Battle of Oenophyta facts for kids

The Battle of Oenophyta was an important fight between the ancient Greek city of Athens and several Boeotian city-states. It happened in 457 BC during a bigger conflict called the First Peloponnesian War. This battle was a big win for Athens.

What Was Happening in Ancient Greece?

In ancient Greece, many cities were independent, like small countries. These were called city-states. They often formed groups, or "leagues," to help each other. After the Persian Wars, two big groups emerged. One was the Delian League, led by Athens. The other was the Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta.

These groups sometimes had conflicts, even though there wasn't always a long war. In 457 BC, Athens had a disagreement with Corinth, which was a friend of Sparta. This led to fighting.

The Battle Before Oenophyta

Just 62 days before the Battle of Oenophyta, the Athenians fought a tough battle at Tanagra. They were defeated by Sparta. However, Sparta lost many soldiers too. This meant Sparta couldn't really use their victory to gain more power.

The Athenians had a large army of about 14,000 soldiers at Tanagra. Even though they lost, they quickly got their forces back together. They then marched into a region called Boeotia.

The Battle of Oenophyta

The Athenians, led by a general named Myronides, met the Boeotian forces at a place called Oenophyta. The Athenians fought bravely and managed to defeat the Boeotians. This was a major victory for Athens.

After winning at Oenophyta, the Athenians didn't stop there. They went on to destroy the walls of Tanagra, the city where they had lost earlier. They also attacked and damaged areas in Locrida and Phocis.

What Happened After the Victory?

The Athenian victory at Oenophyta had big consequences. Soon after, the island of Aegina surrendered to Athens. This was a significant gain for the Athenians.

Athens also finished building their Long Walls. These were huge walls that connected Athens to its port, Piraeus. These walls made Athens much safer from attacks by land. Sparta was not happy about these walls being built.

Athens controlled the region of Boeotia for about ten years after this battle. Their control lasted until 447 BC, when they were defeated at the Battle of Coronea.