Why did the Spartans lose the Battle of Leuctra?

Tactical Superiority At this time Thebes was being led by Epaminondas and Pelopidas, who were the best commanders and military innovators in Greece. read more

While the Spartan army outnumbered the Thebans (~11,000 to ~6,000) the Spartan army was largely comprised of conscripted allies. By killing the Spartan elite and their king Epaminondas predicted the other phalanxes would scatter. read more

The battle's political effects were far-reaching: the losses in material strength and prestige (prestige being an inestimably important factor in the Peloponnesian War) sustained by the Spartans at Leuctra and subsequently at the Battle of Mantinea were key in depriving them forever of their supremacy in Greece. read more

The Theban cavalry was initially used to drive off the Spartan's mercenary peltasts (javelin skirmishers) so that they could not interfere with the battle before driving the Spartan cavalry off the field of battle (Sparta' cavalry was never up to the standard of their hoplites). read more