History Summarized: Thebes’ Greatest Accomplishment Ever

This story, this ludicrous, insane story, is near and dear to my heart. It also conveniently explains what went on in the century between the Peloponnesian War and Philip II conquering Greece - this story is pretty much it. Speaking of, I hope to cover all that Macedonian shenaniganery at ~some point~
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[@paigek7172]

This is even funnier when you realize that the patron gods of Thebes were Apollo and Dionysus.

[@volk551]

Let's see the power to see the future and bring plagues upon thine enemies, & drunken Madness...no I could see that happening.

[@esbeng.s.a9761]

@Aung Un'Rama Well Apollo was on vacation and Dionysus was throwing up in the nearst bush all day long

[@frostyguy1989]

@Aung Ramen You could say that Thebes should therefore have seen that coming, but that would be ironic.

[@DrJReefer]

I'll drink to that.

[@S_Warden]

@Aung Ramen honestly there city getting sacked was on themselves, should’ve remained loyal

[@CastorRidicule]

Comedy is tragedy plus time. By that logic, antiquity is a comedic gold mine.

[@rawovunlapin8201]

I mean, I suppose I now know why people found the Flintstones so funny

[@GuukanKitsune]

Two Greek kingdoms went to an all-out, bloody, decades-long war over the ownership of a bucket that two farmers found exactly on their property line, which just also happened to be the kingdom border as well. History is full of hindsight ridiculousness and hilarity if you just look.

[@RogueT-Rex8468]

@@GuukanKitsune “Do you even know what triggered the last world war? An argument with Germany over how many telegraph poles they owed their war debt creditors. Telegraph poles! It's all a joke! Anything anybody ever valued or struggled for, it's all just a monstrous, demented gag.”- Joker. The killing joke.

[@GuukanKitsune]

@@RogueT-Rex8468 Warning about The Joker. He's crazy, so take what he says with a grain of salt. Although, yeah, that's one of the things that happened, the causes were varied and complex. The total annexment of Czechoslovakia, shortly followed by the invasion of Poland, is what ultimately turned it from a series of disagreements into an outright war. The bucket thing really happened, though.

[@BradyPostma]

That, Vincent, is the fundamental basis of OSP.

[@CapitanHDM]

Kings of Sparta: so how did the battle go Spartan General: we......we lost Kings of Sparta: "is this like an out-of-season April Fool's joke"

[@Talyrion]

Weeell, if one looks at Sparta's battle record, one comes to realize Sparta kind of loses as often as they win. What they REALLY had going for them was their reputation, and Thebes kind of shattered that.

[@Stego1819]

@@Talyrion Spartans werent even half as tough as people think. As you said they only had a great reputation and that is what they lived from. They were so effective at spreading propaganda that we believe that they are superwarriors today.

[@tylerdurden3722]

