Battle of Tegyra

Battle of Tegyra
Date 375 BC Location Tegyra, near Orchomenus, Boeotia 38°32′03″N 22°57′28″E / 38.534199°N 22.957728°E / 38.534199; 22.957728 Result Theban victory
Belligerents
Thebes	Sparta
Commanders and leaders
Pelopidas	Gorgoleon †, Theopompus †
Strength
300 infantry, 200 cavalry	1,000–1,800
Casualties and losses
Low	Moderate
First recorded occasion on which a Spartan hoplite force was defeated by a numerically inferior force in a set battle.
Tegyra class=notpageimage| Location of the Battle of Tegyra

The Battle of Tegyra (375 BC) (also known as the Battle of Tegyrae)^[1] was an ancient Greek battle between Theban and Spartan hoplite forces. In the battle, a Theban army under Pelopidas was challenged by a substantially larger Spartan force while retreating from an abortive attack on Orchomenus, but successfully attacked and routed the Spartans. The battle marked the first occasion in the historical record in which a Spartan force had been defeated by a numerically inferior enemy in a set battle (as opposed to irregular warfare, employed by Iphicrates).^[2]