And another review......

 

Nic Fields' Leûktra 371 BCE: Sparta’s Twilight presents a compelling and meticulously researched analysis of one of antiquity's most significant battles. Published by Helion & Company as part of their new From Alexander to Adrianopleseries, this work examines the events leading up to, during, and following the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BCE, where Theban forces under Epaminondas delivered a decisive defeat to Spartan supremacy.

 

Dr. Fields expertly places the battle within the wider geopolitical context of the era. He explains how Sparta, having triumphed in the Peloponnesian War, had established a seemingly unassailable dominance over Greece. However, internal challenges and external pressures paved the way for Thebes to emerge as a significant power.

 

A particularly important feature of the book is Fields' examination of Epaminondas' innovative tactics. The arrangement of the Theban phalanx, which was notably organised fifty shields deep and led by the elite Sacred Band, exemplified a groundbreaking approach to hoplite warfare. Fields explains how this formation, combined with the oblique order of attack, not only secured victory at Leuctra but also significantly influenced subsequent military strategies, particularly those of Philip II of Macedon and his son, Alexander the Great.

 

The narrative is clear, making military manoeuvres easy to understand. Fields' writing is both engaging and informative, highlighting the battle's importance.

 

The book contains a good number of black and white photographs, several maps (the one depicting the deployment of all the various elements of both armies is especially interesting) and four stunning full page colour illustrations by Renato Delmaso, commissioned especially for this book.  There are five appendices, covering subjects such as the Greek Language, literary evidence for the Spartan army, and my two favourites, Spartan hairstyles and the influence of wine on society and the battlefield. 

 

In my view Leûktra 371 BCE: Sparta’s Twilight is a major addition to ancient military history. Nic Fields has presented a comprehensive look at a battle that reshaped the Greek world, emphasising the fleeting nature of power and the lasting impact of tactical innovation.

 

ISBN: 978-1-804517-69-7     Paperback, 164 pages