Demosthenes, a prominent Athenian politician, produced a man who claimed to have been present at the siege and claimed that Alexander was dead. The Persian contingent that was supposed to guard the defile soon abandoned it, and Alexander passed through without any problems. It was around this time that Philotas and his garrison broke out of the citadel and began fighting in the battle as well. When he saw that Alexander was winning a brilliant victory he pressed on and, as his men were fresh, took over the pursuit. Alexander sent the slower-moving soldiers with the baggage train around the mountains under the command of his general, Parmenion, and moved with the quickest infantry and cavalry units through a high, narrow pass in the Zagros Mountains, known as the Persian Gates. They agree to supply troops for his planned war against Persia. The attempts failed due to the swift current of the river, steep banks, and fierce defense. [35] Although victorious, Battle of the Hydaspes was also the most costly battle fought by the Macedonians.[36]. Seeing that he had broken the Persian line, Alexander led his horse companions in oblique order further to the right in order to outflank the Persians and buy time for his infantry to cross the river. One physician named Philip, who had treated Alexander since he was a child, agreed to treat him. According to ancient sources, the opposing Persians numbered anywhere from 250,000 to a staggering 1,000,000 men. The Sacred Band of Thebes (Ancient Greek: , Hiers Lkhos) was a troop of select soldiers, consisting of 150 pairs of male lovers which formed the elite force of the Theban army in the 4th century BC, ending Spartan domination. Greeks of Alexander's day knew nothing of China, or any other lands east of Bactria. Prior to its destruction by Alexander in 335 BC, Thebes was such a major force in Greek history that it was the most dominant city-state at the time of the Macedonian conquest. However, Alexander was far from dead, and he immediately took steps to quell the unrest, performing a quick march south with his army. [4], Descending on the lands of the Triballians Alexander found out that their king, Syrmus, had gathered his population near the River Lyginus. Presently, the Persian navy returned to find their home cities under Alexander's control. He left only a small contingent to guard the defile, and took his entire army to destroy the plain that lay ahead of Alexander's army. Realizing his precarious position, Alexander quickly decided that his best course of action was simply to leap down into the city. At Corinth, he was given the title 'Hegemon' of the Greek forces against the Persians. Alexander took advantage of that fact to surprise the Persians with his assault, leaving them minimal time to bring up their infantry behind the cavalry that formed the forefront. When news of the revolt reached Alexander, he took quick action. In return for his support, Ada gave Alexander gifts, and even sent him some of the best cooks in Asia Minor, realizing that Alexander had a sweet tooth. After three unsuccessful assaults, the stronghold was finally taken by force,[22] but not before Alexander received a serious shoulder wound. By 338 bce Philip was well into . The defeat of Ariobarzanes's forces at the Persian Gate removed the last military obstacle between Alexander and Persepolis. At the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC, Alexander commanded forces that crushed the notoriously invincible Sacred Band of Thebes - a unit of well-trained and battle-hardened men consisting of 150 pairs of lovers. The destruction of Thebes reverberated around Greece like an earthquake, prompting the execution of anti-Macedonian demagogues and the calming of revolts before they began. So underplayed in this world. Public Domain. The fort of Massaga could only be reduced after several days of bloody fighting in which Alexander himself was wounded seriously in the ankle. Terrified by the sight of the Macedonians above them, they surrendered, even though they would have easily outnumbered the small force that had actually managed to scale the heights. Porus remained a loyal ally of Alexander until the young Macedonian kings death. He set in motion plans to build Alexandria, and, though future tax revenues would be channeled to him, he left Egypt under the management of Egyptians, which helped to win him their support. However, the Thebans replied that he should surrender Antipater and Philotas to them. The various satraps of the Persian Empire gathered their forces at the town of Zelea and offered battle on the banks of the Granicus River. Battle of Chaeronea, (August 338 bce), battle in Boeotia, central Greece, in which Philip II of Macedonia defeated a coalition of Greek city-states led by Thebes and Athens. Alexander entered the battle with about 47,000 campaign-hardened soldiers. [citation needed], The Siege of Halicarnassus was undertaken in 334 BC. A strong wind caused the fire to destroy much of the city. Alexander took full advantage of his well-chosen ground and his tactical knowledge. When they reached the top of the ridge they dislodged and routed the Thracians. Alexander then committed the government of Caria to Ada; and she, in turn, formally adopted Alexander as her son, ensuring that the rule of Caria passed unconditionally to him upon her eventual death. In 321 BC, Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire in India and overthrew the Greek satraps. The third part being a reserve, that was to plug up any holes and to press up any advantages that the Macedonians gained in the course of the siege. As a result, many cities were throwing off the Macedonian yoke. He had only secured the allegiance of the city-states at the beginning of his reign because he had an army present with which to bring the city-states to terms. He reached Thessaly in seven days and was in Boeotia five days later. Ancient Greece How Alexander the Great Conquered the Persian Empire How Alexander the Great Conquered the Persian Empire Alexander used both military and political cunning to finally. They began to fear that Alexander, the king they had hero-worshiped, was turning into an eastern despot, although a young eunuch was eventually introduced to Alexander, and helped to keep his decadence in check. As for the Macedonians, however, their struggle with Porus blunted their courage and stayed their further advance into India. View of Thebes - Hugh William Williams (1819), Territorial Changes: Alexander destroys Thebes. He ordered a small group of cavalry and light infantry to attack from the Macedonian right to draw the Persians off the bank and into the river. Darius, now fearing for both his throne and his life, sent a letter to Alexander in which he promised to pay a substantial ransom in exchange for the prisoners of war, and agreeing to a treaty of alliance with and the forfeiture of half of his empire to Alexander. When he found the Thessalian army blocking the pass between Mount Olympus and Mount Ossa, he had his men ride over Mount Ossa. When ordered to place ladders and climb the walls, they hesitated. A Royal Road connected Susa with the more eastern capitals of Persepolis and Pasargadae in Persis (the Persian Empire had several "capitals"), and was the natural venue for Alexander's continued campaign. The Thebans flung back at him the demand that he surrender Antipater and Philotas to them.