Battles of Mantinea
The Battles of Mantinea were significant military confrontations in ancient Greece, primarily involving the city-states of Sparta, Thebes, and their respective allies. The first battle occurred in 418 BCE, when Spartan King Agis II aimed to dismantle the alliance between Mantinea and Athens. Despite early setbacks due to disobedience among his officers, Agis managed to regroup and ultimately secure a victory, quelling the immediate threat posed by his enemies.
The second battle took place in 362 BCE and was marked by the Theban general Epaminondas leading his forces against a coalition of Mantinea, Sparta, and Athens. Although Epaminondas achieved initial success by breaking the Spartan line, he was killed early in the conflict, leading to a stalemate and a brief period of peace. The final battle in 207 BCE saw Philopoemen of the Achaeans face off against Spartan Machanidas. Despite initial chaos, Philopoemen turned the tide, leading to a decisive victory and the death of Machanidas.
Overall, while each battle temporarily advanced the victor's goals, they did not result in lasting political stability, illustrating the turbulent nature of Greek city-state alliances during this period.
Battles of Mantinea
Related civilizations: Classical and Hellenistic Greece.
Date: 418, 362, 207 b.c.e.
Locale: Central Arcadia
Background
The geographical position of the large Arcadian plain dominated by Mantinea (man-TIH-nee-uh) in the north and Tegea in the south gave it strategical importance to anyone wishing to apply military pressure to Sparta, Argos, or Achaea (Akhaïa).
The battle of 418 b.c.e. began with Agis II of Sparta marching on Mantinea to crush its alliance with Athens and Argos. Agis devastated the land until his enemies confronted him. He then drew up his line, with his Spartans on his right and his allies on the left. Against him stood the Mantineans, with their own members on their right and their allies on their left. Owing to the disobedience of two officers, a gap opened in the Spartan line into which the Mantineans poured. Agis, however, routed those opposite him, defeated the enemy, and ended their threat to Sparta.
In 362 b.c.e., the Thebans and their allies under Epaminondas confronted Mantinea, Sparta, and Athens south of their earlier battle. Epaminondas led his army in an oblique march against the Spartan line, which he easily broke, but was killed early in the battle. Fighting stopped, and the battle resulted immediately in stalemate and eventually in general peace.
The conflict of 207 b.c.e. pitted Philopoemen and his Achaeans with some mercenaries against the Spartan Machanidas and his mercenaries. Machanidas made the unusual move of interspersing catapults along his line. Philopoemen attacked immediately, but in confused fighting, Machanidas repulsed his mercenaries. When he failed to pursue them, Philopoemen wheeled against the Spartans, decisively defeating them and killing Machanidas.
Consequences
Each battle temporarily furthered the victor’s political goals but was ultimately indecisive. Even the peace gained in 362 b.c.e. was short-lived.
Bibliography
Brewer, Paul. Warfare in the Ancient World. Austin, Tex.: Raintree/Steck-Vaughn, 1999.
Buckler, J. The Theban Hegemony, 371-362 b.c.e. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1980.
Hanson, Victor Davis. The Wars of the Ancient Greeks. London: Cassell, 1999.
Pritchett, W. K. Studies in Ancient Greek Topography. Vol. 2. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1969.