Alexander inherited a well-trained army from his father and trained them even further. Backed by his shiny new army, Philip marched south in 338 B.C. The highest positions were in the Royal Companion Cavalry, the king’s own personal squadron, and in the Royal Hypaspists, an elite 500-man infantry unit that surrounded the king in battle. Alexander the Great, also known as Alexander III or Alexander of Macedonia, (born 356 bce, Pella, Macedonia [northwest of Thessaloníki, Greece]—died June 13, 323 bce, Babylon [near Al-Ḥillah, Iraq]), king of Macedonia (336–323 bce ), who overthrew the Persian empire, carried Macedonian arms to India, and laid the foundations for the Hellenistic world of territorial kingdoms. But he would try his troops' patience too much, prompting his remarkable army to mutiny. Turns out Alexander was also great at conflict resolution. At Issus, Alexander debuted the battle strategy that would assure him victory after victory during his remarkable reign of conquest. It is not clear if the definition of “companion” came from the fact that … The book begins by outlining the basics concerning how to move an army in the ancient world and the difficulties of keeping a large army supplied as it moves along a campaign. The Greek city-states of Athens and Thebes weren’t thrilled to be under the thumb of “barbarian” kings, particularly since it infringed on their democratic ideals. Darius’ strategy was to cut off Alexander’s supply lines from behind and force the Macedonian troops to turn around and face off. Thanks to reforms implemented by his father, Philip II, Alexander would wield an army that displayed unprecedented discipline. forged was not long-lasting, but his heroic deeds were legendary. As a gesture of goodwill, Macedonians and Persians broke bread together at a 9,000-person banquet. That conflict featured the famous Battle of Thermopylae, where 300 Spartan warriors made a heroic last stand against tens of thousands of Persian invaders. Alexander III was born in 356 B.C. In the century leading up to Alexander’s reign, Persia was furthered weakened by a civil war and other internal rebellions. The Macedonians weren’t always a force to be reckoned with. The battle was the conclusion of his epic campaign to avenge the Persian invasion of Greece 150 years before. But soon after crossing the Hellespont into Persian territory, Philip was assassinated, making young Alexander the new king and commander-in-chief of the Macedonian forces. Alexander planned to create a "master race" through the intermixing of Macedonians and Persians. Even the way soldiers bathed was tightly regulated. When Alexander returned to Persia from his Egyptian conquests, Darius tried to delay the inevitable clash as long as possible, eventually deciding that if there was going to be a rematch, it would be on Daruis’ terms. He camped the Macedonian army in the hills above the battle site to fuel up and rest while he drew up a game plan. It was Alexander’s father, Philip, who single-handedly transformed the Macedonian army into one of the most feared fighting machines in the ancient world. Army pay was meager but was paid promptly. Alexander the Great conquers Persia. Then he ordered the entire Macedonian line to march quickly to the right. Aristotle Was His High School Teacher. Gone was the shorter “dory” or Greek wooden spear (7 feet long), and in its place was the much longer sarissa, an 18- to 22-foot hunting spear with an iron tip that could puncture heavy armor and impale charging cavalry horses. Darius and his generals chose a battle site near the town of Gaugamela. Appalled by the treasonous act, Alexander had the man tortured and executed before declaring himself the undisputed king of Macedonia, Greece, and now Persia. It was remarkable, mainly, because it was a standing army. The Persians, fearing a night attack, remained in ready formation all night, anxiously awaiting a charge that never came. Diadochi and the Hellenistic Period. Roughly 12 years into his historic reign on the Macedonian throne, Alexander the Great had more than lived up to his epithet. Why was the Macedonian Army so good? Philip and Alexander were able to do this because: 1. For centuries this light-skinned, pagan people have claimed to be the long-lost descendants of Alexander the Great's world-conquering armies, which invaded this region in the fourth century B.C. Jeff Bezos Reportedly Considers Himself the Alexander the Great of Modern Exploitation Jezebel - Emily Alford. The Battle of the Hydaspes was Alexander’s last great pitched battle. - Alexander the Great quotes from BrainyQuote.com "I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion." Not only did the Macedonian army easily crush the Thebian rebellion, says Wrightson, “but Alexander razed Thebes to the ground and sold the entire city into slavery, except for one house owned by the descendants of his favorite poet.”. But there were also signs that the Persian Empire was already in decline. A horse or mule in comparison could carry only 200 lb (91 kg). Alexander the Great is one of the most extraordinary individuals in history. But Darius botched the location of the battle, which ended up being a narrow strip of land between a ridge and the sea that neutralized his numbers advantage. All Rights Reserved. Besides giving off disturbing 1930s Germany vibes that his troops obviously wouldn't have picked up on, the policy made the Macedonian worry that their status was in jeopardy. The march thither from Oria occupied in all sixty days. This created just enough slack in the Persian line for Alexander to strike. It’s estimated that King Darius III of Persia was in command of a total of 2.5 million soldiers spread across his vast empire. Most historians of Alexander's campaigns have stated that the sufferings of his men on that march were out of all proportion greater than anything they had had to endure in Asia. The beneficiary of his father's brilliance, Alexander would prove to be an extremely skilled military strategist and amazing motivator who preached, "There is nothing impossible to him who will try." Alexander was able to train regiments from across his empire; at the great review of his forces in 324BC, there were apparently 120,000 men in his army, including contingents from Arachosia, Bactria, Sogdia, India, Scythia, and Egypt. Aristocratic young men would start their military training at seven years old and graduate to officers at 18. For more than two centuries, the Achaemenid Empire of Persia ruled the Mediterranean world. Introduced into Alexander’s army in either Syria or Egypt, the camel played a critical role in Alexander’s conquests. Diadochi and the Hellenistic Period. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But between 326 and 324 B.C. Alexander used both military and political cunning to finally unseat the Persian superpower. Together, Alexander and his father would create an army unlike anything the ancient world had even seen. Much like Alexander the Great conquered the world by courting the loyalty of a vast army who worshipped him like a deity, Jeff Bezos apparently … No other Greek city-state other than Sparta was able to keep an army permanently mobilised. Per the Ancient History Encyclopedia, the king proclaimed, "Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.". Darius, fearing he was about to be overlapped on his left side, sent in 5,000 of his best cavalry. Knowing he would be outmatched in manpower, Alexander relied on speed and distraction. But it was Alexander’s genius as a leader and battlefield strategist that secured his victory against an imposing adversary deep in enemy territory. According to an anecdote told by Macedonian author Polyaenus, Philip once dismissed a mercenary officer "for taking a warm bath, which apparently even Macedonian women would not do after giving birth." The reign of Alexander the Great was short-lived. In a pitched battle, the Companions usually fought on the right wing of the Macedonian army, next to the shield-bearing guards, the hypaspists, who would guard the right flank of the phalanx. He and 80 officers wedded Persian women to get the ball rolling in the hay. He also worked hard in other ways to maintain the l… … After suffering humiliating back-to-back defeats in Greece in the 5th-century B.C., Persia stopped expanding. Alexander counter-struck with a regiment of 1,500 mercenaries tasked with holding the right-hand position. (136 kg) of supplies over a long distance. When Alexander was young, he was taught to fight and ride by Leonidas of Epirus, a relative of his mother Olympias, as well as to endure hardships such as forced marches. The Battle of Issus, in which Alexander the Great secured a decisive victory over Darius III of Persia. But he would try his troops' patience too much, prompting his remarkable army to mutiny. “He’s invading Persia to punish the Persians retroactively for daring to invade Greece in the first place.”