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The Battle of Thebes was a battle that took place between Alexander
the Great and the Greek city-state of Thebes in 335 immediately outside of and
in the city proper in Boeotia. After being made hegemon of the League of
Corinth, Alexander had marched to the north to deal with revolts in Illyria and
Thrace, which forced him to draw heavily from the troops in Macedonia that were
maintaining pressure on the Greek city-states of the south to keep them in
subjection. Although Alexander did not desire to destroy Thebes, after sending
several embassies requesting their submission on what he considered merciful
terms, he eventually decided to destroy the city as an example to others.
Opponents:
Macedon, Greek allies versus Thebes
Commanders and leaders:
Macedon - Alexander the Great
Thebes - Phoenix Prothytes
Strength:
Macedon - 30,000 foot, 3,000 cavalry
Thebes - 36,000
Casualties and losses:
Macedon - none listed
Thebes - 6,000 +30,000 captured
Background:
Thebes had been under Macedonian occupation since the Battle of
Chaeronea, which had resulted in the defeat
and deposition of Thebes as the pre-eminent city-state of Southern Greece. (I
would say central Greece).
The Thebans had reluctantly accepted this, as well as their compulsory
membership in the League of Corinth, which had been previously imposed by
Philip II of
Macedon, Alexander's father. The expedition against Persia had been long in
the works, and Alexander did not make it a secret that he planned to avenge the
attacks on Greece by Persia a century and a half before, despite the fact that
at the time his kingdom had been a Persian vassal state. It was as a result of
this planned expedition that King
Darius III started to
distribute money to the Greek city-states with the hope that they would rise
against their new hegemon. In addition to this, he had sent his most able
general Memnon of Rhodes against the Macedonian troops that were already
stationed in Ionia at this time.[3] News of Alexander had not reached the
southern Greek city-states for some time. He had been busy with the siege of
Pelium and a rumour had reached them that he had died during the course of this
siege. Demosthenes - a prominent Athenian politician - produced a man who
claimed to have been present at the siege and claimed that Alexander was dead.
Alexander had, indeed, been injured during this siege, so it was not a totally
implausible claim to make.[3] Upon learning of the alleged death of Alexander,
Theban exiles in Athens raced off to their native city in Boeotia and sought to
incite a revolt from Macedonian rule there. The Thebans received Persian
monetary aid as did Demosthenes who used it to purchase weapons and other
equipment and donated it to the Thebans. The Athenian Ecclesia signed a
defensive alliance with the Thebans clearly aimed against the Macedonians.[4]
The Cadmaea, the citadel that was situated upon a hill in Thebes, was occupied
by a Macedonian garrison, and it was this place that the Thebans sought to
attack. To this effect, they killed two Macedonian officers who had been
roaming the city, and declared their independence from Macedonia. Alexander's
march When Alexander learned of the revolt of Thebes, he was immediately
concerned about the situation. He had only secured the allegiance of the
city-states at the beginning of his reign because he had an army present with
which to bring the city-states to terms. This time, there was no such army
present in southern Greece. As a result, many cities were throwing off the
Macedonian yoke. He therefore raced south, hitting Thessaly by the seventh day
and Boeotia by end of the next week. Having marched over three hundred miles in
two weeks,[2] the Thebans were shocked to see him in such close proximity to
them, and did not believe that it was, in fact, Alexander at all, contesting
that it was Antipater.[2] He had passed through the pass of Thermopylae without
any of the city-states knowing.
Alexander's arrival and siege As Alexander arrived in Boeotia, many cities
immediately deserted the cause of Greek independence and left Thebes to stand
alone. Athens, led by Demosthenes, an inveterate opponent of Phillip, again
denounced Macedonian hegemony and voted to support Thebes, supplying weapons,
but Athens held back its forces, deciding to await events. The Spartans sent
troops as far as the Isthmus of Corinth, but they also shrank from confronting
Alexander.[1] Though abandoned, the Theban assembly met and enthusiastically
decided on war,[1] defying Alexander's throng of experienced troops at their
gates. Hesitant to destroy the city, he approached slowly and initially
encamped far from the walls, hoping to dissuade the resisters.[1][5] He offered
relatively lenient terms: the surrender of Phoenix and Prothytes, leaders of
the insurrection, with all others spared. The Thebans flung back at him the
demand that he surrender Antipater and Philotas to them.[5] The Cadmae citadel
in Thebes, housing Alexander's garrison commanded by Philotas, had fortified
itself against the Thebans in the outer city. The Thebans, in turn, had put a
series of works surrounding the citadel, in addition to pallisades around the
city. After three days preparation, Alexander divided his force in three parts.
The first attacked the palisades and the second formed a line against the
Theban infantry, with the third in reserve to reinforce gaps and press
opportune advantages.[1] For their defense, the Thebans emancipated their
slaves and faced them towards the Macedonian attack on the wall. The Theban
cavalry was placed within the palisades. The Thebans made everything ready to
fight to the last man, and put their women and children in the city temples.[1]
In the assault, the Thebans fought desperately, fearing for their homes, wives,
and children. The battle went on doubtfully for some time, but Alexander's
reserves turned the tide. Alexander noticed that the Theban guard had abandoned
one of their gates, and he seized the opportunity, sending Perdiccas' troops to
take it and penetrate into the city.[1] At this point, realizing that the walls
were lost, the Thebans retreated into the city, but Philotas's garrison broke
out of the citadel, surrounding the Thebans and ending the contest.[1]
Destruction of Thebes Alexander punished the Thebans severely for their
rebellion. As an example to the other Greek states, he ordered the execution of
all male inhabitants and the enslavement of the women and children. The city
was burnt to the ground, sparing only of the house of Pindar, out of gratitude
for Pindar's verses praising Alexander's ancestor, Alexander I of Macedon.[6]
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