Page 32 - History of War - Issue 01-14

BATTLE OF GAUGAMELA

the Persian heartlands, Darius took action. Your ancestors invaded Macedon and Greece,
In this illustration, Alexander is shown as a young man With his army, he took up position on the River and caused havoc in our country, though we
(right), listening to his tutor, the philosopher Aristotle
Pinarus, near what is now the Turkey-Syria had done nothing to provoke them. As Supreme
Commander of all Greece, I invaded Asia because
border, and awaited Alexander’s next move. Commander of all Greece, I invaded Asia because
If the King was expecting the young I wished to punish Persia for this act – an act
I wished to punish Persia for this act – an act
Macedonian to be intimidated, he was mistaken
Macedonian to be intimidated, he was mistaken that must be laid wholly to your charge. Do
that must be laid wholly to your charge. Do
not write to me as to an equal. Everything you
and Alexander launched a head-on attack not write to me as to an equal. Everything you
possess is now mine. If, on the other hand,
against the Persians in what became the Battle possess is now mine. If, on the other hand,
against the Persians in what became the Battle
you wish to dispute your throne, stand and fi ght
of Issus (named after the nearby town). While you wish to dispute your throne, stand and fi ght
of Issus (named after the nearby town). While
for it and do not run away. Wherever you may
Darius’ forces were numerically superior, the for it and do not run away. Wherever you may
narrow battlefi eld meant that he was unable to hide yourself, be sure I shall seek you out.
narrow battlefi eld meant that he was unable to
hide yourself, be sure I shall seek you out.
fully utilise them, and the Macedonians were
able to gain an edge. When Alexander launched He advanced into Mesopotamia with the
able to gain an edge. When Alexander launched
a personal pursuit of Darius, the Persian King
intention of colliding with the Persian King in
a personal pursuit of Darius, the Persian King intention of colliding with the Persian King in
fl ed, leaving his troops in disarray. Those that a fi nal, decisive battle, and he soon discovered
fl ed, leaving his troops in disarray. Those that
a fi nal, decisive battle, and he soon discovered
survived abandoned exactly where that
D
ARIUS' CHARIOTS
their posts and DARIUS' CHARIOTS collision was going to
followed their leader take place: capturing
WERE MODIFIED WITH
into retreat. (Following WERE MODIFIED WITH a small group of
the battle, Darius’ Persian soldiers, he
mother, wife and METRE-LONG BLADES learned that Darius
daughters were all and his army were
captured, and one THAT COULD EASILY waiting for them at
of those daughters, Gaugamela, near the
SLICE A MAN IN HALF
Stateira II, later SLICE A MAN IN HALF city of Arbela in what
COMPANION CAVALRY married Alexander.) is now northern Iraq.
After building a fortifi ed encampment
The victorious Macedonian now controlled
Alexander may have been a great leader, but he The victorious Macedonian now controlled After building a fortifi ed encampment
seven miles away, Alexander carried out a
half of the Persian Empire, but he had no
would never have succeeded in conquering Persia half of the Persian Empire, but he had no seven miles away, Alexander carried out a
reconnaissance mission of the battleground.
without his Companions, the elite mounted guard intention of stopping there and he spent reconnaissance mission of the battleground.
The sight that awaited him as he emerged over
of the Macedonian army. Regarded as the finest the next two years securing the eastern The sight that awaited him as he emerged over

cavalry in the ancient world, it had been built by Mediterranean seaboard and seizing Egypt, the crest of the hills must have caused even
the crest of the hills must have caused even
Alexander’s father, Philip (the name Companions which fell without a fi ght. Darius, keen to the famously confi dent leader to reconsider his
the famously confi dent leader to reconsider his
derives from the Greek word hetairoi, meaning avoid further humiliation in the fi eld of battle plans – at least momentarily. Darius was much
plans – at least momentarily. Darius was much
close to the King) and comprised a group of highly – and regain his family in the process – better prepared than in previous encounters.
better prepared than in previous encounters.
trained, close-knit horsemen, many of whom were offered to concede the half of his kingdom For one thing, he had radically revamped
related to Alexander. The camaraderie among the
his army, sourcing conscripts from every corner
men increased morale and loyalty – two of the that he had already lost. But, despite being his army, sourcing conscripts from every corner
at the end of a long line of supply, Alexander
of his Empire – his ranks included everyone from
most important traits in military campaigning. at the end of a long line of supply, Alexander of his Empire – his ranks included everyone from
Indian mercenaries, through Scythian tribesmen,
was in no mood to barter: he wanted it all or
was in no mood to barter: he wanted it all or Indian mercenaries, through Scythian tribesmen,
nothing. Replying to Darius’ offer, he wrote, to his 10,000-strong, elite army of Immortals
King Darius breathes his last in this depiction of
the Persian ruler’s murder by Bessus. Alexander’s
propagandists claimed that Darius’ final words were

the blessing of the Macedonian as his successor

32 HISTORY WAR
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