Alexander the Great

Alexander in Art

We have already discussed much of Alexander’s achievements, his “greatness”

as well we talked about how Philip contributed to Alexander’s success

Do you remember how Alexander benefited from Philip?

Alexander inherited this:

And this:

Professional army & SarissaAlexander inherited from his father the most perfectly organized, trained, and equipped army of ancient times.

J.F.C. Fuller

A quick review of Alexander

parents were Philip and Olympia

became king at twenty, after his father’s murder (336 BCE)

some say he was involved in this although there is no hard evidence except his estranged relationship with Philip (2 events in particular)

Alexander started with:

When he was finished:

Using an atlas list the modern day countries that Alexander conquered

2 Major Battles:Granikos

Issus

Battle at Granikos

Date: probably May/June 334 B.C.

Location: western Turkey, river Granicus (modern Biga, near Bandirma & Balikeshir)

Macedonian army: probably 47,000

Persian army: from 6,000 (Delbrück) or 15,000 (Fuller) up to 110,000 (Sekunda)

Alexander's battle plan was to send some auxiliary cavalry against the enemy flanks, giving the Persians the impression that the main assault would take place there.

The Persians reacted in the way Alexander desired: they withdrew cavalry from the center (which was guarding the river) to strengthen the flanks.

At that moment Alexander and his Companion cavalry rushed into the Persian center and made the decisive attack there.

Battle at Issus

Date: probably November 333 B.C.

Location: Hatay province of present day Turkey, just north of Iskenderun

Macedonian army: 30,000 (Fuller, Delbrück) up to maybe 42,000 (Warry)

Persian army: from 25,000 (Delbrück) or 108,000

Darius had employed Cardaces- young Persian soldiers - at his left flank. But as Alexander observed, they were assisted by archers. For Alexander this was a sign of weakness. Persian army ran.

While Parmenion lead the defence against the fierce Persian attack at the Macedonian left wing (along the sea shore) Alexander rushed his Companion cavalry towards those inexperienced Cardaces further inland. They could not stand up to the Macedonian assault. As they routed, they opened the way for Alexander to push his attack towards the center where King Darius was. Darius took to flight and the entire center collapsed.

Delbrück has an interesting analysis of Issus. Because Alexander's army was trapped, the Persians really did not need to score victory. A draw would be enough for Darius to isolate Alexander and force him to surrender.

This observation - which was absolutely correct - determined Darius' entire battle plan. The Persians did not employ the full attacking ability of their cavalry but put their hopes on a successful defence.

They were hesitant to pursue Parmenion's units, though Parmenion was overclassed and outnumbered - with disastrous results. Darius strategical decisions were sound, but he blundered tactically.

Darius’s mistake:

The way Alexander turned great odds into an overwhelming victory is just beyond belief. The sheer contradiction between Darius having made preparations of assembling an epic army over many months, and Alexander totally annihilating his foe's efforts within a matter of minutes, just inspires your imagination.

A few thoughts...

Issus could arguably be called the most decisive moment of the campaign. After the battle the Persians had lost control over all territories west of the river Euphrates. That implied not only the loss of areas with a vital economic importance, but it also included the impossibility of ever launching a counter attack against Macedonia by sea.

Alexander had executed the four basic principles of all military strategy:

first organise your defences,

then secure your supply lines,

then capture your opponent's resources.

Only after that, go for the final blow. At Gaugamela, two years later, the Persian Great King was already a beaten man.

If you would summarize Alexander's tactics displayed at the four main confrontations, three essential observations catch the eye.

First, Alexander always managed to make his opponents respond in the way he desired.

Second, he had an absolutely convincing talent for immediately determining the weak spots in the enemy line.

And third, no matter how grim the situation, he never panicked, but always executed his plans in a coherent way.

Alexander’s Military genius: