Akim, are you and the rest of your country a bunch of suicidal maniacs? The US admitted that they will keep sending weapons until the last Ukrainian is killed. So, we are providing the gun that you are committing suicide with. Evolution has never favored suicidal maniacs. Look what happened to Thebes when they chose to fight...
Alexander's arrival and siege[edit]
As Alexander arrived in Boeotia, many cities immediately deserted the cause of Greek independence and left Thebes to stand alone. Athens, led by Demosthenes, an inveterate opponent of Phillip, again denounced Macedonian hegemony and voted to support Thebes, supplying weapons, but Athens held back its forces, deciding to await events. The
Spartans sent troops as far as the
Isthmus of Corinth, but they also shrank from confronting Alexander.
[1]
Though abandoned, the Theban assembly met and enthusiastically decided on war,
[1] defying Alexander's throng of experienced troops at their gates. Hesitant to destroy the city, he approached slowly and initially encamped far from the walls, hoping to dissuade the resisters.
[1][5] He offered relatively lenient terms: the surrender of Phoenix and Prothytes, leaders of the insurrection, with all others spared. The Thebans flung back at him the demand that he surrender Antipater and
Philotas to them.
[5]
The Cadmae citadel in Thebes, housing Alexander's garrison commanded by Philotas, had fortified itself against the Thebans in the outer city. The Thebans, in turn, had put a series of works surrounding the citadel, in addition to pallisades around the city.
After three days preparation, Alexander divided his force in three parts. The first attacked the palisades and the second formed a line against the Theban infantry, with the third in reserve to reinforce gaps and press opportune advantages.
[1]
For their defense, the Thebans emancipated their slaves and faced them towards the Macedonian attack on the wall. The Theban cavalry was placed within the palisades. The Thebans made everything ready to fight to the last man, and put their women and children in the city temples.
[1]
In the assault, the Thebans fought desperately, fearing for their homes, wives, and children. The battle went on doubtfully for some time, but Alexander's reserves turned the tide. Alexander noticed that the Theban guard had abandoned one of their gates, and he seized the opportunity, sending
Perdiccas' troops to take it and penetrate into the city.
[1] At this point, realizing that the walls were lost, the Thebans retreated into the city, but Philotas's garrison broke out of the citadel, surrounding the Thebans and ending the contest.
[1]
Destruction of Thebes[edit]
Alexander punished the Thebans severely for their rebellion. As an example to the other Greek states, he ordered the execution of all male inhabitants and the enslavement of the women and children. The city was burnt to the ground, sparing only the temples, the Cadmae citadel and of the house of
Pindar, out of gratitude for Pindar's verses praising Alexander's ancestor,
Alexander I of Macedon.
[6]