Sacred Band of Thebes

State · 366–351 BCE · at its largest around 366 BCE

Theban hegemony in Greece after the victory at Leuctra, named here after Thebes' elite infantry unit, during which Epaminondas led campaigns into the Peloponnese.

On its lands while it lasted

Thermos (1,500–189 BCE): Capital of Aetolian League (284 BCE–189 BCE).
Pergamon (801 BCE – 62 CE): Capital of Kingdom of Pontus (281 BCE–62), Kingdom of Pergamon (279 BCE–133 BCE).
Aigai (750 BCE – 100 CE): Capital of Macedonian Empire (675 BCE–292 BCE).
Pella (c. 675–292 BCE): Capital of Macedonian Empire (675 BCE–292 BCE).
Aigai (c. 675–292 BCE): Capital of Macedonian Empire (675 BCE–292 BCE).
Byzantium (c. 667 BCE – c. 329 CE): Greek colony founded by settlers from Megara on the Bosporus; it was refounded by Constantine as Constantinople in 330 CE.
Statue of Zeus at Olympia (c. 435 BCE – c. 425 CE): Giant gold-and-ivory seated statue of Zeus by Phidias in his temple at Olympia, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; lost in the fifth century CE.
Plato (c. 428 BCE – 348 BCE): Athenian philosopher, student of Socrates and founder of the Academy, whose dialogues, including the Republic, shaped Western philosophy.
Aristotle (384 BCE – 322 BCE): Philosopher and polymath, student of Plato and tutor of Alexander the Great, who founded the Lyceum and wrote on logic, biology, ethics and politics.
Philip II of Macedon (382 BCE – 336 BCE): King of Macedon who reorganised its army around the phalanx and brought the Greek city-states under Macedonian control; father of Alexander the Great.
Alexander the Great (356 BCE – 323 BCE): King of Macedon who conquered the Persian Empire and reached India, spreading Greek culture across the Near East before dying in Babylon at 32.