The Campaigns of Alexander
331 – 323 B.C.E.
How did Alexander ‘win the peace’
in Babylon? How did he win the
allegiance of Mazaeus and the
Babylonians?
(McCarty 2004: 86/87)
How did Alexander ‘win the peace in
babylon? How did he win the
allegiance of mazaeus and the
babylonians?
By Gerard Lennox
&
Zeb Marshall
• Alexander was happily welcomed in the city of Babylon.
• Babylon had also been over taken in their recent history as
the Persians had conquered them, destroyed their temples
and imposed their own religion upon them.
• Because of this, and Alexander’s hope of defeating the
Persians, the Babylonians claimed Alexander as their
saviour. As McCarty 2004 States: “they could rightly claim
Alexander as their saviour.”
• The Babylonians asked their priests to place their treasure
in the hands of Alexander. From this, Alexander returned
the favour by rebuilding all of the temples that the Persians
destroyed.
• Alexander was also allowed to have allegiance with Babylon
as long as Mazaeus’s official was recognised.
• This is how Alexander won the hearts of the Babylonians.
• Because the Persians had
destroyed the temples and
Alexander offered to rebuild
them, the Babylonians
• Babylonians Gave Alexander
their treasure
• As McCarty 2004 States:
“they could rightly claim
Alexander as their saviour.”
Alexander Entering Babylon
What did Alexander find in Susa?
Why did Alexander encourage his
soldiers to marry local girls?
(McCarty 2004: 87/88)
What did Alexander find in Susa? Why did Alexander
encourage his soldiers to marry local girls?
• Susa was one of the major cities in
the Persian Empire
• In February 324, Alexander forced
many Macedonian soldiers and
officers to marry local women in
Susa.
• It was intended as an attempt to
unite the European and Asian
elites.
• The marriages was celebrated in
traditional Persian custom
• it was a sad failure: nearly all
marriages ended in divorce
Bibliography
• M.M. Austin. (N/A). Alexander the Great: the
Weddings in Susa. Available:
http://www.livius.org/ajal/alexander/alexander_t24.html. Last
accessed 13/11/12.
How did Alexander take
Persepolis?
(McCarty 2004: 88 -90)
• In spring of 330BC
• Its approaches were protected
by tribesman and a force of
20,000 soldiers led by a Persian
satrap that blocked the narrow
path out of the Persian gates
• Then dropped down behind the
Persian force and engaged the
Persians with pressure from
both front and rear
• Once in position alerted army
in front of the pass and Persian
force was attacked from front
and back. No escape for the
guards of the pass.
• Decided to defeat the force at
the Persian gates, leaving his
march vulnerable to an attack
from behind.
What did Alexander find in
Persepolis?
(McCarty 2004: 90 – 92)
What Alexander gained in Persepolis:
•
•
•
•
•
Persian gold.
Persian trade enterprise.
Revenge against the Persians for sacking Athens.
Swathes of wool.
Multi-coloured vats of colour.
What Alexander saw in Persepolis
• Huge stone pillars with carvings of soldiers, kings and horned bulls
etc.
• Extravagant buildings.
• Canals cut into the rock.
• Stone statues in the images of Darius and his court.
• Specialised tradesmen.
• McCarty; Babylon, Susa and Persepolis; pg 90-92
• Arrian; the Anabasis of Alexander; pg 178.
Why was the palace at Persepolis
burnt down? (McCarty 2004: 93)
Alexander’s Legacy
The Destruction of Persepolis
By Bareham and Waaka
The Splendour of Persepolis
The War so far
The Causes: >THAIS<,
>REVENGE<,
The Deed Itself
How did Darius meet his end? How
and why was Bessus executed?
(McCarty 2004: 99 – 101)
•Darius had been taken prisoner by Bessus, and was being kept alive so he could be used
as a bargaining tool, if needed.
•During Alexanders pursuit of Bessus and the Persians, “Nabarzanes and Barsaentes
wounded him and left him there... ...Darius died from his wounds soon after, before
Alexander had seen him” (Arrian, The Anabasis of Alexander, p185)
•McCarty tells us “While still alive, Darius was found by one of Alexanders men,
Polystratus, found Darius and gave him the water which he had been begging for. Darius
told Polystratus “Friend, this fills the measure of my misfortune, to think that I am not able
to reward you for this act of kindness. But Alexander will not let you go without reward
and the gods will reward Alexander for his humanity to my mother, to my wife and
children. Tell him I give him my hand, for I give it to you in his place”” (McCarty, 2004,
p100)
How and why was Bessus executed?
