THE BATTLE OF
GAUGAMELA
Alexander vs. the Persians
“Ding Ding”
The Last Round
EVENTS LEADING
TO THE BATTLE
• Alexander marched east from Tyre
when he heard that Darius was in
Babylon.
• Alexander hoped to draw Darius
away from Babylon and its flat plains.
• the two armies met 8 miles from
Gaugamela.
BEFORE THE
BATTLE…
• Alexander saw he was
outnumbered 5 to 1.
• he saw that Darius had
prepared the battle field making
it suitable for his chariots.
THE NIGHT
BEFORE…
• Parmenio’s advises Alexander to attack
at night and surprise the Persians
• Alexander disagrees:
• too dangerous to attack at night,
• he doesn’t want to “steal” his victory.
• Instead, Alexander orders his
men to have a meal and a rest.
• he himself sleeps in.
BUT…
• Darius men are on stand-by all night
ALEXANDER’S
BATTLE LINE
• Alexander did not want to get
outflanked.
• changed his usual battle line.
• used Greek allies and
Macedonians to protect the
rear.
• allied cavalry protects the
flanks.
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•
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•
•
•
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•
•
Cretans and light troops
Alexander
Companions
Hypaspists
Phalanx
Paoenians and Bactrians
Thracians and Thessalians
Greek Phalanx
Baggage train and prisoners
DARIUS’
BATTLE LINE
• Darius hoped to win be share
weight of numbers.
• his battle line stretched across
the plain of Gaugamela.
• he placed his scythed chariots
at the front.
• his wings were made up of
massive numbers of cavalry.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Scythed Chariots
Indians
Bactrians
Scythians
Infantry and archers
Immortals
Darius
Bessus
Mazaeus
Elephants
Inferior infantry
THE ORDER OF BATTLE
OR
HOW TO DESTROY DARIUS AND
HIS EMPIRE IN HALF A DAY
1. Alexander moves to
right and the Persians
move to their left to
cover him.
2. Darius
sends his
scythed
chariots
but they’re
ineffective.
3. Darius orders all his
battle line to advance
with his right wing
cavalry attacking
Alexander’s left wing.
4. Darius' moves his
central cavalry to the
left wing to assist his
cavalry there
5. This makes a gap in
Darius’ line which was
what Alexander was
waiting for and he
charges straight through
it.
6. Darius turns and flees
just in time along with
his left wing cavalry.
Alexander follows.
7. Unaware Darius had
left the field some
Persians make it all the
way through to the
baggage train.
8. Alexander’s
secondary phalanx turns
around and attacks
these Persians who
have no means of
escape.
9. Alexander stops
chasing Darius to come
to Parmenio’s aid.
Alexander has to fight
hard to get through to
Parmenio
10. When Alexander
arrives Parmenio no
longer needed rescuing
and the battle ends.
Confused…?...good.
Here it is again then.
ONCE THE DUST
SETTLED…
• Darius escaped to the north.
• Even though Darius was alive he was
finished and his army is crushed.
• Alexander now free to move into the
economic heartland of the Persian
Empire.
• Alexander gives himself the title King of
Kings and captures Persepolis