@@Stego1819 the Spartans really were that good. But there were never really that many of them. Only a small portion of Spartan armies were made up of actual Spartans. The rest of the army was made up of "allies". The Spartans usually took position on the right (Hence why Epaminondas targeted the right). A couple of years before Luectra, at a place that sounds like Corona (can't remember the name😅), the Thebans were busy losing a battle against the Spartans, at some point, a gap in the Spartan line formed and the Thebans managed to escape the battlefield through that gap. Then a few years after that, at Tygera, Pelopidas led the 300 Sacred Band and some cavalry to attack a Spartan Garrison while the Spartans were gone. But when they got there, The Spartan Garrison was already replaced. So they turned and ran home before they were noticed. But just as they were heading home. Another 2 Spartan mora just so happens to be returning from the north and noticed them. The Thebans panicked as they realized theyre trapped. Pelopidas remembered that previous battle where the Thebans escaped through a gap in the Spartan line and came up with a strategy to replicate that escape. The Spartans formed their line, and then Pelopidas sent his cavalry to harass the Spartan flanks, kicking up dust and screening his next move. Then Pelopidas formed the sacred band into a very deep formation with the intention of this deep formation smashing through the Spartan line and creating a means of escape. This worked much better than anticipated. The point of impact was devastating on that part of the Spartan line. It worked so well that both Spartan officers (of each mora) was killed on impact. The two Spartan mori began to waver at the sight of their fallen officers and the Thebans having pierced their line. At this point, Pelopidas abandoned the escape plan and ordered his men to turn and attack the newly exposed flanks and rear of the Spartans. The Spartans lost this engagement. This was the first time the Spartans were beaten by a numerically inferior enemy. This deep formation worked so well that it became a common tactic used by Theban generals during this war and they expanded on this tactic. Developing it further. By the time of Luectra, the Thebans had pretty much perfected this Deep formation tactic. This new tactical innovation was what they used to defeat the Spartans on the Right flank at Luectra. The Thebans massed their troops on the left, made their Phalanx there an insane 50 ranks deep, and then sent this sledge hammer towards the Spartan right. The Spartan flank was completely bulldozed at impact by this increadibly deep and massed Theban unit. Massing that many troops on one flank weakens the rest of the line. The Thebans solved this problem by inventing the refused flank innovation. The Thebans would delay the rest of their weakened line (they'd be ordered to march slower), until the sledge hammer did it's job. This was what happened at Luectra, and how the Spartans were defeated. The Sacred band was on the flank next to the sledge hammer. They swung around and flanked while the Spartan right was being bulldozed. When the Real Spartans were crushed, the rest of the "Spartan" line routed. Again, the rest of the line werent really Spartans...they were "allies" from other cities and towns. Epaminondas knew that, and he knew that taking out the real Spartans first would cause the rest of the line to break and run. The Spartans really were that good. The Sacred Band would later be defeated completely by the Macedonian phalanx...head to head. A couple of years later, a few Spartan boys and Spartan women (the Spartan army was not home) would repel the army of Pyrrhus of Epirus. A very experienced Macedonian style army with some Macedonian veterans in it, that fought with Alexander in Asia. Including heavy cavalry and even war Armored Indian War Elephants. This same army had fought and beat several Roman and Carthaginian armies. This formidable army was repelled by a few Spartan boys.

[@suspiciouscanadian6478]

@@tylerdurden3722 facts

[@BradyPostma]

Which King of Sparta? There are always two.

[@dezopenguin9649]

And to add to the comedy: because Sparta apparently didn't _want_ Thebes to make a petty amendment in the peace documents that would make them look better, got themselves into a war that they _lost_ and ended up taking a solid hit to their prestige and influence.

[@grahamcochran5400]

In fairness they actually won the war by killing the main Theban general and all his leutianants at the battle of Manitea ending the war in a Spartan and Athenian victory, and depleating everyone's male populations to the point Phillip of Macedon steam rolled everyone

[@albertofrankdiaz6664]

@@grahamcochran5400 sparta didnt won the war. A time pass to Thebes fall apart for politic issues. Sparta didnt win anything and They didnt got anything. Sparta lose to thebes. Then lose twice to the macedonians. And then they lose to romans.

[@grahamcochran5400]

@@albertofrankdiaz6664 I think you missed the point. Thebes won the battle of Leuctra, but failed during their invasion of Laconia proper in militaristic terms, in strategical terms losing the Battle of Manitea which ended the short bit of Theban Hegemony. After that point, no singular state exercised Hegemony until the conquest of Phillip of Macedon. You are correct in your latter statements in regard to the revolt of Agis III I believe where he was killed outside Corinth, and then later at the Battle of Sellasia in 222 BC under Cleomenes III. And Nicas of Sparta was sorta conquered but more just was politically absorbed by Rome once he lost his main port to a quick Roman naval invasion. In relation to the war against Thebes, in a battlefield since Thebes lost the war and its hegemony over Greece, but in the process crushed Sparta's manpower and liberated Messenia while also putting Athens in heavy amounts of debt, thus the main 3 players in Greek politics were weakened. The situation was much more black and white than "They didnt got anything. Sparta lose to thebes."

[@fredericksmith7942]

Not just that, the Thebans also liberated the Helots, which basically destroyed the entirety of Spartan society, which was contingent on the helots being enslaved. Thebes didn’t just beat Sparta; Thebes RUINED Sparta.

