ALEXANDER THE GREAT

1. ALEXANDER THE GREAT CAMPAIGNS IN THE WESTERN PERSIAN EMPIRE 334 – 331 BC

2. CROSSING THE HELLESPONT 334BC • Alexander took his army across the narrow channel that divides Europe from Asia called the Hellespont. • He joined his army with the one Philip had already sent to secure a landing place in Asia • Before he landed from his ship he jumped into the water and threw his spear ashore.

3. Symbolism of this Act • He claimed by this act that Asia was now his “spear won land”. • He was laying claim to the Persian Empire • One of the reasons Alexander gave for his invasion of the Persian empire was revenge for earlier Persian invasions of Greece

4. VISIT TO TROY • He left most of the army and went to the site of ancient Troy. • He offered sacrifice at the tomb of the first Greek to die in the Trojan war. • He sacrificed to Athena, Zeus,Herakles and Poseidon • He raced around Achilles and Patroclus’s graves with Hephaestion

5. Symbolism of this Act • The Greeks (from Europe) had beaten the Trojans (from Asia) • His Macedonians (from Europe) would beat the Persians (from Asia) • He modelled himself on the great Greek warrior hero Achilles (who he claimed descent from through his mother).

6. THE BATTLE OF GRANICUS 334BC • Two of Darius’s satraps and Memnon (leader of the Greek mercenaries fighting for Darius) gathered an army to meet Alexander • Hard fought battle with Alexander fighting at head of his cavalry • Superior strength and weapons of Macedonians led to their victory • Greek mercenary survivors either killed by Alexander or sent as slaves to mines

7. After Granicus • Many Greek cities in Asia Minor opened their gates before Alexander’s army • The important city of Sardis surrendered and gave Alexander their tresure • Miletus was placed under siege and was taken as no Persian forces arrived to help • Important port of Hallicarnassus was besieged for 12 months supported by the Persian fleet

8. Alexander disbands his fleet • Alexander’s fleet was outnumbered by the persian fleet (400 to 160) • Most ships were from Greek states that he could not altogether rely on • He feared a loss of confidence in his men if the fleet was defeated • He decided he could take the Persian fleet out of the war by taking their supply ports

9. The Gordium Knot 333BC • In this once important city was a wagon tied to a pole by a complex knot • Legend said that whoever could untie the knot would rule all of Asia • Alexander couldn’t untie it so used his sword to cut the knot open

10. Symbolism of this act • Alexander went out of his way to visit Gordium • He wanted this act to reinforce his belief and that of his army that they would conquer Asia • He achieved what others had failed by a decisive stroke

11. THE BATTLE OF ISSUS (333BC) • Darius surprised Alexander’s rearguard at Issus killing all sick and wounded Macedonians • Darius left the plain where his larger army had an advantage and fought Alexander on a rough piece of land between the sea and the mountains • Alexander told his Macedonian infantry to hold the Greek mercenaries in the Persian centre while he attacked the weaker Persian infantry on the left

12. The Battle of Issus cont. • He then launched his cavalry at Darius’s bodyguard and generals forcing Darius to flee for his life. • With Darius gone the Persians lost the will to fight and ran or were killed

13. After Issus Alexander captured the Persian camp including: • Darius’s family (mother, wives, children) • All Persian equipment • Darius’s treasure Alexander now controlled the western Persian Empire The Greeks saw how strong and successful Alexander was and offered him tributes

14. DARIUS WRITES TO ALEXANDER 1 After Issus Darius sent an embassy to Alexander. There are different versions of what was offered: • Friendship and alliance in return for return of his family • A ransom and offer of territory if his family were released • An insulting

15. THE SEIGE OF TYRE 332BC • Tyre was a major strategic base for the Persian navy • The Tyrians deserted their mainland part of the city and went to a fortified 800m off shore • Alexander blockaded the island for seven months and built a causeway to the island so he could use siege engines to break its walls • During the siege the Persian navy surrendered to Alexander as he controlled its bases

16. THE SEIGE OF TYRE (cont.) • The Macedonians managed to use ships fitted with battering rams to make a breech in the walls • Once the Macedonians were inside the city was doomed • Alexander destroyed half the city, killed 8000 Tyrians and enslaved 30,000 more

17. SIEGE OF GAZA • The inhabitants of the city of Gaza refused to admit Alexander to their hill fortress • Alexander used siege engines to breech the walls and then led the attackers into the fortress receiving a shoulder wound • All male Gazans were killed and the women and children enslaved • The Gazan leader Batis was dragged behind Alexander’s chariot copying Achilles treatment of Hector

18. ALEXANDER IN EGYPT 331BC • Alexander was welcomed in Egypt as a liberator from Persian rule • The Egyptians made him Pharoah and as in other conquests he allowed locals to govern under Macedonian military control • Darius offered Alexander control of the western Persian Empire if he stayed away from the Persian heartland but Alexander wanted it all.

19. Alexander the God • While in Egypt Alexander and a few of his closed companions undertook a dangerous and difficult desert journey to the oasis of Siwah where there was a temple to the god Zeus Ammon. • Legend has that the priests of the temple told Alexander he was the son of Zeus and was destined to rule the world.