Battle of Lechaeum

The Battle of Lechaeum (391 BC) was an Athenian victory in the Corinthian War. In the battle, the Athenian general Iphicrates took advantage of the fact that a Spartan hoplite regiment operating near Corinth was moving in the open without the protection of any missile throwing troops. He decided to ambush it with his force of javelin throwers, or peltasts. By launching repeated hit-and-run attacks against the Spartan formation, Iphicrates and his men were able to wear the Spartans down, eventually routing them and killing just under half. This marked one of the first occasions in Greek military history on which a force of peltasts had defeated a force of hoplites (heavy infantry).

Battle of Lechaeum
Part of the Corinthian War

Athenian funerary stele from the Poliandreion Memorial military mass grave in the Demosian Sema, commemorating the dead of the Corinthian War. An Athenian cavalryman and a standing soldier are seen fighting an enemy Peloponnesian hoplite fallen to the ground. 394–393 BC. Athens National Archaeological Museum, No. 2744
Date391 BC
Location
Lechaeum, near Corinth
37.934142°N 22.884225°E / 37.934142; 22.884225
Result Athenian victory
Belligerents
Athens Sparta
Commanders and leaders
Iphicrates Unknown
Strength
Unknown, but force composed almost entirely of peltasts. 600 hoplites
Casualties and losses
Minimal 250 killed
This battle marked the first occasion in Greek history where a force composed primarily of light troops defeated a hoplite force.
Lechaeum
Location of the Battle of Lechaeum
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