[@gwarfanatik]

@@fredericksmith7942 Sparta existed for another 175 years. Alexander RUINED Thebes only 40 years later. 6000 Thebans killed in battle and the rest of the entire 30,000 strong population of the city sold into slavery and scattered to the wind. Makes the 1000 Spartans lost at Leuctra look rather quaint eh? All by Alexander who used tactics taught to him by his father Phillip II who had ironically learned military arts under Epaminodas the greatest Theban general when he was a hostage of Thebes as a boy during their short "hegemony". Sparta will remain an enduring military symbol known around the world and Thebes will continue to be nothing more than a footnote best known for fielding a unit of gay soldiers.

[@tomwolf2009]

Athens: I swear on my people to peace! Sparta: I swear on my people and my allies to peace! Thebes: I swear on my people to peace, my allies can swear on themselves to peace! 2 HOURS LATER Thebes: Hey, can I reswear to inlcude my allies to my oath. Sparta: N-no, you can't reswear, your oath is set in stone! Thebes: War it is then! Athens: Aren't we supposed to bee making peace? Sparta: Uh, yeah, that's why we've gathered h- Thebes: WARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

[@scooperdooper4097]

and then they won

[@predwin1998]

Can you imagine rallying your army under those circumstances? "Alright men, I know we've all been hoping to finally put this long war with the Spartans behind us after fighting them for 6 years without progress. I know many of you were relieved to hear of the peace talks taking place yesterday. Peace, sweet and gentle peace, was finally so close we could all practically taste it. However, I regret to inform you that those Spartans, blinded by their arrogance, would not allow us to add a minor amendment to include a swear on behalf of our allies to our vow to uphold peace which would have made us appear more prestigious. Therefore they have left us no choice but to reignite the flames of war right when their final embers were dying out. Would any of you let the Spartans slight us so unpunished? I think not. TO WAR!!!"

[@cedartheyeah.justyeah.3967]

Basically lol

[@MiguelPerez-zx2wg]

Macedon: *knocking on the door Thebes: *Open the door Macedon: "Allow us to introduce ourselves"

[@DrJReefer]

@@MiguelPerez-zx2wg men of wealth and taste?

[@Zerpderp0]

I just realized that Greek history is basically KZbin drama in a nutshell.

[@unwantedmacguffin5611]

All of history is.

[@Grim_Sister]

Basically, yes. But it still doesn’t get to the level of pettiness that the art community has. In the last few years, scientists discovered a shade of Black so dark is swallows light. A guy brought the rights to it and he’s the only person that can use that particular shade of black. Later, a new pigment of Pink was discovered. A different guy brought the rights to that shade and made it public domain to everyone except the asshole who took the light swallowing black. The art community pulls so much shit, I’m shocked people are still putting up with us

[@Zerpderp0]

@@Grim_Sister ironic (or expected) that the black is so toxic that it's got several health issues associated with it, while the pink isn't toxic. Also I know exactly who you're talking about. Paint the Bean Pink!

[@j.garxia28]

what until u learn about European monarchy and pope fights

[@mediatorraptor3349]

@@Grim_Sister i heard my teacher talk about it in school

[@martijnvanweele6204]

Reality is often crazier than anything we can come up with. I once took a class with a professor in law who told us that he has to _tone down_ certain real-life examples he gives on his tests to not make them sound completely unrealistic.

[@lordnul1708]

"Reality is unrealistic." -TV Tropes

[@Queen1001N]

Fiction has to make sense. Reality is under no such obligation.

[@avnerim]

So hissy fit does actually work. But only if you have a really good tactician and a good strong army. -- . -- . . . . Nice!

[@Mr.LaughingDuck]

Very understandable why Alexander finally went: "OK, we've had enough of this shit!"

[@Lolo50000]

MEMEEEE

[@timothyzappa2828]

I am missing only 2 of these things

[@travishighbaugh5245]

Well anything works with good enough tactics and men.

[@Cappy-Bara]

I went over Leutra in military history. Three things from the battle, 1) refused flank, which prevented flanking long enough to do the battle, 2) deep array, Thebes stacked a huge number of people behind their best so when they broke the line it was like a dam breaking, 3) gay alliance, the top Theban warriors, to guarantee their loyalty to each other to protect each other became mass lovers, because you fight harder when defeat means the death of your lovers

[@hades2596]

I wanted to talk about the refused flank, which, you're right, is super important, but that would have meant adding another minute to the video, or drawing out a battle plan, and I figured explaining the concept behind the Sacred Band was enough military history for one day. (Don't worry, I'll be all over those refused flanks when I'm talking about Alexander in a future video :D )

[@sydhenderson6753]

@@hades2596 Epaminodas was the great military strategist of his time. But Thebes was not strong enough to be hegemon of Greece, especially after Epaminodas died.

[@lukevankleef4245]

4:58 I swear to god, I honestly misheard that as: ''His strongest spiders.'' and I just imagined an army of spiders fighting the Spartans. Epaminondas: ''Spiders! A giant legion of spiders!''

[@lordnul1708]

And now I can't unhear it as that

[@BeepBoopBee]

That... Honestly wouldve been a thousand times as terrifying

[@ConnanTheCivilized]

“How about a legion of spiiiiders?!”

[@dominikdurkovsky8318]

​@@ConnanTheCivilized Greek fire

[@sydhenderson6753]

Wow, no wonder the Spartans lost.

[@derpionderpson1424]

I mean... that kinda sums up everything about Ancient Greece: really impressive... and really, really stupid.

[@Dr.W1zard]

Kinda sums up all human civilisation forever

[@dr_sm4rt317]

Thebe's best fighters, the Sacred Band, were actually 150 pairs of gay men. The idea was that if one man saw his lover fall, he would fight twice as hard.

[@ddogbud]

You beat me to this comment. Thebes overcame Sparta with their own 300 elite fighters, and they were gay.

[@dr_sm4rt317]

It was pretty gay, but I don't think it was retarded. It worked very well, as history will tell.

[@thefaceofawsomeness491]

The greeks didn't view sexuality quite like we do. To them, bisexuality was the norm. So, they were mostly bisexual lovers who very likely had female lovers too. Still, proves that having sexual attractions towards men doesn't make you weak though.

[@theodoregeorgiou4565]

+Máté Kovács ...I am sorry. what? I am pretty sure i established I am gay, so why should I cut myself? Because they made the word homophobia? I am pretty sure you should read my comment again.

[@marisac.1391]

Oi! Chill out you jerk, just because you got your special snowflake panties in a twist doesn't mean you have to tell someone to cut themselves. The original commenter has blatantly stated that they are gay so why in the world are you getting so crazy and out of control with your response. As I said before, simmer the fuck down.

[@somedude4967]

Thebans : We're gonna have a war on Sparta. Epomindas, what great strategy will you use to try and defeat them ? Epominodas : maybe I'll just exchange the placement of my soldiers..... The entirety of Greece : SHIT

[@RedXlV]

In addition to putting his best troops right up against Sparta's, Epaminondas also stacked those troops ridiculously deep. A typical Greek phalanx was 8 ranks deep. ie each guy on the front line had 7 other soldiers behind him. When phalanxes collided, those ranks would be pushing forward against the backs of the men in front of them, thus combining their strength against the opposing phalanx who did the same. But Epaminondas had the Thebans on the left flank stacked *50 deep.* So each 8 Spartans had 50 Thebans pushing against them. This weakened the Thebans' own right flank, but that was up against the conscripted soldiers of Sparta's conquered "allies", who didn't even want to fight. Once the front line on the Spartan right flank started to fall, it was an absolute stampede. And as soon as Sparta's allies saw the Spartans losing, they noped the hell out of there.

[@CollinMcLean]

Random Spartan Officer:How did they manage to defeat our near invincible phalanx?! We had our Strongest on the right and our weakest on the left! Random Spartan Soldier:The put their strongest on our left side... Random Spartan Officer: ... such genius military strategy...

[@blakep267]

Actually I think it’s the opposite. Instead of putting string against weak thebes put strong against strong and won that side and the weak side crumbled on its own

[@CommissarMitch]

The Sacret Band was also all gay dudes. Sparta, one of the Most gay societies in all of history, got out-gayed.

[@tomwolf2009]

Yeah, genius!

[@MountSec]

Such wow...

