Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VI.djvu/687

EPAMINONDAS 675 to III. ; then for the following two years 11 is added again, and from the sum obtained for the 7th year, being greater than 30, that number is again subtracted. Every 19th year the epact is XVIIL, after which the series is re- peated. The epact does not give the exact age of the moon. In the Julian calendar the correction of the error in the lunar cycle is made at the end of 300 years; in the Gre- gorian calendar this error is assumed to amount to one day in 312 years. The epacts are used to determine Easter Sunday, on which the dates of all the other changeable feasts of the church depend. EPAMINONDAS, a Theban statesman and gen- eral, born about 418 B. C , died on the battle field of Mantinea in 362. He was the son of Polymnis, a Theban who, though poor, was a member of one of the noble families. In his youth he was an earnest student of philosophy, and, while receiving an exceptional education in all respects, devoted himself especially to this study under the tutorship of the Pythagorean Lysis, to whose influence his contemporaries at- tributed many of his best characteristics. With Pelopidas, a man of congenial virtue, he was early connected by the ties of tried friendship, though the date of the battle in which he saved the life of his friend cannot be fixed. When the Spartans gained possession of the Theban citadel, the Cadmea, in 382, Epaminondas for a time refused to join in the plan for its re- capture, through fear of useless bloodshed, to which the teachings of his philosophy made him particularly averse ; but when the first decisive step had been taken, Archias and Leontiades, the Spartan tyrants, had been killed, and the affair had assumed the aspect of a revolution rather than a conspiracy, he at once came forward as a leader, and was among the foremost in the attack which induced the Spartan surrender (379). In 371 he acted as the ambassador for Thebes when the envoys from all parts of Greece came together at Sparta to negotiate treaties. Here he greatly distinguished himself by his eloquence in ad- vocating against Agesilaus of Sparta the claim of Thebes to represent all Bceotia. This was disallowed by the assembled envoys. Thebes was excluded from the treaty altogether, and war between Thebes and Sparta was at once declared. Less than a month afterward the armies met at Leuctra, the Spartans being under the command of Cleombrotus. The Thebans, commanded by Epaminondas, assist- ed by Pelopidas, gave battle at once, by the advice of the former, and after a brief struggle won a complete victory. The triumph of the Thebans was clearly due to the new tactics invented by Epaminondas. The results of the victory were further secured by the union of Arcadia and the founding of Megalopolis ; these measures, suggested by Lycomedes, but vigor- ously urged and in great part carried out by Epaminondas, at once opposed a strong obstacle to any further schemes of Spartan dominion. This accomplished, Epaminondas and Pelop- idas invaded the Peloponnesus (369), ravaged Laconia, freed Messenia from the Spartan yoke founding a new capital for it on the site of the ancient Ithome, and appeared before Sparta which escaped capture through the wise pro- visions of Agesilaus. To continue these con- quests both Epaminondas and Pelopidas had re- tained their commands longer than the Theban law allowed; and on their return they were tried for this, but both were acquitted, with the enthusiastic approval of the people. In 368 Epaminondas again invaded the Peloponnesus, compelled Sicy on and Pellene to abandon their alliance with Sparta, and made an unsuccess- ful attack on Corinth. He returned home, it appears, without having pushed his advantage sufficiently to satisfy the Thebans ; and this is given as the reason for his receiving no com- mand in the expedition sent into Thessaly the same year to rescue Pelopidas from Alexander of Pherse, into whose hands he had fallen. This undertaking failed, and the historians attribute the saving of the army from utter ruin to the efforts of Epaminondas. A year later he led a force organized for the same purpose, and this time achieved the delivery of his friend, without, it is said, engaging in a single battle. In 366 he again invaded the Peloponnesus, but without noteworthy military results. In the mean time the overbearing conduct of Thebes in all international mat- ters, which Epaminondas had endeavored to restrain, produced a great defection among the Arcadians; this was increased by the cruel punishment of the revolted Orchomenus during the absence of Epaminondas in Thes- saly, and by many acts of oppression toward the Boeotians and other allies and subject states. The long existing discontent and spirit of revolt was brought to a crisis by the ar- bitrary refusal of the Theban commander at Tegea to carry out his promised compliance in the ratification of a treaty between the Ar- cadians and Elis. When the Mantineans sent to Thebes a protest against some oppressive measures taken in connection with this act, Epaminondas defended the commander, and expressed himself in favor of the immediate war which he saw could alone preserve Theban supremacy. Acting against a formidable coa- lition of Grecian states, which both Athens and Sparta had joined, he for the fourth time invaded the Peloponnesus. The enemy con- centrated his force at Mantinea. This was composed mainly of Achaeans, Eleans, and Ar- cadians, while the old Agesilaus was approach- ing from Sparta, and the Athenian contingent was expected. Having vainly tried to provoke the allies to action before the arrival of the Spartans and Athenians, Epaminondas, aware of the circuitous route of Agesilaus, made a rapid night march from Tegea to surprise Sparta, which was saved by Agesilaus being apprised of the danger in time, and by the. bravery of his son Archidamus and other