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He owes his fame as to the improvements which he made in the accoutrements of the peltasts or light-armed mercenaries (so called from their 11 round shield) as to his military successes.

Increased the length of their javelins and swords, substituting linen elets for their heavy coats-of-mail, and introducing the use kind of light leggings, called after him iphicratides, he eased greatly the rapidity of their movements. He also paid special attention to discipline, drill and maneuvres. With his peltasts, Iphicrates seriously injured the ?? of the Lacedaemonians in the Corinthian War, and in 392 BC- 390 BC) dealt the Spartans a heavy blow by almost annihilating ora (battalion of about 600 men) of their famous hoplites.

Following up success, he took city after city for the Athenians; but in equence of a quarrel with the Argives he was transferred from Corinth to the Hellespont, where he was equally successful. After the peace of Antalcidas ( 387 BC) he assisted Seuthes , king of Thracian Odrysae, to recover his kingdom, and fought against Cotys, with whom, however, he subsequently concluded an alliance. About 378 BC, he was sent with a force of mercenaries to assist the Persians to reconquer Egypt; but a dispute with PharnabazusPharnabazus was a Persian soldier and statesman, the son of Pharnaces, belonged to a family which from 478 BC governed the satrapy of Phrygia on the Hellespont, from its headquarters at Dascylium, and, according to a discovery by Th. Noldeke, was descende led to the failure of the expedition. On his return to Athens he commanded an expedition in 373 BCCenturies: 5th century BC 4th century BC 3rd century BC Decades: 420s BC 410s BC 400s BC 390s BC 380s BC 370s BC 360s BC 350s BC 340s BC 330s BC 320s BC 378 BC 377 BC 376 BC 375 BC 374 BC 373 BC 372 BC 371 BC 370 BC 369 BC 368 BC Events The Persian army, for the relief of Corcyra, which was besieged by the Lacedaemonians.

On the peace of 371 BCCenturies: 5th century BC 4th century BC 3rd century BC Decades: 420s BC 410s BC 400s BC 390s BC 380s BC 370s BC 360s BC 350s BC 340s BC 330s BC 320s BC 376 BC 375 BC 374 BC 373 BC 372 BC 371 BC 370 BC 369 BC 368 BC 367 BC 366 BC Events Battle of Leuctra,, Iphicrates returned to ThraceThrace is a historical and geographic area in south-east Europe spread over southern Bulgaria, north-eastern Greece, and European Turkey. Thrace borders on three seas: the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara. History The indigenous population, and somewhat tarnished his fame by siding with his father-in-law Cotys in a war against Athens for the possession of the entire Chersonese . The Athenians, however, soon pardoned him and gave him a joint command in the Social War. He and two of his colleagues were impeached by Chares , the fourth commander, because they had refused to give battle during a violent storm.

Iphicrates was acquitted but sentenced to pay a heavy fine. He afterwards remained at Athens (according to some he retired to Thrace) till his death (about 353 BCCenturies: 5th century BC 4th century BC 3rd century BC Decades: 400s BC 390s BC 380s BC 370s BC 360s BC 350s BC 340s BC 330s BC 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 358 BC 357 BC 356 BC 355 BC 354 BC 353 BC 352 BC 351 BC 350 BC 349 BC 348 BC Events Battle of Volo: Ph).

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. 1911 Britannica