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The Battle of Mantinea was fought in 362 BCE between the city-state of Thebes and an alliance of other Greek states led by Sparta. The battle took place near the town of Mantinea in the Peloponnese region of Greece.
The Theban army was led by the general Epaminondas, who had previously won a major victory at the Battle of Leuctra. The Spartan-led alliance included the city-states of Corinth, Elis, and Arcadia.
The Theban army, consisting of approximately 13,000 hoplite soldiers, was larger than the Spartan alliance's force of around 11,000. Epaminondas, like at Leuctra, devised a new battle formation called the "deep column," which was intended to penetrate and break the enemy line.
The battle began with both sides engaging in a traditional hoplite phalanx formation. However, Epaminondas soon ordered a portion of his army to advance and attack the Spartan left wing. The attack was successful, and the Spartans were driven back. However, during the attack, Epaminondas was mortally wounded.
The battle then devolved into a chaotic melee, with both sides fighting fiercely. The Spartan alliance was eventually able to rally and gain the upper hand. The Thebans, without their leader, were unable to hold their ground and began to retreat.
Despite the Theban defeat, the battle did not result in any major territorial or political changes. The Theban Hegemony was weakened, but Thebes continued to be a major player in Greek politics for several more years.
The Battle of Mantinea is notable for being one of the largest battles in ancient Greek history, with an estimated 24,000 soldiers participating. It is also significant for being the battle in which Epaminondas, one of the greatest military commanders of the ancient world, was killed. His death marked the end of the Theban Hegemony and contributed to a period of political instability in Greece known as the "Theban-Spartan War."