[5]. Alexander then mounted his beloved horse Bucephalus, took his place at the head of his Companion cavalry, and led a direct assault against Darius. 9.2-3), Philip II summoned deputations from the Greek states to meet . From Thebes to Gaugamela and from there to the Sogdian Rock, these are Alexander the Great's top 10 battles. There, Alexander found wealth that even he had never imagined possible. The Thebans made everything ready to fight to the last man, and put their women and children in the city temples. The speech worked, and Alexander's troops agreed to remain with him. [citation needed], As these satraps gave up, Alexander appointed new ones to replace them, and claimed to distrust the accumulation of absolute power into anyone's hands. According to Plutarch, during the 60-day march through the desert, Alexander lost three-quarters of his army to the harsh desert conditions along the way. [citation needed], The Battle of Gaugamela took place in 331 BC in what is now Iraqi Kurdistan, possibly near Dohuk,[23][24] and resulted in a decisive victory for the Macedonians. Most commanders would not have wanted to begin a battle so late in the day. The sacrificial force now became a key part of the battle, blocking the Scythians escape, and Alexanders infantry held the wings. The Thebans had reluctantly accepted this, as well as their compulsory membership in the League of Corinth, which had been previously imposed by Philip II of Macedon, Alexander's father. De Santis, Marc G. "At The Crossroads of Conquest". In the letter, Alexander blamed Darius for his father's death and claimed Darius was but a vulgar usurper, who planned to take Macedonia. While at Corinth, he heard the news of the Thracian rising to the north. Hearing of the size of the Macedonian army Syrmus retreated to Peuce Island, an island in the middle of the Danube. The Tyrians believed this to be a sign of weakness, and so they killed the envoys and threw their bodies over the city wall. The fierce fighting drew near enough to force Darius retreat, and with the withdrawal of the king, the remainder of the Persian army broke and fled. At Mount Haemus, the Macedonian army attacked and defeated a Thracian garrison manning the heights. [citation needed], Alexander, viewing himself as the legitimate Achaemenid successor to Darius, viewed Bessus as a usurper to the Achaemenid throne, and eventually found and executed this 'usurper'. Despite the strength of Tyre, after six months, the mole was complete, and the Macedonian army crossed over at the same time that their floating siege array brought rams and siege towers to the walls. It is not clear if it had been a drunken accident, or a deliberate act of revenge for the burning of the Acropolis of Athens during the Second Greco-Persian War. Although he is often only remembered for being the father of Alexander the Great, Philip II of Macedon (reigned 359 BCE - 336 BCE) was an accomplished king and military commander in his own right, setting the stage for his son's victory over Darius III and the conquest of Persia.Philip inherited a weak, backward country with an ineffective, undisciplined army and molded them into a formidable . The battle went on for some time, and it was in doubt. Also present in the Persian army, a sign that the Persians were still very powerful, were the feared war elephants. In the winter of 338, having decisively defeated the Greeks at the Battle of Chaeronea in September (Diod. Modern estimates consider that exaggerated and place the number closer to 120,000, but even that leaves the Macedonians outnumbered nearly 3 to 1. It took Alexander three days to get everything ready for the general assault that was about to take place against the city. Since their allegiance was to their city, they were therefore Alexander's. The satraps in Anatolia rejected this advice, considering it their duty to defend their land. [citation needed], Orontobates and Memnon of Rhodes entrenched themselves in Halicarnassus. Alexander, however, appointed independent boards to collect tribute and taxes from the satrapies, which appeared to do nothing more than improve the efficiency of government. Along the way his army conquered the Malli clans (in modern-day Multan). There was a family, though, that Alexander gave a very high position in his government, but the only contact he ever had with them was when he spent the night with the wife of the household. To subdue these northern tribes Alexander needed to move soldiers that were maintaining Macedonian hegemony in southern Greece. One of the most prominent of these was Thebes. [citation needed]. They built these in addition to the works they had constructed outside of the city itself. Alexander had, indeed, been injured during this siege, so it was not a totally implausible claim to make.[3]. A fire broke out and spread to the rest of the city. However, they successfully drew the attention of the Persians and turned their line slightly in that direction. The Battle was fought on the banks of the river Granicus near Troy in modern day Turkey. Thebes, Modern Greek Thva, dmos (municipality) and city, Central Greece (Modern Greek: Stere Ellda) perifreia (region). Alexander considered building a causeway that would allow his army to take the town by force. It was a mountain cave refuge with sheer cliff sides all around and late spring snows creating even more treacherous conditions. East of Porus' kingdom, near the Ganges River, was the powerful Nanda Empire of Magadha. Alexander followed close behind their heels and captured the strategic hill-fort after the fourth day of a bloody fight. He sent a messenger back to the enemy, demanding their surrender once again and responding that he had found soldiers with wings. However, the Diadochi (his political rivals) abandoned these plans after he died; instead, within a few years of Alexander's death, the Diadochi began a series of military campaigns against each other and divided the territories of the Macedonian Empire among themselves,[4] triggering 40 years of warfare during the Hellenistic period. Considering all of these factors and the