The Size of The Armies
Several ancient writers give figures for one or both of the armies but unfortunately they are contradictory and in some cases unbelievable. Modern Scholars estimates have varied from 6,000 to 9,000 for the Boeotian force. For the Spartan side most modern scholars favor Plutarch's figure of 10,000 in infantry and 1,000 cavalry.
Read more about this topic: Battle Of Leuctra
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“And we are here as on a darkling plain
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—Matthew Arnold (1822–1888)