[@neonreef3]

@@CommissarMitch Battle of the Gays

[@oolooo]

This represents ancient history in general : just to show that you are strong , even in the most petty and meaningless way , you are willing to sacrifice the lives of thousands of young men .

[@Rynewulf]

Nah, I'd say that's just all history in general. Hooray pointless deaths! :D (One of my favourites is the war over the drunken stealing of a bucket in Italy)

[@griffindault]

The Unusual Stranger it was likely a calculated pretext to justify attacking Sparta and establishing dominance of Greece.

[@Alaryk111]

Not only ancient.

[@rawovunlapin8201]

@@Rynewulf wait, what? When?

[@Rynewulf]

@@rawovunlapin8201look up 'The Bucket War', 1400s northern Italy if I'm not mistaken?

[@lavendero3204]

Blue : Thebes is my favourite bs nonsense in history Me: what about Walpole

[@Lady_in_Yearning]

Goddammit, go away Walpole! You're not even born here yet!

[@lavendero3204]

Ankyri I'm Walpole. With my Delorean and tardis I can go any where any time I am needed elsewhere WALPOLE AWAY

[@Lady_in_Yearning]

*shakes fist at sky* WALPOOOOOLE!!!

[@TheMightyEpicspencer]

What about Bismark?

[@sicat2345]

This is the almighty Walpole we are talking about so no wonder he'd hijack the overly sarcatics. While Bismark is busy expanding the German teritory over EC, Walpole is here pulling off his signature walpolean antics.

[@kasey8568]

Yet no one ever talks about Thebes outside of Ancient Literature. All the focus is on Athens, Sparta, and Persia. Thebes was actually kinda awesome

[@galidorn1]

not the way the lolspartan sycophants tell it but yeah I agree.

[@Alizudo]

Alexander completely ripped their city apart brick. By. Brick. The city did not exist anymore. It was just walls with no buildings inside. Thebes ceased to exist.

Ok, lets be clear on something: what they did wasn't awesome, it was in fact very stupid. They risk the peace and sacrifice many men for that stupid thing. It's kinda funny though because of how turned out, but is still not awesome.

[@rawovunlapin8201]

@ sure, but it is funny in hindsight.

[@mk9650]

@@Alizudo it was rebuilt and still exists in modern Greece

[@helen_lenito]

I'm from Greece and I love your guys videos.You make history so much cooler and fun I mean I already loved history but you get the point. Keep up the amazing work

[@yellowstarproductions6743]

Agreed except I am from America

[@Rickey-pu5nw]

History is cooler than you think.

[@katev4827]

THIS IS THE AGE OF MYTHOLOGY MUSIC

[@TheWarriorpony]

Kate V I was looking for this comment XD

[@yonokhanman654]

But AoE music would make more sense, wouldn't it?

[@ungureanubogdan2398]

Yono khanman well i guess blue kinda likes it , besides just being thematically apropriate

[@yonokhanman654]

Ungureanu Bogdan An AoE theme would have been more apropriate, don't you think? I mean, we are not talking about mythology here.

[@bobodimitrov4440]

Yono khanman maybe not but I can't find Greece specific theme in AoE and in AoM there's tons of it. N it's quite authentic I think that why he went for it.

[@adamlatosinski5475]

Seeing the title, I thought that the Thebes' greatest accomplishment was inventing the armchair.

[@yellowstarproductions6743]

I didn't when I first watch it

[@1stPCFerret]

"If it's stupid, but it works, then it's not stupid any more." -- The Mighty Jingles

[@drascin]

Maxim 43: If it's stupid but it works, it's still stupid and you're lucky.

[@adamwu4565]

@@drascin Some of the greatest blunders in history happened because someone tried something stupid and it worked, and someone else, watching, thought "hey it worked, I guess it wasn't so stupid after all," and then tried to do the same thing, again.

[@JaelinBezel]

That doesn’t mean it’s not still ridiculous.

[@MissAppolonia]

Alert! OSP has uploaded! Initiating Operation 'Drop anything that you're doing and watch video' at once!

[@AnaxErik4ever]

And people just think the mythological founding of Thebes, with Cadmus sowing the Dragon's Teeth, is crazy. Real history can be a total nut job sometimes.