close ties Alexander had with the city and the nation, Alexandria is the most likely location of his tomb. Even by this point in the war, the Persian navy still posed a major threat to Alexander. He therefore raced south, hitting Thessaly by the seventh day and Boeotia by end of the next week. Darius escaped with a small core of his forces remaining intact, although the Bactrian cavalry and Bessus soon caught up with him. There were some 300 men who from previous sieges had gained experience in rock-climbing. Using tent-pegs and strong flaxen lines, they climbed the cliff face at night, losing about 30 of their number during the ascent. However, Alexander sent a small group of mounted spearmen, almost as a sacrificial force in order to provoke the Scythians to attack. Alexander ordered essentially suppressing fire from his catapults on their bank in order to keep the archers at bay. At the same time, he himself was busy planning at the proposed crossing point. He threw his royal diadem away, mounted a horse, and fled the scene. Yet what was almost Alexanders first defeat was turned around when some prisoners of war offered to show the Macedonians a small path around the main pass. Alexander's army initially suffered heavy casualties, losing entire platoons at a time. The Thebans, in turn, had put a series of works surrounding the citadel, in addition to pallisades around the city. It is situated on a low ridge dividing the surrounding . Learning, to his surprise, that Darius was already behind him, Alexander turned his army back, and confronted the Persians at the Pinarus River. Dates: 335 BC Location: Greece, Illyria, Thrace Battles: Battle of Mount Haemus The greed of the Macedonians helped to persuade them to keep going, as did the large number of Persian concubines and prostitutes they picked up in the battle. Catapults, arrows, and stones were flung at them from above, and they were forced to withdraw for the first time in their campaign. In addition to the extreme loyalty that his soldiers held for him, spurred on by his courageous leadership at the front of every battle, his ability to think of unexpected solutions to problems and defeat overwhelming odds time and time again made him a deadly enemy. As Alexander arrived in Boeotia, many cities immediately deserted the cause of Greek independence and left Thebes to stand alone. The Battle of Thebes was a battle between the Greek city of Thebes and Macedon under the command of Alexander III the Great in 335 BCE during his Balkan Campaign. After the defeat of Darius himself, Alexander was still faced with ongoing resistance from Darius former commanders and soldiers. Darius had recruited the finest cavalry from his eastern satrapies. Curtius in McCrindle, Op cit, p 192, J. W. McCrindle; History of Punjab, Vol I, 1997, p 229, Punajbi University, Patiala, (Editors): Fauja Singh, L. M. Joshi; Kambojas Through the Ages, 2005, p 134, Kirpal Singh. Band of Thebs ?? Granicus was Alexanders first encounter with Persian forces on the battlefield. The remaining Persian resistance was quickly put down. The Thebans refused to submit on merciful terms, and he assaulted the city, razed it to the ground, and sold all the survivors into slavery. Alexander was now finally free to undertake the Persian campaign which had been planned for so long by his father. He agreed to return the prisoners without ransom, but told Darius that he and Alexander were not equals, and that Darius was to henceforth address Alexander as "King of all Asia". Alexander then advanced on to the Danube, encountering the Getae tribe on the opposite shore. He extended the boundaries of his Macedonian Empire as far east as the city of Taxila in modern-day Pakistan. The Getae army retreated after the first cavalry skirmish, leaving their town to the Macedonian army.[6]. However, Alexander sent in his reserves and the situation started to improve. The battle went on doubtfully for some time, but Alexander's reserves turned the tide. Prior to this Alexander had been made Hegemon of the League of Corinth and had dealt with the revolts in Illyria at the Battle of Mount Haemus as well as in Thrace. Alexander began his career of conquest in 335. [3] Alexander proceeded to solidify Macedonian rule by quashing a rebellion that took place in the southern Greek city-states, and also staged a short but bloody excursion against the city-states to the north. He was by no means eager to destroy the city. Wanting to appear to be a liberator, he freed the population and allowed self-government. However, the Persian satrap of Cappadocia had an inflated view of his own abilities. The men used rope to harness themselves in groups and metal tent pegs as pitons and began the climb in the dead of night. Darius now launched his chariots, which were intercepted by the Agrianians, and quickly rendered useless. He then proceeded south, towards the Peloponnese. A small battle resulted, and Alexander's army managed to break through the city walls. With the destruction of Thebes, mainland Greece again acquiesced in Alexander's rule. [17], After the battle, Alexander buried the dead Greeks and Persians and sent the captured Greek mercenaries back to Greece to work in the mines as an abject lesson for any Greek who decided to fight for the Persians. Alexander ultimately fought many of his battles on a river bank. In the aftermath of Massaga and Ora, numerous Assakenians fled to the fortress of Aornos. Alexander the Great. [14] Eventually, with Alexander advancing deeper into Persian territory, Darius ordered all five satraps of the Anatolian provinces to pool their military resources together and confront Alexander. It is said that Alexander was so enraged at the Tyrians' defense and the loss of his men that he destroyed half the city. ", Alexander consolidates support in Asia Minor. [37] Fearing the prospects of facing the powerful Nanda Empire armies and exhausted by years of campaigning, his army mutinied at the Hyphasis River, refusing to march further east. He paid his troops, and sent a sum of money six times the annual income of Athens to Greece, in order to put down a Spartan rebellion. All items used on this website are for educational purposes under the Fair Use doctrine which allows use of copy-written material without the need for permission from or payment to the copyright holder. Killing, capturing, or forcing the Persian King to flee the field would present him with victory. 