. At the heart of the Persian army were the “Immortals,” an elite regiment of 10,000 infantrymen whose numbers never changed. During the 4th century B.C., no man understood that better than Alexander the Great. The Battle of Gaugamela began on the morning of October 1, 331 bc, when two great armies drew up for battle to determine the destiny of empires. “Just as Darius begins the charge, the Macedonians launch a devastating cavalry attack that goes right into the gap cunningly created by Alexander’s tactics,” says Wrightson. He would draw enemy troops toward one flank, then wait for a momentary gap to open up in the center of the enemy lines for a head-first cavalry charge. As Alexander and his elite Royal Companion Cavalry raced into the heart of the Persian defenses, they were momentarily surrounded by the enemy, but the experienced Macedonian sarissa regiments fought their way through. Armed with a military juggernaut, the Macedonian monarch turned islands, mainlands, and almost every other land in the known world into his empire. Whether motivated by Greek pride or the spoils of imperial conquest, Alexander picked up where his father left off and marched into Persia in 334 BC, where his army of 50,000 would be tested against the largest and best-trained fighting force in the known world. As Britannica recounts, he had vanquished Persia and triumphantly entered Egypt, which embraced him as "a deliverer." In the spring of 334, Alexander and Parmenion crossed the Hellespont and attacked the local Persian army, which was defeated near the river Granicus in the northwest of what is now called Turkey. After quickly dispatching a small regional army near the town of Granicus, Alexander had his first real test against Darius and his Persian Royal Army near the coastal city of Issus. This is a child's book on Alexander. How Alexander the Great Conquered the Persian Empire Philip II Left Alexander the Great a Fierce Army. Alexander the Great was one of the most talented generals who ever existed, but he was helped a great deal by his exceptional army. For a 32 page book, it does a pretty good job covering the Great King's history, with the usual caveats that apply to Alexander (very little actual primary sourcing and the secondary sources are written >150 years after his death). and defeated an all-star alliance of Athens and Thebes at the Battle of Chaeronea. One of history’s first true super powers, the Persian Empire stretched from the borders of India down through Egypt and up to the northern borders of Greece. So as he turned his attention back to Persia, Alexander framed his campaign against the Achaemenid Empire as a patriotic retaliation for Persia’s failed invasion of the Greek mainland a century earlier. What Alexander did value and perhaps what kept his army smaller, was the mobility and speed gave military advantage. “As soon as Alexander came to the throne, he openly stated that he would carry on his father’s plans,” says Graham Wrightson, a history professor at South Dakota State University and author of Combined Arms Warfare in Ancient Greece. They were present at the grand army revue Alexander assembled in 324 BC. At the time of his … But before Alexander could push into Persia, he had to take care of business back home. Alexander the Great. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. The Reason Alexander The Great's Army Revolted. Other cavalry troops would protect the flanks of the Macedonian … Realizing their gambit backfired, the mutineers backed down and got back in line. Alexander the Great takes power. This is the reason Alexander the Great's army revolted. Alexander owed a tremendous debt to his father for leaving him a world-class army led by experienced and loyal generals. Alexander recognized that rigorous discipline, unity, and uniformity were the lifeblood of his killing machine. This did not include camp followers. Philip reorganized all of Macedonian society around a professional army and raised elite fighting forces of infantry, cavalry, javelin throwers and archers. Alexander III, king of the ancient state of Macedon, is often heralded as one of history’s greatest military commanders. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Image. Next lesson. While Philip effectively drilled the Macedonians into an incredible fighting force, Alexander (the Great) endowed his inherited army with an air of majesty and pompousness. When Philip II became king of Macedonia in 359 BCE, he inherited an army that was relatively ineffective. Days later, with Alexander’s cavalry in hot pursuit, Darius was killed by his own cousin, who delivered the fallen king’s head to Alexander as a tribute. But Alexander will not be outplayed. Alexander faced his first big test not long after crossing … Alexander and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army is an excellent work on the often under appreciated, yet critically vital, aspect of warfare: logistics. The Macedonian Phalanx, a rectangular infantry formation, was... Alexander Used Political Campaigns to Rule Greece. After subduing all of the Persian Empire, his army marched east and got as far as India before turning back home to Macedon. He immediately initiated a series of military reforms. A stunned Darius reportedly hopped on his horse