Page 51 - All About History - Issue 09-14

Alexander the Great

BATTLE OF THE GRANICUS (334 BCE)
Alexander’s first victory against the Persian Empire
The first real clash between
Persian troops and Alexander’s
newly minted invasion force
remains the best example of his 1. Mind games
signature battle tactic. 4. Cavalry charge Greek Mercenaries The Persians expect the
Using heavy cavalry to prise Alexander’s cavalry charge thrust of the attack to come
apart the weakest part of the sweeps left and into the from Alexander’s right flank
and his feared Companion
enemy line while his finely drilled flanks of the Persians, who Cavalry, so deploy more
are locked in battle with his
infantry kept the bulk of the phalanx and cavalry. Persian Cavalry units on that flank.
enemy tangled up on their spears,
it relied upon the professionalism
of Macedon’s army, as well as the
unique talents of its core units.
It showed that Alexander knew
how best to use the forces that River Granicus 5. Persian retreat 3. Attack
More Greek pikemen pour
his father had amassed. through in the wake of Alexander and his
Alexander’s charge and into Companion Cavalry
the Persian infantry. The then smash through the
2. Feint Persians begin to withdraw. weakened centre of the
Alexander’s Thessalian Persian lines in wedge
cavalry and pikemen feint formation.
from the left. The Persians
reinforce the line from the Thessalians
centre to drive them back.
Phalanx
Hypaspists Alexander
and
companions

The Battle of the River Granicus, in
which Alexander secured his first
victory over the Persian Empire

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