Battle of Mantinea (418 BC) facts for kids

The first Battle of Mantinea was a major fight during the Peloponnesian War. It happened in 418 BC. In this battle, the powerful city of Sparta and its allies won against an army made up of soldiers from Argos, Athens, Mantinea, and other cities.

Why the Battle Happened

Peace Breaks Down

In 421 BC, after ten years of fighting, Athens and Sparta made a peace treaty. It was called the Peace of Nicias. But this peace did not last very long.

New Alliances Form

A few years later, some cities in the Peloponnese (a large peninsula in Greece) formed an alliance. These cities were democracies, meaning their citizens had a say in how they were governed. This new group challenged Sparta's control over the region.

Sparta's Troubles

Sparta faced some setbacks. They were even defeated in the Olympic Games of 420 BC. When Athens and its allies attacked the city of Epidaurus, Sparta decided to fight back. They worried that Corinth, another important city, might join the Athenian side.

King Agis's Actions

The Spartan king, Agis, gathered a huge army. The historian Thucydides said it was "the best army ever assembled in Greece." But Agis made a truce (a temporary peace) without telling his army or allies. This made the Spartans very angry.

Agis Under Pressure

Soon after, the Argives (people from Argos) broke the truce. They captured the town of Orchomenus. The Spartans blamed Agis for this. To avoid a huge fine and losing his home, Agis promised to win a victory. Spartan officials called ephors then assigned ten symbouloi (advisers) to watch Agis. He needed their approval for any military plan.

Getting Ready for Battle

Marching to Tegea

Late in 418 BC, the Argives and their allies marched towards Tegea. Some people in Tegea wanted to switch sides and join the Argive alliance. Tegea was a very important city. It controlled the way out of Laconia, Sparta's home region. If enemies controlled Tegea, Sparta's army would be trapped. This could mean the end of Sparta's main alliance.

Sparta Gathers Forces

King Agis led the entire Spartan army to Tegea. This included neodamodes, who were newly freed slaves fighting for Sparta. Allies from Arcadia joined them there. Agis also asked for help from northern allies like Corinth and Boeotia. However, these northern armies could not arrive in time. They were not expecting the call and had to travel through enemy lands. Sparta and its allies had about 9,000 hoplites (heavily armed foot soldiers).

A Risky Move

Meanwhile, the Eleans (another allied group) wanted to attack a town called Lepreum. They pulled their 3,000 hoplites out of Agis's army to go there. Agis sent some of his youngest and oldest soldiers home to guard Sparta. But he soon called them back, realizing the Eleans would return. They did not make it back in time for the battle.

Forcing a Fight

Agis could have waited safely inside Tegea's walls for his northern allies. But he was already in trouble with his people. He could not show any fear of battle. So, he marched his army into the area around Mantinea, about 15 kilometers north of Tegea. Mantinea was part of the Argive alliance. Agis hoped to force a big battle there.

A Clever Trick

The Argive army was in a strong position on "steep and hard to get at" ground. They would not come out to fight. Agis was desperate for a win. He tried to flood the Mantinean land by changing the course of a river. This would force the Argives to move.

Surprise Attack

The Argive army moved faster than Sparta expected. The Argive hoplites were angry at their generals for not attacking the Spartans earlier. They accused their leaders of treason. As the Spartans came out of a nearby wood, the Argives surprised them by lining up for battle.

Spartan Lines

The Spartans quickly got into formation. They did not have time to wait for all their allies. The veterans who had fought with Brasidas (a famous Spartan general) and the Sciritae (special Spartan soldiers) formed the left side. The Spartans, Arcadians, and Heraeans were in the middle. The Tegeans, fighting for their home, were on the right side.

Argive Lines

The Argive army had the Mantineans on their right. The Argives themselves were in the center. The Athenians formed the left side of their battle line.

Who Fought?

Estimates of Soldiers

Thucydides, a historian from that time, did not know the exact number of soldiers. He thought Sparta had about 9,000 men. The Argive side had slightly fewer, around 8,000 soldiers. Other historians suggest slightly higher numbers.

Spartan Forces

The Spartan army of about 9,000 men included:

• Around 3,600 Spartans (Thucydides mentioned six Spartan military units called morea).
• About 2,000 veterans who had fought with Brasidas and newly recruited Neodamodes.
• 600 Sciritae.
• 3,000 Arcadians, including 1,500 from Tegea.

Argive Alliance Forces

The Argive alliance army had:

• 4,000 to 5,000 Argives.
• 2,000 to 3,000 Arcadians (from Mantinea, Cleonae, and Orneae).
• 1,000 Athenian hoplites.
• 300 Athenian horsemen (cavalry).

The Battle Begins

Lines Shift

As the battle started, both armies' right sides began to move around the other side's left. This happened because each hoplite tried to use the shield of the soldier next to him for protection. This caused the lines to shift.

Agis's Orders

King Agis tried to make his line stronger. He told the Sciritae and his left wing to spread out. This would make their line as long as the Argive line. To fill the empty space this created, he ordered two captains, Hipponoidas and Aristocles, to move their companies from the center.

Orders Disobeyed

However, these two captains could not, or would not, complete these movements quickly. Some historians think Agis's plan was bad. They believe the captains were right to disobey, as it might have saved the Spartans from losing. Others think the original plan could have worked.

A Gap Appears

Because of the confusion, a gap opened in the Spartan line. The Mantineans and the elite Argive Thousand (a special unit) rushed into this gap. They defeated the Brasideans and the Sciritae, chasing them far from the main battle.

Spartan Victory in the Center

Meanwhile, the Tegeans and the main Spartan army attacked the Argives and Arcadians in the center. Most of them did not stand and fight. They ran away as the Spartans got close. Some were even trampled as they tried to escape.

Athenians Retreat

While the Argive and Arcadian center was being chased away, the Athenians on the left side were getting surrounded. Luckily, their cavalry (horsemen) prevented a complete defeat. This allowed the Athenian foot soldiers to retreat in an orderly way.

Agis Turns the Tide

Agis did not chase the Athenians. Instead, he turned his victorious center and right wings around. He marched to help his left wing, which was struggling. The Mantineans were then chased away with heavy losses. The Spartans allowed the Argive Thousand to escape without much harm. The Spartans did not chase their enemies for long after winning the battle.

Aftermath

Casualties

The Argive side lost about 1,100 men. This included 700 Argives and Arcadians, 200 Athenians, and 200 Mantineans. The Spartans lost about 300 men.

New Agreements

After the battle, the Spartans sent a message to Argos. The Argives agreed to a truce. They gave up Orchomenus and all their hostages. They also joined Sparta in forcing the Athenians out of Epidaurus. The Argives ended their alliances with Elis and Athens.

Political Changes

In Argos, the Argive Thousand (the elite unit) took control of the government. They overthrew the democratic rule. The people who supported democracy were discouraged because their army and the Athenians had performed poorly in the battle.

Sparta's Reputation

Overall, the Battle of Mantinea greatly improved Sparta's confidence and reputation. After a previous defeat at Pylos, many thought the Spartans were cowardly and bad at fighting. Their success at Mantinea showed that they were still a powerful force.