[@yellowstarproductions6743]

Agreed

[@flaviusbelisarius7517]

The sign of a good KZbin channel is watching videos you've seen before because they are still entertaining and watching informative videos where you already know the information. I do both of these

[@lunaticraindrop]

I love history and you guys are doing an amazing job spreading the love for it!! Also as someone from Greece who is in love with different cultures and myths I wanna thank you!! I have learned a lot from this channel and I will continue learning~ ❤💙

[@johnnywalker1333]

You forgot to mention Epaminondas' oblique order which is creating an overload, several ranks deeper than usual, on one flank of the phalanx, in this case it was the left side, the side which was facing the Spartans. In my opinion this crucial detail led the Theban army to victory.

[@yorurunner]

It’s called Oblique order

[@sydhenderson6753]

@@yorurunner Frederick the Great won a lot of battles by oblique order and refusing his flank.

[@Zoditron]

I think You guys have been chosen by KZbin to be in The Recommended Section. I believe that is why you are Skyrocketing in Subscribers.

[@thedoruk6324]

Clicked faster than pirates of carribean uploads; this is way much better !

[@lillyrose991]

The DORUK same

[@BlightVonDrake]

Flip the table and become legendary at the same time. I have no words, that's just legit amazing.

[@CDexie]

1:32 My, that's brilliant. The delivery is spot on :D

[@harrisonhicks6853]

for some reason I can’t help but imagine that the writers of the peace treaty are various “it’s always sunny in philadelphia characters”

[@claytongriffith8323]

The first history video I watched on the channel, very glad I took the dive into something I don't really know

[@bretttracey1851]

You guys are awsome, just wanna let you know. I learned alot from you and your commentary and animations of the stories are really funny!

[@thewtfgirl454]

I am from Sparta and that's how we roll, unbeatable motherfuckers... but then Thebes happen (Sorry for my bad English)

[@oskartheguy2105]

The WTF Girl it is ok.

[@idanzamir7540]

Χαίρετε (sorry for my bad Greek)

[@thewtfgirl454]

Idan Zamir It's ok but χαίρετε it's way too formal... try something like γεια σου it's more common among Greeks 😊

[@idanzamir7540]

ευχαριστώ 😄😄

[@thewtfgirl454]

Idan Zamir παρακαλώ 😊

[@AdorablyAtrocious]

Age of Mythology soundtrack hits me right in the nostalgia.

[@ardentfloof4723]

I swear this channel teaches me more than ACTUAL history lessons...I'm subscribing

[@xamanthamarieporioerivera1676]

I just found out about you and this is the best!

[@mayk7124]

When you casually declare war on Sparta and win. Pog.

[@ItalianDucky]

Beautiful video, but knowing the general contest makes it even funnier. The main problem was that previously all Greece had accepted the conditions stated in the "King's Peace", that imposed the autonomy principle of all greek city states, and also said that those cities who didn't respect that principle would have faced a war against Persia and the other greek cities. Problem was that this treaty made Sparta a some sort of guard dog who had to mantain control in Greece, while Greece itself wasn't a problem anymore for Persia. Sparta, now acting as a bully, was the first to not respect the pact by acting like a some sort of ruler. Thebes, after freeing itself from a government forced by Sparta, said: "if sparta can disrespect that pact and rule directy over the Peloponnese and indirectly influence the rest of Greece withouth problems, why can't I do the same with the rest of Beotia?" (the region where the city of Thebes was) After some wars and battles, the time of that treaty described in the video came, and Thebes was like: "Look, I'll talk in the place of the other cities of Beotia" Sparta responded "No you can't, all greek cities are free to act as they desire, you can't just control Beotia and rapresent all the cities of the region"; Thebes then responded: "but you are doing the same with Peloponnese", they both got angry and the war started again, and ended in Thebes' favour. It's like watching two small kids fight, and that makes it all even funnier.

[@sofalint2905]

Why does this channel not have millions of views? I love this channel!

[@ちはマダラ]

Did they like have ten year olds as their diplomats LOL

[@theposhdinosaur7276]

No but their elite force "the sacred band" was entirely comprised of boys and men in pedophiliac relationships, as it was believed that the lovers would protect eachother more that way.

