{"slug": "pelopidas", "label": "Pelopidas", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelopidas", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316059", "qid": "Q316059", "description": "Ancient Theban general", "entries": 10, "years": 9, "span": [-381, -363], "span_label": ["382 BCE", "364 BCE"], "topics": [{"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 5}, {"title": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "count": 2}, {"title": "Deaths", "count": 2}, {"title": "Religion & Belief", "count": 1}], "related": [{"slug": "thebes-greece", "label": "Thebes, Greece", "shared": 8}, {"slug": "thessaly", "label": "Thessaly", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "epaminondas", "label": "Epaminondas", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "athens", "label": "Athens", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "sparta", "label": "Sparta", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "macedon", "label": "Macedon", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "achaemenid-empire", "label": "Achaemenid Empire", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "artaxerxes-ii", "label": "Artaxerxes II", "shared": 1}], "items": [{"year": -381, "year_label": "382 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Pelopidas, a Theban general and statesman, flees to Athens and takes the lead in attempts to liberate Thebes from Spartan control.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1363328792#Greece", "title": "382 BC", "revid": 1363328792, "section": "Events › By place › Greece"}}, {"year": -378, "year_label": "379 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "A small group of Theban exiles, led by Pelopidas, infiltrate the city of Thebes and assassinates the leaders of the pro-Spartan government. Epaminondas and Gorgidas lead a group of young men who break into the city's armories, take weapons, and surround the Spartans on the Cadmea, assisted by a force of Athenian hoplites. In the Theban assembly the next day, Epaminondas and Gorgidas bring Pelopidas and his men before the audience and exhort the Thebans to fight for their freedom. The assembly responds by acclaiming Pelopidas and his men as liberators. Fearing for their lives, the Spartan garrison surrenders and are evacuated. The Thebans of the pro-Spartan party are also allowed to surrender; they are subsequently executed.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1306221670#Greece", "title": "379 BC", "revid": 1306221670, "section": "Events › By place › Greece"}}, {"year": -377, "year_label": "378 BCE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "The Theban general and statesman, Epaminondas, takes command of Thebes. Pelopidas is elected boeotarch, or chief magistrate, of the city.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1279678779#Greece", "title": "378 BC", "revid": 1279678779, "section": "Events › By place › Greece"}}, {"year": -374, "year_label": "375 BCE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "The Theban general, Pelopidas, is made the leader of the Sacred Band, a selected infantry body of 300.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1242240743#Greece", "title": "375 BC", "revid": 1242240743, "section": "Events › By place › Greece"}}, {"year": -370, "year_label": "371 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Thebes' actions at the peace congress lead to a war between Sparta and Thebes. The Spartans have an army stationed on Thebes' western frontier, waiting to follow up their diplomatic success by a crushing military attack. However, at the Battle of Leuctra, the Theban generals, Epaminondas and Pelopidas, win a decisive victory over the Spartans under the other Spartan king, Cleombrotus I (who is killed in the battle). Epaminondas wins the battle with a tactical innovation which involves striking the enemy first at their strongest, instead of their weakest, point, with such crushing force that the attack is irresistible. As a result of this battle, the Boeotian federation is saved.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1282391642#Greece", "title": "371 BC", "revid": 1282391642, "section": "Events › By place › Greece"}}, {"year": -368, "year_label": "369 BCE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Alexander of Pherae becomes tyrant of Thessaly following the death of his father. Alexander's tyranny causes the Aleuadae of Larissa to seek the help of Alexander II of Macedon. Alexander II successfully gains control of Larissa and several other cities but, betraying a promise he has made, put garrisons in them. This provokes a hostile reaction from Thebes. The Theban general Pelopidas drives the Macedonians from Thessaly.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1256893468#Greece", "title": "369 BC", "revid": 1256893468, "section": "Events › By place › Greece"}}, {"year": -367, "year_label": "368 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "While the previous year's intervention by the Macedonians in Thessaly is successful, after the Macedonian troops withdraw, Alexander of Pherae treats his subjects as cruelly as before. So the Thessalians seek Thebes' support. Pelopidas is sent to their assistance, but is treacherously seized and imprisoned.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1242240969#Greece", "title": "368 BC", "revid": 1242240969, "section": "Events › By place › Greece"}}, {"year": -366, "year_label": "367 BCE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "Theban leader Pelopidas goes on an embassy to the Persian king Artaxerxes II and induces him to propose a settlement of the Greek states' disputes according to the wishes of the Thebans. Artaxerxes II issues an edict consisting of peace terms for the Greeks, but his edict is not obeyed by any of the Greek states.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1291620451#Greece", "title": "367 BC", "revid": 1291620451, "section": "Events › By place › Greece"}}, {"year": -363, "year_label": "364 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The army of Thebes under their statesman and general, Pelopidas, defeats Alexander of Pherae in the Battle of Cynoscephalae in Thessaly, but Pelopidas is killed during the battle. As a result of his loss of this battle, Alexander is compelled by Thebes to acknowledge the freedom of the Thessalian cities, to limit his rule to Pherae, and to join the Boeotian League.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1354174238#Greece", "title": "364 BC", "revid": 1354174238, "section": "Events › By place › Greece"}}, {"year": -363, "year_label": "364 BCE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Pelopidas, Theban statesman (killed in the Battle of Cynoscephalae in Thessaly)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1354174238#Deaths", "title": "364 BC", "revid": 1354174238, "section": "Deaths"}}]}