1) The larger Spartan army in blue tries to out-flank the Theban right side. When Alexander asked the defenders to surrender, they refused, telling him that he would need "men with wings" to capture it. [16] The Persians expected the main assault to come from Alexander's position and moved units from their center to that flank. The wars of Alexander the Great Greek: were a series of conquests that were carried out by Alexander III of Macedon from 336 BC to 323 BC. He called her "mother", finding her more amicable than his megalomaniacal snake-worshiping mother Olympias. The Cadmae citadel in Thebes, housing Alexander's garrison commanded by Philotas, had fortified itself against the Thebans in the outer city. Alex. Alexander the Great and the Greeks, p. 3: 'This complicated document is far more important . Alexander, while leading the charge, formed his units into a giant wedge, which quickly smashed right into the weakened Persian center. Alexander successfully pacified each in turn, leaving him free to begin the long planned invasion of Persia. The Macedonian army marched up to Mount Haemus, where they met a Thracian garrison manning the heights. They crashed into the flank of the Persians and began a rout, handing the victory to Macedonia and firmly establishing Alexanders move into Persian territory. He kills his rivals to protect his throne and subdues the Greek states. Darius planned to head further east, and raise another army to face Alexander while he and the Macedonians headed to one of the Persian capitals, Babylon, and then to another, Susa. In the past, Alexander had referred to his biological father, Philip, as his "so-called" father, and preferred to think of the deity Amon Zeus as his actual father. Darius left his wife and an enormous amount of treasure behind as his army fled. DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed on this site do not necessarily represent the History Archive nor do they necessarily reflect those of the various authors, editors, and owners of this site. After the assassination of Alexanders father, King Philip II, many of the conquered Greek nations to the south believed the transition of power to be a possible time to stage a bid to regain their independence. Town after town seemed to surrender to him. For several days leading up to the battle, the Macedonian army had been encamped across the river from the Indian forces under King Porus. Consequently, parties mentioned or implied cannot be held liable or responsible for such opinions. The tactic accomplished Alexanders goal, pulling the Persian left and creating a gap in their lines. Although his advisers recommended the use of diplomacy, Alexander ignored the advice and instead proceeded to muster together his Macedonian cavalry of 3,000 men. Alexander, who had a weak navy, was constantly being threatened by the Persian navy. Darius was forced to flee the battlefield or risk losing the entire war and all of Persia, and his retreating army suffered heavy losses as the Macedonians pursued them from the field. Alexander successfully pacified each in turn, leaving him free to begin the long-planned invasion of Persia. He had little desire to expand further north, but nomadic Scythian warriors began to harass the Macedonians on the northern border. The Getae army retreated after the first cavalry skirmish, leaving their town to the Macedonian army. Practically no organized nation had managed to pin down and defeat a nomadic army, as their mobility made it possible for them to quickly retreat and disperse as soon as it became necessary. The Persian forces were trapped between and either killed or forced to flee, opening the route to Persepolis. Omphis, ruler of Taxila, whose kingdom extended from the Indus to the Hydaspes, complied, but the chieftains of some hill clans, including the Aspasioi and Assakenoi sections of the Kambojas (known in Indian texts also as Ashvayanas and Ashvakayanas), refused to submit. Philip's son, and previously designated heir, Alexander was proclaimed king by the Macedonian noblemen and army. They began with battles against the Achaemenid Persian Empire, then under the rule of Darius III of Persia. Alexander's legacy. The battle itself took place both outside and within the city itself. Athens sued for peace and Alexander received the envoy and pardoned anyone involved with the uprising. He reformed his Companion cavalry into a wedge formation and charged for the Persian center and for Darius. By the time the full force of the Indian army had arrived, the Macedonians had been able to draw up their battle lines and meet them on even ground. [10] News then reached Alexander that Cleitus, King of Illyria, and King Glaukias of the Taulantii were in open revolt against Macedonian authority. Alexander knew his army could not stand up to the sheer numbers of his foes for very long. Darius was found by one of Alexander's scouts, moaning in pain. Inflamed at the challenge, Alexander sought 300 of his fittest soldiers and those with climbing experience, and he offered them huge rewards, twelve talents for the first man to summit the rock a massive sum for a regular soldier and large prizes for the runner-ups as well. Before his death, Philip began to set his sights eastwards . The Tyrians, however, quickly devised a counterattack. [4] The Cadmaea, the citadel that was situated upon a hill in Thebes, was occupied by a Macedonian garrison, and it was this place that the Thebans sought to attack. When the Macedonians began moving through the pass, they were fiercely assailed by the Persians above. Alexander had been heading south from the town of Issus in an attempt the intercept the Persian King, unaware that Darius had already headed north, looking for the Macedonian forces. [citation needed], After the battle, Parmenion rounded up the Persian baggage train while Alexander and his own bodyguard chased after Darius in hopes of catching up. However, the other Greek city-states abandoned Thebes, and Alexander laid siege to the city. [1], For their defense, the Thebans emancipated their slaves and faced them towards the Macedonian attack on the wall. Alexander, now the Persian "King of Kings", adopted Persian dress and mannerisms, which, in time, the Greeks began to view as decadent and autocratic. The Thebans planned their defense in the following manner. [1], Though abandoned, the Theban assembly met and enthusiastically decided on war,[1] defying Alexander's throng of experienced troops at their gates. The conquests of Alexander the Great were a series of conquests that were carried out by Alexander III of Macedon from 336 BC to 323 BC. Alexander marched his army east through Cappadocia, where, for a stretch of nearly 150km (93mi), there was no water. At the time of the siege, the city held approximately 40,000 people, though the women and children were evacuated to Carthage, an ancient Phoenician colony. This river thus marks the easternmost extent of Alexander's conquests. To encourage them forward, Alexander leaped to the front and began scaling the ladders himself, emerging on the