Pelopidas

Pelopidas (410?–364 B.C.), military leader and politician instrumental in establishing Theban authority in mainland Greece. In 379 B.C. he and 6 compatriots assassinated the Spartan dictators and reasserted Theban liberty. Pelopidas was named boeotarch (leader), and, with his friend Epaminondas, developed Theban military supremacy. They defeated Sparta at the decisive battle of Leuctra (371 B.C.). Pelopidas was ambassador to Artaxerxes II of Persia (367 B.C.) and defeated the despot Alexander of Pherae at Cynoscephalae, Thessaly (364 B.C.), but died in the battle.

See also: Greece, Ancient.