[@helenanilsson5666]

@@theposhdinosaur7276 While I know there was an age difference, I *strongly* doubt the "boys" they sent in as their elite force would be young enough for the relationship to be "pedophiliac". The entire point of the thing was to get 300 elite soldiers capable of defeating a military superpower, not 150 elite soldiers and some dead weight kids.

[@theposhdinosaur7276]

@@helenanilsson5666 Not when fully trained at least. Since this is so ancient, it's really hard to tell the specifics.

[@colindunnigan8621]

If I recall, Epaminondas also arrayed his hoplites on his left flank in greater ranks (up to 50 deep, as opposed to the traditional 8 deep). The Threban Sacred Band was also put at the head of this array.

[@williamdragon9415]

This one was really good Blue. It was concise, interesting ad funny.

[@fabulouschild2005]

Thebes being allied with Persia makes Kassandra's anger at them in AC Odyssey make sense

[@hannahg5407]

This is probably my fave video on your channel. Also I made a meme for this

[@KarishmaChanglani]

This is the level of petty I aspire to be

[@RainintheBrain]

Awesome! Oh and I loved the Age of Mythology music in the background (Adult Swim). Very nice touch.

[@reterbid6215]

Sparta: Ha, killed your army, what are you going to do, call your boyfriend? Thebes: Wait, just finding his number.

[@raidang]

Sacred band of Thebes:

[@Youaveragecountryhumansfan]

1:46 That applies to a lot of historical alliances.

[@SunScourge]

This is, to the letter, that scene in Good Omens where the embodiment of War strolls in to a peace agreement and messes up everything. She must've been there encouraging the Thebans back then.

[@asalways1504]

Happy to see you again Blue!

[@maurogigliotti1911]

2 videos and I already love you

[@maurogigliotti1911]

also age of mithology soundtrack

[@Zerathina]

Let's be honest for a minute, though Thebes did mess up Sparta, they should have lost after that to Sparta and Greece, and more civilizations ganging up on them for not just letting the peace flow. Sparta should have been stopped by the peace treaty, but nooooo, Thebes had to look cool and powerful... what would have really happened had Thebes just let go, and went with the flow of peace?

[@moonymonster]

Hilarity would not ensue

[@festethephule7553]

moonymonster And that's just no fun.

[@theposhdinosaur7276]

What did happen was another war where Sparta and Athens now both thought Thebes was too powerful. Thebes won, but lost their amazing general, and thus status quo was re-established for an entire 2 seconds before the Macedonians showed up.

[@dragonfire7354]

Way to go Thebes! I'm sure you'll live on past Philip of Macedon to do great things! Alexander: .... W, where did you put Thebes Alexander? Alexander: Um...

[@Urspo]

I just love these. Thank you so much for them.

[@Onemanshowoff]

No, we are not going to call it a day We are not even going to call it a night We are NOT even going to call it an evening

[@hannahg5407]

This is probably my fave video and now my favourite history story. My friends are like WE KNOW THEBES WAS PETTY WE GET IT

[@traviswebb3532]

Love you guys keep up the great work.

[@cee_ves]

Moral of the story : Throw hissy fits to show how strong and powerful you are

[@Cartoonicus]

"Impressive and Stupid" I love it. That should be the name of a reality show.

[@Asguard82]

The music in your videos has been like a needle under my fingernails, I knew I knew it but couldn’t remember where from, then found the age of mythology soundtrack again :p

[@shrimpnoodles6144]

I just found this channel. I LOVE IT!

[@requiem6465]

Thebes sounds like that guy everyone hates.

[@lissaquon607]

Wasnt Oedipus in the end from and king of Thebes? Yea. Yea. Getting a propaganda vibe there.

[@bruceswayn9628]

The Age of Mythology music always give me major flashbacks to my early childhood.

[@doctorjonclemons]

Thebes: We would like to reswear on behalf of our people and allies. Sparta: You can't do that. Thebes: So you have chosen death!

[@jochentram9301]

I don't think Spartans ever quite lived up to their PR. Never mind that, after the Battle of the Mice, Sparta becomes a giant theme park.