and fled, with the rest of his army close behind. The historic centers of Greek power were the city-states of Athens, Sparta and Thebes to the south, whose leaders regarded the Macedonians as barbarians. Their advance was halted when they reached Halicarnassus, the capital of Caria, which was defended by a Greek comma… The battle served as a coming-out party for 18-year-old Alexander, who bravely led the Macedonian cavalry charge that broke through the Athenian ranks and secured victory for the upstart kingdom. Battle Strategy. Undefeated in battle, he un leashed his army on countries great and small to forge an empire that stretched over three continents, from Greece to India and as far south as Egypt. - Alexander the Great © 2020 A&E Television Networks, LLC. But he never made it home. OK, there was no such thing as high school in the fourth … On their way back along the Indus, Alexander was wounded by Malli warriors. Always the savvy strategist, Alexander knew that he couldn’t rule the Greek mainland by fear and brute force alone. Our mission is to provide a free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere. The vast Eurasian empire that Alexander the Great (356–323 B.C.) Darius grew frustrated with the lack of progress, so he sent in another 10,000 cavalry, almost his entire left flank. His father, Philip, was interested in cultivating a refined future king and so hired Lysimachus of Acarnania to teach the boy reading, writing, and to play the lyre. The mouth of the Indus lay some 800 miles to the south, and they had not even seen the valley of the Ganges. India proved to be much bigger than the Macedonians had supposed. Alexander was said to have been impressed by the drill of the 30,000 Persians who had been trained in the methods of the Macedonian phalanx. No man is an island unto himself, and no king conquers an island alone. “Alexander creates a propaganda campaign that the Macedonians are invading Persia on behalf of the Greeks, even though Macedon wasn’t part of Greece and didn’t fight on the side of Greece in the original Greco-Persian wars,” says Wrightson. According to legend, Alexander killed Darius’ chariot driver and almost captured the Persian king before he fled once again on horseback. While we tend to think of Alexander’s whole army, including his Phalangite phalanx, as an elite force, Alexander had his own core of hand-picked expert troops. Alexander in the Gedrosian desert [6.24.1] The next objective was the capital town of Gedrosia, situated in a district named Pura. At just 32 years old, Alexander died in Persia in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon from a sudden and mysterious illness. Previous wars such as the Persian and Peloponnesian War had demonstrated that the old ways were no longer dependable. Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. Tutored in his youth by Aristotle and trained for battle by his father, Philip II, Alexander the Great grew to become a powerful imperialist. Darius still commanded a massive army, but Persia was receding on the world stage while Macedon had the momentum of an ascendant military super power. At the age of 14… When a man was killed, another rose to take his place. Alexander moved his army on to the east, still hoping to find the end of the earth. Alexander responded with what’s known as his “pawn sacrifice” of several thousand troops destined to die as a set up for the final move. While staying in the ancient Mesopotamian city of Opis, Alexander made the controversial decision to send Macedonian veterans home, sparking fears that he intended to relocate the capital of his empire to Asia.Â. A Standing Army. Each soldier swore an oath of loyalty to the king. Alexander the Great is regarded as one of the most influential people in history. a) Cavalry. The Persian cavalry and archers were also legendary, as were the scythe chariots which cut down enemy infantry with their razor-sharp wheel hubs. Perhaps surprisingly, the size of his army never went over 40,000. However he ensured they were well-fed. In all the battles he participated, Alexander the Great led from the front of the battle. Alexander The Great “The first recorded incident regarding Alexander the Great and UFO’s was recorded in 329BC.Alexander decided to invade India and was attempting to cross the river Indus to engage the Indian army when “gleaming silver shields” swooped down and made several passes over the battle. Alexander the Great recognized that rigorous discipline, unity, and uniformity were the lifeblood of his killing machine, aka his massive army. The Battle of the Granicus: May 334 BC. At dawn, the Macedonians took the battlefield. In the autumn of 331 bc, Alexander the Great won a decisive victory over the Great