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The Tearless Battle

The 'Tearless Battle' was fought in the Parrhasia region of Arkdia with the Spartans facing the Arkadians and Argives, just north of the future polis of Megalopolis in the summer of 368 B.C. It was after Sparta had been defeated by the Argives at Leuktra, and Lakonia had been invaded by the Thebans and their allies, so Sparta was getting challenged from all sides it seemed.

The Spartan King Archidamus led an army into Arcadia, and stormed Karyai on the NE frontier of Lakonia, so the Spartans had recovered sufficient confidence to counter-attack against the Arkadians. As he retired, the Arkadians and Argives followed him into Lakonia. He brought them to battle and inflicted a heavy defeat upon them, allegedly 10,000 Arcadians were killed, while the Lakedaimonians suffered no deaths. No Theban help came to Arkadia for this campaign; indeed, the Thebans and the Eleans showed themselves almost as pleased at the news of the battle as the Lakedaemonians, the Thebans were expanding their interests northwards.

It was said that the Lakedaimonians were so eager to fight that their officers had difficulty in restraining them. This might explain why there were no casualties on the Spartan side, as probably the Arkadians and Argives gave little, if any resistance. They had never been in so deep in Lakonia before. Probably fleeing before putting up any kind of united front against the eager Spartan youth.

What is worth noting in after this battle when it was reported back to Sparta of the victory, the city cried with joy and heaped praise on their soliders return. Previously, it was expected that the Spartan army would win, so any news of a victory or subsequent defeat was treated with little or no emotion after the event. This bottled up emotion now overflowed after this victory.

To those who congratulated King Archidamos on his victory in the battle he replied:
"It would be better if our intelligence were beating them rather than our strength."

References:

'A History of the Greek City States 700-338 B.C.' by Raphael Sealey; University of California Press 1979. pages 425-426

'A History of my Times ( or Hellienika )' Xenophon; Penguin 1979, translated by Rex Warner. Book 7.34

'Histories' by Herodotus published by Wordsworth 1996