

Marble, 195 × 318 × 167 cm.

Istanbul Archeology Museum, Istanbul.