walls alone and exposed to enemy arrows. The Persians placed their cavalry in front of their infantry, and drew up on the right (east) bank of the river. Many were slaughtered as they attempted to flee. It was a comparatively minor engagement, though an important first victory for the advancing Macedonians. His stellar use of tactics against vastly superior numbers ended in a decisive Macedonian victory and largely decided the course of his Persian campaign. Alexander led the charge himself, as he usually did, running across a rickety plank of wood from a siege tower onto the wall of Tyre and encouraging his men to follow. Ariobarzanes held the pass for a month,[29] but Alexander succeeded in encircling the Persian army and broke through the Persian defenses. [2] He had passed through the pass of Thermopylae without any of the city-states knowing. After achieving a breakthrough, Alexander demonstrated he could do the difficult thing and held the cavalry in check after it broke the Persian right. International and domestic copyright laws apply for all non-public domain written content, graphic images and other multimedia. It was annihilated by Philip II of Macedon in the Battle of . [39], "While the battle raged, Craterus forced his way over the Haranpur ford. A force of 4,000 infantry and 1,500 cavalry crossed the river, to the amazement of the Getae army of 14,000 men. Undeterred by the natural defenses of the island fortress of Tyre, Alexander instructed his men to build a mole through the harbor to support a bridge. On the acropolis of the ancient city stands the present commercial and agricultural centre of Thebes. However, Alexander sent in his reserves and the situation started to improve. The horses that were pulling Darius' chariot were injured, and began tossing at the yoke. He did not realize that the different circumstances of the terrain made that strategy useless. Issus was the site of the first direct encounter between Alexander and Darius, both commanding their armies in a full-scale battle against one another. It was the first time the Persian army had been defeated with the King present on the field. Donatello: 10 Facts About The Integral Forefather Of The Renaissance, Bas-Reliefs of Persepolis: 5 Fascinating Facts, 8 Lesser-Known Facts About Alexander the Great, Sulla: The Story of Romes Lucky Dictator, Kings of Persia: These 12 Achaemenid Rulers Led an Empire, A History of the Ancient & Classical City of Tyre and Its Commerce. Located on the eastern shores of ancient Syria (modern-day Lebanon), it was a strategic harbor port with incredible defenses that had once held up against a thirteen-year siege by King Nebuchadnezzar II. In addition to this, he had sent his most able general Memnon of Rhodes against the Macedonian troops that were already stationed in Ionia at this time. [7] After Alexander's forces defeated the Persians at the Battle of the Granicus, Darius took personal charge of his army, gathered a large army from the depths of the empire, and maneuvered to cut the Greek line of supply, requiring Alexander to countermarch his forces, setting the stage for the battle near the mouth of the Pinarus River and south of the village of Issus. [6] He also succeeded his father as head of the League of Corinth, a confederation of Greek states that were under the hegemony of Macedonia in order to combat the Achaemenid Empire. to 323 B.C. He was also able to get the majority of his army across the Hydaspes River before King Porus could respond to his sentries alarms and send men to contest the crossing. His battle tactics would be studied by other ancient generals for centuries to follow. [citation needed], The stronghold at Gaza was built on a hill and was heavily fortified. In addition, the deadly Persian chariots were useless on a cramped, muddy river bank. Thebes, Messene, and Ambracia, expelled them. Despite his military accomplishments, Alexander did not provide any stable alternative to the rule of the Achaemenid Empire,[1] and his untimely death threw the vast territories he conquered into a series of civil wars, commonly known as the Wars of the Diadochi. Gay. When they came into range the Macedonian archers fired at the Thracians, disrupting their battle line, all the while the Macedonian heavy infantry marched on. The Battle of Thebes was a battle that took place between Alexander the Great and the Greek city state of Thebes in 335 BC immediately outside of and in the city proper in Boeotia.After being made Hegemon of the League of Corinth, Alexander had marched to the north to deal with revolts in Illyria and Thrace, which forced him to draw heavily from the troops in Macedonia that was maintaining . There appeared to be little change from the old system. The Persian troops, realizing they had lost, either surrendered or fled with their hapless king. . While young Alexander was busy getting the northern kingdoms of Thrace and Illyria back in line, the Greek leaders of Thebes heard a rumor that Alexander had actually been killed in battle. The Battle of Gaugamela was a major success for Alexander. The garrison in Macedonia was weakened and Thebes declared its independence. He asked for water, and then, clutching the Macedonian soldier's hand, said that he was thankful that he would not die utterly alone and abandoned. After gaining control of the former Achaemenid satrapy of Gandhara, including the city of Taxila, Alexander advanced into Punjab, where he engaged in battle against the regional king Porus, whom Alexander defeated in the Battle of the Hydaspes in 326 BC,[33][34] but was so impressed by the demeanor with which the king carried himself that he allowed Porus to continue governing his own kingdom as a satrap. When he died, Darius had appointed Orontobates satrap of Caria, which included Halicarnassus in its jurisdiction. This surprised Darius who mistakenly elected to hold the wrong position while Alexander instructed his infantry to take up a defensive posture. The Thebans, in their turn, had put a series of works around the citadel in order to ensure that sorties could not be easily made by this garrison. The defile was very narrow, and could have been easily defended. The Thebans received Persian monetary aid as did Demosthenes who used it to purchase weapons and other equipment and donated it to the Thebans. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. International and domestic copyright laws apply for all non-public domain written content, graphic images and other multimedia. During his two decades on the throne, Philip II had unified[2] the poleis (Greek city-states) of mainland Greece (with Macedonian hegemony) under the League of Corinth. [1] They were aware that there was to be no quarter. When he found the Thessalian army occupying the pass between Mount Olympus and Mount Ossa, he had the men ride through Mount Ossa and, when the Thessalians awoke, they found Alexander at their rear. The satrap at Sardis, as well as his garrison, was among the first of many satraps to capitulate. [12], In 334 BC, Alexander crossed the Hellespont into Asia. Before the noble could deal a death-blow, however, he was himself killed by Cleitus the Black. The Macedonian cavalry pursued the fleeing Persians for as long as there was light. After three days preparation, Alexander divided his force in three parts. Alexander the Great was an ancient Macedonian ruler and one of history's greatest military minds who, as King of Macedonia and Persia, established the largest Alexander the Great was an. After the Siege of Gaza, Alexander advanced from Syria towards the heart of the Persian Empire, crossing both the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers without any opposition. This time, there was no such army present in southern Greece. The Cadmae in Thebes - commanded by Philotas - had fortified itself as best it might against the Thebans outside in the city itself. The Triballians retreated to a gorge, where they were drawn out by Alexander's light infantry. Upon learning of the alleged death of Alexander, Theban exiles in Athens raced off to their native city in Boeotia and sought to incite a revolt from Macedonian rule there. Darius, dying and chained to a baggage train being pulled by an ox, was lying next to a lone dog and his royal robes were covered in blood. Taking this place allowed Alexander to march his army to southern Greece quickly, which would eventually result in the total destruction of Thebes. Alexander the Great was an ancient Macedonian ruler and one of history's greatest military minds who, as King of Macedonia and Persia, established the largest empire the ancient world had ever. "The Archaeological and Literary Evidence for the Burning of the Persepolis Palace". [18], Antipater, whom Alexander had left in charge of Macedon in his absence, had been given a free hand to install dictators and tyrants wherever he saw fit in order to minimize the risk of a rebellion. The Thessalians surrendered and added their cavalry to Alexander's force as he rode down towards the Peloponnese. When the Thessalians awoke, they found Alexander at their rear. He even named a city after his horse. Alexander's general, Parmenion, took one half along the Royal Road, and Alexander himself took the route towards Persis. This fight was the challenge Alexander was looking for, an army with huge elephants that were almost able to defeat Alexander. He then coordinated an attack across the breach with a bombardment from all sides by his navy. The Battle of Thebes was a battle that took place between Alexander the Great and the Greek city-state of Thebes in 335 BC immediately outside of and in the city proper in Boeotia. The Persians did not yet understand the exceptional talent of their enemy and had moved a smaller force quickly to engage with Alexander as he first entered Asia Minor. He had several of the slower galleys, and a few barges, refit with battering rams, the only known case of battering rams being used on ships. Alexander mounted his siege materials onto his ships to harass the walls, and again the Tyrians returned by sending swimmers to cut the ships anchor ropes, leading to one of the first uses of anchor chains. Alexander began by ordering his infantry to march in phalanx formation towards the center of the enemy line. [1], Alexander punished the Thebans severely for their rebellion. He wanted the Persians to destroy the land in front of Alexander, which he hoped would force Alexander's army to starve, and then to turn back. Alexander, who may have felt genuinely saddened at Darius' death, buried Darius next to his Achaemenid predecessors in a full military funeral. On the approach of Alexander in 334 BC, Ada, who was in possession of the fortress of Alinda, surrendered the fortress to him. When Alexander learned of the revolt of Thebes, he was immediately concerned about the situation. Alexander could not withdraw from his ambitions in the south without handling this threat, for reputation as much as anything else. Alexander sent several emissaries to request the city submit to him on peaceful terms. As he moved deeper into Persia, however, the threat of trouble seemed to grow. The battle itself took place both outside and within the city itself. Substantial amounts of loot were gained following the battle, with 4,000 talents captured, as well as the King's personal chariot and bow. This army was guided by Memnon, while absolute command was split among the five satraps. The battle went on for some time, and it was in doubt. He approached the city very slowly and initially encamped far from the city, hoping to awaken the city to its dangerous situation. The Balkan campaign of Alexander the Great took place in 335 BC, against a number of rebellious vassals of the Macedonian kingdom. [25][26] After the Battle of Gaugamela in present-day Iraqi Kurdistan, Alexander had advanced to Babylon and Susa. The city lies northwest of Athens (Athna) and was one of the chief cities and powers of ancient Greece. Follow him they did, and Tyre fell to the onslaught. When news of the revolt reached Alexander he responded quickly. On the open ground, they were crushed by Alexander's infantry and cavalry, leaving behind 3,000 dead. The Ruthless Assassins of History: From Brutus to ISIS-K. By Marian VermeulenBA History and PhilosophyMarian has been a devoted student of the ancient world since primary school. He left the majority of the army with his general Craterus, under orders to make it appear as if the Macedonian army remained encamped and, with a smaller detachment, navigated the treacherous path around to attack from the rear. This coincided with the arrival of another hundred and twenty from Cyprus, which had heard of his victories and wished to join him. After having been made Hegemon of the League of Corinth, Alexander had marched to the north to deal with revolts in Illyria and Thrace. The first part of the force he ordered to attack the palisades that were around the city itself. He had been busy with the siege of Pelium and a rumour had reached them that he had died during the course of this siege. DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed on this site do not necessarily represent the History Archive nor do they necessarily reflect those of the various authors, editors, and owners of this site. 3) The Theban right side includes peltasts, javelin throwers, which harass the Spartan left side. Alexander III of Macedon, more commonly known as Alexander the Great, was king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon, which