Battle of Leuctra, July 371 BC

The Battle of Leuctra began with the Spartan peltasts (light infantry armed with stylingues and darts) attacking the Boeotian camp where they rejected troops who were reluctant to fight, thus bringing them to the Theban Army, reinforcing their numbers for the battle sequence. Considering the historical tactic adopted by Epaminondas, it is understood that hardly Cleombrotus or one of his strategos would have anticipated a device that opposed the Theban, for example, also by massaging his right wing. But, thinking that two tactical variations on the spot might be possible, in view of the opposing deployment, the following simulation will explore what would have been the result if three major Spartan forces in battle, the right wing hoplites, the peltasts, and the cavalry had their tactical missions change.