By Michael Thompson
Granicus River used to be Alexander's first nice victory over the Persians, the place he confirmed the heroic variety of lively and decisive management that used to be the hallmark of his occupation. After assuming the throne of Macedonia in 336BC and consolidating his carry on mainland Greece, Alexander crossed the Hellespont to stand the Persians on the steep banks of the Granicus.
In the preliminary engagement, Alexander's 5,000 cavalry, supported by means of archers and javelin males, routed a strength of 20,000 Persian cavalry. prime the cost, Alexander got here with regards to dying, narrowly lacking having his head cut up in , yet finally triumphed, permitting his infantry to bloodbath the Greek military, which was once employed by way of the Persians.
This convincing victory was once the springboard for the subjugation of the coastal towns, the neutralization of the Persian military, and eventually the conquest of the Persian Empire.
Exploring the brave management of 1 of the world's such a lot inspirational but ruthless leaders, this publication offers a close research of the conflict, approach, and strategies of the forces engaged.
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Extra resources for Granicus 334 BC. Alexander's first Persian Victory
Sample text
The River 'Granicus' is marked by the tree line in the middle distance. It is doubtful that the course of the river has changed since antiquity. 53 A low rise of hills about 100 metres in height lays roughly two-and-a-half miles east of the river. Much further beyond (to the centre and right of the photo) runs another range of much higher hills. In the immediate vicinity of the battlefield, there was an ancient lake, the Ece Gol (now drained and used for cattle grazing), west of the river near where the battle occurred.
The Cyzicenes, thinking the approaching force was Alexander's commander in the region, Calas, almost opened the gates but spotted the ruse at the last minute. 44). As the interior of the Troad region is dominated by the Ida mountain range, roads eastwards from the Hellespont took a north-easterly direction and descended into the plain of Adrasteia through which the River Granicus flows. As Alexander was approaching from this direction, the Persian army and its commanders set out from Dascylium to the town of Zeleia (modern Sarikoy) approximately 20 miles east of the Granicus.
The principal strike force of his army, the 1,800-strong Companion cavalry, and the 1,800 Thessalian cavalry were joined by the heavy cavalry of his Greek allies, which, numbering 600, was less of a potential concern regarding any questions of loyalty. The 900 light cavalry of prodromoi, Thracians and Paeonians were also part of the force. They were too useful to be left behind. Leaving Arisbe, Alexander reached Percote and the following day came to the city of Lampsacus. There is a tale related by Pausanias, a Greek traveller who wrote in the 2nd century AD, that Anaximenes of Lampsacus tricked Alexander into sparing the city which the latter had decided to destroy because of its loyalty to the Persians.