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The Battle of Tanagra took place in 457 between Athens and Sparta
during the First
Peloponnesian War
Opponents: Athens versus Sparta
Commanders and leaders:
Athens - Myronides
Sparta - Nicomedes
Strength:
Athens 14,000
Sparta 11,500
Casualties and losses - Unknown
Background:
Although it had won a hegemony over the Greek city-states from its leadership
in the Persian Wars, the Spartan-led Peloponnesian League feared the growing
power of the Athenian empire and worsened relations by repeated diplomatic
affronts and demands. Wanting to deny any future Persian invasion a base from
which to operate, Sparta had urged Athens, along with other Greek cities, to
refrain from rebuilding their walls. However, suspecting a Spartan ploy and
having already begun the work of construction, Athens employed subterfuge to
delay the wheels of diplomacy until she could finish them. In 464 BC, suffering
another Helot rebellion and failing to make progress in the siege against their
stronghold Ithome, Sparta had asked for Athens' aid along with its other
allies. But after a "considerable force" arrived from Athens under
the command of Cimon, Sparta, fearing the "unorthodox" politics of
Athens and the possibility of her supporting the enslaved Helots rather than
fighting them, sent the Athenian contingent home while keeping on the rest of
her allies. Deeply offended by these Spartan interferences and insults, Athens
was increasingly willing to support discord within the Peloponnesian League and
took Megara into its protection during its border dispute with the
Spartan-allied Corinth, leading to open war with Corinth but not Sparta
herself.
The battle:
The battle When the Phocians made war on the cities of Doris—the
traditional homeland of Doric Greeks—the Doric Sparta sent a relief force
under the command of Nicomedes, son of Cleombrotus, acting as regent for his
under-age nephew, King Pleistoanax. An army of 1,500 Spartan hoplites with
10,000 of their allies entered Boeotia and compelled the submission of Phocis.
Athens, already contemptuous of Spartan treatment and now suspecting her of
negotiating with factions within the city to undermine democracy and prevent
the construction of the Long Walls, maneuvered to cut off the Spartan army
isolated in Boeotia. Facing either transport through waters controlled by the
Athenian navy or a difficult march through the Geraneia mountain passes held by
Athenian soldiers supported from Megara, the Spartans decided to wait either
for the opening of a safe route home or an outright Athenian assault. Meeting
the Spartans at Tanagra, Athens fielded "their whole army, supported by
1,000 troops from Argos and by contingents from their other allies, making up
altogether a force of 14,000 men." Although both sides sustained
"great losses," the Spartans were victorious and now able to return
home through the mountain passes of the Isthmus. The Athenian politician and
general Cimon, who had been exiled from Athens 3 years prior, came to the
Athenian camp to offer to fight but was sent away.
Aftermath:
Two months later, the Athenians regrouped and defeated Thebes at the Battle of
Oenophyta and
took control of Boeotia, taking down the wall the Spartans had built. With the
victory the Athenians also occupied Phocis, the original source of the conflict
and the Opuntian Locris.
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