[@Anglomachian]

And then Epaminondas died. Athens: Ah-ha! Bringing navy back, bitches! Oh wait, is that Macedon? OH NOOOO! Phillip II: BOOM! 20 foot pike! Macadon fo laif! Persia: I have a bad feeling about this...

[@johnburt7935]

Epaminondas is my second-favorite Theban, after Galinthis. Galinthis probably wasn't actually as great an inventor as has been claimed, but she was clearly a brilliant marketer.

[@adjoint_functor]

Thebes trying to reswear has the same energy as insisting that the other person goes first

[@isabellekuipers8609]

That music bring back such memories... Of bears wearing Canada flags...

[@expressivemindscounselling7187]

omg I luv ur art style

[@davidd.5180]

this made my day

[@benjaminfink8393]

Greek history in the classical periods can be summed up as a "Game of Thrones drama in the Mediterranean over a longer timeline."

[@JimBob4233]

Thebes and Corinth turning on Sparta immediately makes sense. Once you've won the war, the only threats are the people on your team.

[@Vulcanwoman]

Thebes put a massive middle finger up to Sparta. Boy that had guts.

[@connormcalister7324]

wow. you guys do an amazing job.

[@donatodiniccolodibettobardi842]

Damn, I love that music... Oh, Age of Mythology, I'll never forget you. Oh, and that was great vid.

[@bluebearfire132]

Is... is that the music from Age of Mythology??? Yes yes it is... respect

[@brotherjorge3]

Karla C - Yaaaaay someone else noticed too!!!

[@izzy1221]

I snorted at how petty they were. Oh Thebes.

[@yasinghasemi7733]

I love your music! It's from Age of Mythology theme song, am I right? I played that game a loooot in my childhood and this music had somehow became calming for me. Good to hear it once again 🥺

[@duyguecemertan8521]

"And 5, Persia. Persia?! Oh come on!" XD

[@HC130P8419]

“If it’s stupid but it works, it’s not stupid.”

[@Eric6761]

Calculated risk

See, Sparta, that's what happen when your enemy flex back.

[@woofergranade2044]

Omg is that music from age of mythology at the end there? You sir get all of the browny points!

[@greek1237]

Persia was playing sides, as long as the Greeks fought themselves, that would leave em weak. Have them fight each other and we do our own thing.

[@Talyrion]

Pretty much. After helping Sparta beat Athens, they help Athens beat Sparta. Perfectly balanced, as all things should be?

[@concernedtulip7938]

Love the Age of Mythology music!

[@blackrose7428]

You know what else is a great achievement? The thumbnail

[@wiskasIO]

"Sure the Spartans are ferocious warriors but we got family" -Epaminondas Toretto

[@jackdewey4298]

AOM Music! 👀👀 Takes me back to my childhood....

[@jestersareawesome4332]

I love how you use the Thebes citizens in Hercules in the video. Lol.

[@rainbowdemon5033]

Is that... the AGE OF MYTHOLOGY SOUNDTRACK? I love that game.

[@JoshuaRWorkman]

Definition of a Stupid Victory. A petty, stupid victory.

[@blackfox4138]

Let me just say, I really appreciate the inclusion of the Age of Mythology soundtrack to your vids

[@albertodelrio69]

This channel needs more musical numbers

[@HelaneJulia]

Hiya! I recently just found you guys and I love your storytelling! I don't know if you take requests, or if you're still doing Greek myths, but I would love to hear your sarcastic overview of the myth "Echo and Narcissus"

[@smoglin2369]

The age of mythology music is pure nostalgia

[@JCDFlex]

5:40 "That's really really stupid!" Dude, if it's stupid but it works... ;D

[@WitStop]

I sometimes be watching these videos just to see what music y’all use, the Black Ops 3 menu music was a crazy ass mixup lmao

[@adina4718]

reminds me of that bucket war "so they stole your bucket." "yup" "so you went to war" "yup well there was a big pope thing but it was mainly the bucket." "why" "no one touches our bucket" "why the new kind of wells work better." "NO ONE TOUCHES THE BUCKET." or or the emu war witch you need to do a video on

[@mars8378]

I love learning from your channel sooo much, you guys make it fun and interesting. Also, what program do you use to draw your characters??