Epaminondas and Pelopidas
Epaminondas and his friend Pelopidas, of Thebes. These two would change the balance of power in Greece forever, and pave the way for the subjection by Alexander. By massing his forces on the left wing, unheard of in hoplite warfare, Epaminondas slammed into the Spartan line, broke it and the battle was over. 400 Spartan warriors were killed, a loss that seriously crippled the slave state. Sparta never had more than 10,000 soldiers and could never mass all of them due to having to control their slaves. Later he led the largest army ever raised in Greece and invaded Sparta. He freed all slaves and broke Sparta to a local power. In the winter. Returning to Thebes, he was put on trial for his life for illegally keeping his army in the field past his mandate. Acquitted. When he was not being a general, he served in the ranks. No fun at parties at all....