today is divided among three countries. Athens sued for peace and Alexander received the envoy and pardoned anyone involved with the uprising. The king of Tyre attempted to open diplomatic discussions with Alexander, but after a religious misunderstanding that resulted in the Macedonian King perceiving a slight against his honor and subsequent hostilities against Macedonian messengers, Alexander decided to take the city. [3], Before crossing to Asia, Alexander wanted to safeguard his northern borders and, in the spring of 335 BC, he advanced into Thrace to deal with the revolt, which was led by the Illyrians and Triballi. Alexander spoke to his army and tried to persuade them to march further into India but Coenus pleaded with him to change his opinion and return, the men, he said, "longed to again see their parents, their wives and children, their homeland". Once the siege began, the Thebans fought desperately, fearing for their homes, wives and children. Alexander ordered the destruction of Thebes as a message to the other Greek city-states of the potential consequences. [1] However, Alexander had an overwhelming number of experienced troops at the gates of the city at this time. After the conquest of Susa, Alexander split the Macedonian army into two parts. He realized his only option for victory was to quickly capture or kill the Persian king, Darius, who was stationed near the center of the Persian lines surrounded by his elite royal guard, the Immortals. Darius was building up a massive army, drawing men from the far reaches of his empire, and planned to use sheer numbers to crush Alexander. After being made hegemon of the League of Corinth, Alexander had marched to the north to deal with revolts in Illyria and Thrace, which forced him to draw heavily from the troops in Macedonia that were maintaining pressure on the Greek city-states of the south to keep them in subjection. They emancipated their slaves and faced them towards that part of the Macedonian force which drove towards the wall itself. [citation needed], The Battle of Issus took place in southern Anatolia on November 333 BC. Alexander asked for volunteers, whom he would reward if they could climb the cliffs under the fortress. The Athenian Ecclesia signed a defensive alliance with the Thebans clearly aimed against the Macedonians. The attack worked, and kept the Scythians from bow range until Alexanders own archers had landed on the bank. Tyre was the site of the only remaining Persian port that did not capitulate to Alexander. For the identification, see Henry Speck, "Alexander at the Persian Gates. [1] In 336, Philip II was assassinated by the captain of his bodyguard, Pausanias. . Thus, he had finally managed to divorce himself from both of his biological parents. [8], Alexander stopped at Thermopylae, where he was recognized as the leader of the Sacred League before heading south to Corinth. In 336 BC, while attending the wedding of his daughter by Olympias, Cleopatra and Olympias' brother, Alexander I of Epirus at Aegae, Philip II was assassinated by the captain of his bodyguard, Pausanias. Although the Persian army greatly outnumbered the Macedonians, the battlefield was bordered on one side by the Gulf of Issus and on the other by the rough terrain of the foothills of the Amanus Mountains, limiting the number of soldiers he could send into battle at one time and almost neutralizing his powerful cavalry forces. By the time they assaulted the town, Alexanders soldiers were exhausted and ready to head home. From the southern slope, Persian archers and catapults launched their projectiles. After Alexander defeated the last of the Achaemenid Empire's forces in battle of Gabai against Spitamenes, and Coenus (Koinos), one Alexander the Great's generals in 328 BC, he began a new campaign to Ariana in 327 BC. Alexander turned his army around and advanced on the second Triballian force. [9], Before crossing to Asia, Alexander wanted to safeguard his northern borders and, in the spring of 335 BC, he advanced into Thrace to deal with the revolt, which was led by the Illyrians and Triballi. Memnon, however, now deployed his catapults, and Alexander's army fell back. Meanwhile, ambassadors from other Greek cities in Asia Minor came to Alexander, offering submission if he allowed their 'democracies' to continue. Thebes was razed and its remaining population sold into slavery, a judgment given by the League of Corinth as Thebes had violated sacred treaties with their rebellion. [31] A fierce contest ensued with the Aspasioi in which Alexander himself was wounded in the shoulder by a dart but eventually the Aspasioi lost the fight. Prior to his death, Alexander had also made plans for a Hellenic military and mercantile expansion into the Arabian Peninsula, after which he planned to turn his armies to Carthage, Rome, and the Iberian Peninsula in the west. [1] At this point, realizing that the fight for the city walls was a lost cause, the Thebans retreated and began their final battle within the city itself. [28] Ariobarzanes had hoped that defeating Alexander at the Persian Gates would allow the Persians more time to field another army, and possibly stop the Macedonian invasion altogether. She enjoys dabbling in historical fiction, but generally finds the actual true individuals of history and their stories more fascinating than any fictional invention. He now had eighty ships. After holding back for the shift, Alexander led his Companion Cavalry in an attack on the right flank. Through careful maneuvering, Alexander split the Indian army, forcing them to fight on two fronts not of their own choosing. [5] Philip's son, and previously designated heir, Alexander, was proclaimed king by the Macedonian noblemen and army. In a war against the allied Greek states, 18-year-old Alexander led a cavalry charge that helped Philip win the conflict. Fully aware that the numbers were on the Persians side, he employed the same strategy that he would later use at Gaugamela get to King Darius. The Thebians took advantage of this and rebelled against Alexander's rule. These top 10 of his greatest battles receive that distinction for a variety of reasons; some for careful strategy despite being outnumbered, some for innovative engineering and planning, and some for sheer courage and audacity. By this, Alexander revealed for the first time that his plan was to conquer the entire Persian Empire. Memnon then deployed his infantry, and shortly before Alexander would have received his first (and only) defeat, his infantry managed to break through the city walls, surprising the Persian forces and killing Orontobates. 