Thebes, the birthplace of the legendary hero Herakles and men of importance like Pindar and Epameinondas, played a major role in the affairs of Greece, from its early history as the many legends of the city testify. Though not a great power, for a short time, thanks to the genius of Epameinondas and its superb trained army, led by the Sacred Band, took the hegemony of Greece by defeating the invincible Sparta.
Among other achievements was the formation of a league under its leadership, which united almost all the Boeotian cities.