Five Ancient Greek Generals Who Defeated Larger Armies Through Tactical Innovation

In 371 BC, the Battle of Leuctra saw Theban leader Epaminondas deploy a 50-rank phalanx against the Spartan formation of eight to ten ranks, resulting in a decisive victory that shattered Sparta's dominance and liberated Messenia. This strategy was later emulated by Philip of Macedon and his son, Alexander. Earlier, in 490 BC, Miltiades commanded 11,000 Greeks to triumph over 15,000 Persians at Marathon, despite a breach in the Persian center. At Thermopylae in 480 BC, King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans, along with 7,000 Greeks, resisted Xerxes' army for three days until they were betrayed. Themistocles lured Xerxes into a narrow strait at Salamis, leading to a Persian defeat. In 414–413 BC, Gylippus' counter-walls resulted in the capture of over 7,000 Athenians, including the execution of Nicias.