Thebes,
Plutarch
When he came to Thebes, to show how willing he was to accept of their repentance
for what was past, he only demanded of them Phoenix and Prothytes, the
authors of the rebellion, and proclaimed a general pardon to those who
would come over to him. But when the Thebans merely retorted by demanding
Philotas and Antipater to be delivered into their hands, and by a proclamation
on their part invited all who would assert the liberty of Greece to come
over to them, he presently applied himself to make them feel the last extremities
of war. The Thebans indeed defended themselves with a zeal and courage
beyond their strength, being much outnumbered by their enemies. But when
the Macedonian garrison sallied out upon them from the citadel, they were
so hemmed in on all sides that the greater part of them fell in the battle;
the city itself being taken by storm, was sacked and razed. Alexander's
hope being that so severe an example might terrify the rest of Greece into
obedience, and also in order to gratify the hostility of his confederates,
the Phocians and Plataeans. So that, except the priests, and some few who
had heretofore been the friends and connections of the Macedonians, the
family of the poet Pindar, and those who were known to have opposed the
public vote for the war, all the rest, to the number of thirty thousand,
were publicly sold for slaves; and it is computed that upwards of six thousand
were put to the sword.
CONTROVERSIES: PLUTARCH - ARRIAN - DIODORUS how
the battle begun
Alexander informed the Thebans that it was not too late to change
their minds, but they responded with a minuscule attack, which Alexander
repelled with archers and infantry. Arrian claims that the next
day Perdiccas attacked the Theban gates, before Alexander gave a signal;
while according Diodorus the signal had been given. Anyway, the
battle of Thebes had begun. When Perdiccas broke through the gate of the
city, Alexander moved the rest of his troops in behind to prevent the Thebans
from cutting him off. The Macedonians stormed magnificent city of Thebes,
and gave an example to the rest of Greece.
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