10 Jun 2023 20:04:38 Alexander began with an engineering feat that shows the true extent of his brilliance; as he could not attack the city from sea, he built a kilometer-long causeway stretching out to the island on a natural land bridge no more than two meters deep. Thebes had been under Macedonian occupation since the Battle of Chaeronea, which had resulted in the defeat and deposition of Thebes as the pre-eminent city-state of Southern Greece. Alexanders largest battle in India was fought on the shores of the Hydaspes River. Alexander was born in 356 bce in Pella, Macedonia, the son of King Philip II and Queen Olympias. The Achaemenid Persian Empire is considered to have fallen with the death of Darius. In the winter of 327/326 BC, Alexander personally led a campaign against these clans; the Aspasioi of Kunar valley, the Guraeans of the Guraeus valley, and the Assakenoi of the Swat and Buner valleys. [citation needed], The Siege of Tyre occurred in 332 BC when Alexander set out to conquer Tyre, a strategic coastal base. Astonishing details of Alexander the Great's personal armor as he prepared for the Battle of Gaugamela against the Persians are described by the Ancient Greek historian, Plutarch.. Plutarch's Life of Alexander is one of five extant tertiary sources on the Macedonian conqueror. The majority of the existing satraps were to give their loyalty to Alexander, and be allowed to keep their positions. Alexander the Great, also known as Alexander III or Alexander of Macedonia, (born 356 bce, Pella, Macedonia [northwest of Thessalonki, Greece]died June 13, 323 bce, Babylon [near Al-illah, Iraq]), king of Macedonia (336-323 bce ), who overthrew the Persian empire, carried Macedonian arms to India, and laid the foundations for the Hellenistic . Three to four men who had managed to reach the walls before the ladders broke jumped down into the citadel just in time to see Alexander, who had been fiercely fighting off the enemy with his back to a large tree trunk, fall to a large arrow through the chest that nicked his lung. The Jaxartes was a river, one the Macedonians had to cross in order to engage the Scythian warriors, but they became vulnerable to bowshots about halfway across. [20] Alexander then constructed two towers 150 feet high and moved them to the end of the causeway. He was reinforced along the way by the Agriani, a Thracian/Paeonian tribe under the command of Alexander's friend, Langarus. In Sogdiana, north of Bactria, he found an organized resistance holed up in a mountain fortress known as the Sogdian Rock. With these tactics, Alexander was able to successfully sneak his boats to the crossing point. Alexander had sent spies to meet with dissidents inside the city, who had promised to open the gates and allow Alexander to enter. Meanwhile, Darius took the Persian army to intercept Alexander. Alexander the Great of Macedonia was a unique tactician and general, undefeated in the field. By fighting on the bank Alexander had minimized the advantage the Persians had in numbers and had rendered their deadly chariots ineffective on soft and muddy soil. He wanted to conquer the entire known world, which in Alexander's day, ended on the eastern end of India. Alexander successfully pacified each in turn, leaving him free to begin the long-planned invasion of Persia . [32] A similar slaughter then followed at Ora, another stronghold of the Assakenoi. Alexander the Great? His replacement was a Persian who had spent time in Macedonia called Pharnabazus. The Theban cavalry was placed within the palisades themselves. Alexander now sent much of his army to Carmania (modern southern Iran) with his general Craterus, and commissioned a fleet to explore the Persian Gulf shore under his admiral Nearchus, while he led the rest of his forces back to Persia by the southern route through the Gedrosian Desert (now part of southern Iran and Makran now part of Pakistan). He then proceeded east in order to carry out his plans to conquer the Achaemenid Empire. Tyre, the largest and most important city-state of Phoenicia, was located both on the Mediterranean coast as well as a nearby Island with two natural harbors on the landward side. The Anabasis of Alexander/Book V/Chapter XVIII, The Anabasis of Alexander/Book V/Chapter XIX, Chronology of the expedition of Alexander the Great into Asia, https://issuu.com/sonjcemarceva/docs/alexander_the_great_-_historical_so, "How geology came to help Alexander the Great", "KurdishGlobe- The Location of the Battle of Gaugamela Discovered", "The Location of the Battle of Gaugamela Discovered - The Kurdish Globe (Erbil, Iraq) | HighBeam Research", "Plutarch Life of Alexander (Part 7 of 7)", Alexander the Great: An annotated list of primary sources, Alexander The Great in the French museum Le Louvre, Alexander, The Great Mystery by T. Peter Limber in "Saudi Aramco Magazine", Trace Alexander's conquests on an animated map, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wars_of_Alexander_the_Great&oldid=1159448389. Larsen, Jakob A. O. July 28, 2021 0 7757 - Advertisement - The battle and destruction of Thebes in 335 BC by Alexander the Great, destroyed the strongest city-state in Greece at that time and allowed him to control all of Greece. The true effect, however, was to separate the civil from the financial function of these satrapies, thus ensuring that these governments, while technically independent of him, never truly were. According to the Roman historian Quintus Curtius Rufus, Batis was killed by Alexander in imitation of Achilles' treatment of the fallen Hector. Together, the army rode south towards Thessaly (Macedon's immediate neighbor to the south). At the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC, these 300 gay warriors led the Theban army against the Show more. The fighting was fierce as Alexander and the closest soldiers crested the riverbank, and Alexander was almost killed in the moments that followed. He had been at the Battle of the Granicus River, and had believed that Memnon's scorched Earth strategy would work here. The Siege of Pelium was undertaken by Alexander the Great against the Illyrian tribes of what is modern day Albania. Thebes was next: the Thebans had risen in the optimistic belief that Alexander had died in Illyria. The Sacred Band of Thebes (an elite military unit) famously fell at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC against Philip II and Alexander the Great. With Gaza taken, Alexander marched into Egypt. The Battle of Thebes was a battle between the Alexander III the Great in 335 BCE during his . Though Alexander had conquered part of the Persian empire, it was still vast in area and in manpower reserves, and Darius could recruit more men than Alexander could dream of. The Macedonians were then attacked in the rear by the Triballi, who were crushed in turn. 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