King Darius III of Persia at the Battle of Gaugamela. According to Arrian, Alexander used Arachosian, Bactrian, Parapamisadaean, Sogdian, Indian, and Scythian troops. “I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.” ― … The two armies wouldn’t meet again for another two years. To quell the rebellion, the king fired his entire army and began replacing his troops with Persians. With the Greek mainland subdued under Macedonian rule, Philip turned his well-oiled army East toward the Persian Empire, a far greater prize. The Allied Greeks – Delving into the scope of the infantrymen, earlier we talked about how around … It could carry more than either a mule or horse, being able to transport 300 lb. in the small Kingdom of Macedonia. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! This is the currently selected item. This tutelage would instill in Alexander a lifelong love of reading and music. At this point, Darius ordered a full-frontal charge on the rest of the Macedonian army, but it took time for his orders to reach his left flank. Philip took a poorly disciplined group of men and turned them into a formidable army. But Persia’s rule as a dominant empire would finally be brought to an end by a brilliant military and political strategist, Alexander the Great. The Macedonian Phalanx, a rectangular infantry formation, was developed by Philip II of Macedon and used by his son Alexander the Great to conquer other armies. Permitted booty was fair and significant -- thus his soldiers were well motivated to win battles. In 325, after Alexander had recovered, he and his army headed north along the … He invaded and vanquished part of India, only turning back after his war-weary army insisted. Sort by: Top Voted. Weaponry also got an upgrade under Philip. After their first victory, the Macedonians went to the south, where the Persian stronghold Sardes surrendered and the Macedonians could occupy Greek cities like Ephesus, Priene, and Miletus. A Roman mosaic of Alexander the Great. Updated February 12, 2020 Alexander the Great, King of Macedon from 336 - 323 B.C., may claim the title of the greatest military leader the world has ever known. His undermanned defeat of the Persian King Darius III at the Battle of Gaugamela is seen as one of the decisive turning points of human history, unseating the Persians as the greatest power in the ancient world and spreading Hellenistic culture across a vast new empire. Immediately after Alexander was made king, Thebes rose up to challenge his authority—a big mistake. His empire spread from Gibraltar to the Punjab, and he made Greek the lingua franca of his world, the language that helped spread early Christianity. Alexander's Army In the 4th century bc, the Macedonian army was the best in the world. The army supposedly reached 120,000 front-line troops at one point. It was a wide, flat valley that, unlike Issus, would allow the Persians to take full advantage of their lopsided numbers, an estimated 250,000 Persian troops facing off against Alexander’s 50,000. A full-blown mutiny ensued. Just as he did with his father at Chaeronea, Alexander personally led the Macedonian cavalry charge at Issus, which cut right to the heart of the Persian defenses, just as planned. The troops wore uniforms to foster cohesion and drilled tirelessly to master the tightly packed phalanx formation that Philip innovated. he adopted a policy that enraged the devoted soldiers who had traveled and trampled the world with him. True to his strategy, Alexander’s army advanced in a line with the two flanks drawn back like a bow. In battle, Alexander the Great personally led the charge at the head of the royal squadron of the Companion cavalry, usually in a wedge formation. The animist Kalash are outwardly different from the darker-skinned Pakistani Muslims who live in the lowlands below them, so it seemed plausible. Three years before, an army of Macedonians and Greeks had crossed to Asia behind the young king of Macedonia, Alexander III, known better to history as Alexander the Great. “Darius even flattened the ground so that his scythe chariots could charge at the Macedonians,” says Wrightson. Only Alexander's royal bodyguard remained loyal. In the interim, Darius regrouped and called in reinforcements from the East, while Alexander marched his army South into Egypt. Rise of Rome. There has been considerable debate as to when Alexander first used Orien… Bce, he had to take care of business back home to Macedon & Television. Be reckoned with B.C. and fairness the first place. ” and almost the... A Fierce army forged was not long-lasting, but his alexander the great army deeds were legendary of goodwill, Macedonians Persians. 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