• “He was put between two tall trees. The tops of the
trees were drawn down and one leg and one arm
was tied to each tree. When the ropes tethering the
tree tops were cut they sprang powerfully upright
tearing Bessus in two.” (McCarty 2004: 100)
• He was executed because he had betrayed his king
for personal gain
• The oficial reason for his execution was regicide
What plots against Alexander
materialised? How did Alexander
deal with them?
(McCarty 2004: 101 – 103)
• A plot against him by the Pages, fell through.
Alexander, thinking that there was something divine in the warning,
returned and went on drinking; and thus the enterprise of the Pages fell
through (Arrian, The Anabasis of Alexander, 231).
• Philotas, who new about the plot refused to tell Alexander. Thus he and
his father Parmenion were executed.
• Calisthenes told a soldier that the only way to become famous was by
killing the most famous of Man. Alexander removed any idea of a plot
against his life by imprisoning Calisthenes.
Who was Cleitus? Why did
Alexander murder him?
(McCarty 2004: 103 – 105)
The Death of Cleitus
☭Cleitus was a rough, tough soldier.
☭served under Alexander and his
father before him.
☭Cleitus was enraged at Alexanders
change of commands. Given secondrate soldiers to fight nomads.
☭ends up getting Killed in a drunken
Rage by the king.
☭ Alexander repents and tries to bring
the spear he used to kill his friend with
to his neck but is stopped and carried
away.
What course did the Battle of
Hydaspes take?
(McCarty 2004: 112 – 115)
What course did the Battle of Hydaspes take?
-The Battle of Hydaspes was fought in 326 BC.
- After Alexander defeated the last of the Achaemenid
Empire’s forces under Bessus and Spiyamenes in 328 BC,
he began a new campaign to further extend his empire
towards India 327 BC. Alexander's army is estimated at
about 6,000.
-Alexander fought against King Porus of the Hindu
kingdom on the banks of the Hydaspes River in what is
now modern-day Pakistan.
-Porus drew up on the south bank of the Hydaspes River,
and was set to repel any crossings.
-
Alexander knew that a direct crossing had little chances of
success and thus tried to find alternative fords. He moved
his mounted troops up and down the river bank each night,
Porus shadowing him. Arian describes Alexander using a
“suitable crossing, about 27 km upstream of his camp”.
-
He left his general Craterus behind with most of the army,
while he crossed the river upstream with a strong
contingent, consisting, according to Arrian of 6,000 foot
and 5,000 horse, though it is probable that it was larger.
-
Porus perceived his opponent's manoeuvre and sent a
small cavalry and chariot force under his son to fight off
Alexander, hoping that he would be able to prevent his
crossing. Alexander had already passed, and easily routed
his opponent.
- Porus deployed his forces and commenced the attack. The
Indians were equipped with cavalry on both flanks, their
centre made up of infantry with elephants among or before
them in equal intervals. The elephants caused much harm
to the Macedonian army but were eventually revolted by
the dense pikes of the phallangitai, which then caused
much destruction to their own force lines.
-
The Indians tried to form a double formation, but the
necessary manoeuvres were complicated and brought
even more confusion into their ranks making it easier
for the Macedonian horse to conquer them. The
remaining Indian cavalry fled among the elephants for
protection, but the elephants were already out of
control and soon retreated, exhausted from the field,
leaving the rest of Porus's army circled by the
Macedonian army.
-
At this time, the phallangitai locked shields and
advanced upon the enemy.
-
Porus, after putting up a brave fight, surrendered and
the battle was finally over.
-
The battle resulted in a complete Macedonian victory
and complete control of Punjab.
Why did Alexander decide to turn
back? (McCarty 2004: 116 – 118)
•Alexander’s men wanted to go home
•They didn’t want to follow him to the Ganges
•“Conferences were held throughout the camp, in which those who were the
most moderate bewailed their lot, while others resolutely declared that they
would not follow Alexander any farther, even if he should lead the way.”
(Arrian pg. 307)
•His officer’s advised him to turn back
•Omens were not in favour of continuing and so he told he told the people
that the God’s were against going on