After the Battle of Granicus

1
After the Battle of Granicus

• What happened

2
Alexander had shown superior tactics

• He showed many attributes of a good army leader
  during this battle
• These were (list what good qualities as a
  commander he showed before and during the battle)
• The Persians were beaten and many fled
• After the battle, Alexander did something
  unusual.
• He disbanded his fleet (his navy/boats). The
  reasons Arrian gives for this are
• - He had no money
• - His fleet were too weak to fight the Persians
• - He was in control of all the ports in Asia
  Minor and thought he could keep the Persian fleet
  out.

3
Disbanding the fleet

• Alexander took a considerable gamble by sending
  his fleet away, which was a decision that could
  have backfired. But he was very lucky.
• He knew his strength lay in his army and that he
  was weak in ships. Where as the Persians had a
  very strong naval fleet and a weak ______. He
  couldnt beat the Persians at sea so he wanted to
  fight them on __________, this would be done by
  preventing the Persian fleet from ever being able
  to dock anywhere for supplies. He could do this
  by capturing all the ports in the east
  Mediterranean.
• p. 46, Paul Artus book. Read the information
  under the heading Miletus and Disbanding the
  fleet
• Take notes on key info from this page

4
Homework, very important to complete.

• Answer questions on The Greek Mercenaries
  Issue. p.36
• Read and highlight The Gordian Knot p. 38 39
• Answer questions on The Gordium knot p. 40
• Answer questions on The battle of Granicus p.
  41 42
• Read and Highlight Ionian cities of Asia Minor
  p. 43
• Answer questions on Disbanding the fleet p. 44

5
Halicarnassus

• Read highlight p. 45 (in your workbooks) about
  Alexander in Caria Halicarnassas, Autumn 334BC
• Answer questions on Halicarnassus (Hamilton
  worksheet) p. 46

6
Order of events so far.

1. Arrived in Asia M____
2. Visits T___
3. Battle at Granicus R_____
4. Battles at Miletus (Athenian fleet block entrance
   to harbour, preventing Persian fleet from
   entering. This makes the city fall to Alexanders
   control. Greek mercenaries who lve in Miletus
   escape to a near island, Alexander employs them
   instead of punishing them.)
5. Alexander disbands his f____

334 BC
7

• 6) Battle at Halicarnassus (Memnon mercenaries
  surrounded Halicarnassus with a moat. Alexander
  filled the moat broke through the walls. Memnon
  fled to a near island. Orontopates escaped to
  harbour. Alexander retreated left an army
  behind who eventually won 3 years later. This
  battle proves that disbanding the fleet was a
  m_________. Because the Persian fleet controlled
  the sea now)
• Alexander sends recently married troops back home
  to Macedonia for a break.
• Arrian No act of Alexanders ever made him
  better loved by his Macdonians
• 8) Alexander rebuilds the fleet
• 9) Gordium knot (propaganda)
• 10) Alexander gets sick at Tarsus
• 11) Battle of Issus

333 BC
8
Hmmm

• What did the events at Miletus and Halicarnassus
  show us about Alexander?
• His military skill and that he does make
  mistakes, and the lengths to which he was
  prepared to go to maintain control

9
The battle of Issus. The facts

• Date November 333 BC
• Alexander was at Mallus when he heard Darius III
  was camped east of the Syrian gates.
• Alexander was excited to finally get to fight him
  travelled non stop to get there.
• Darius had actually by-passed Alexander and was
  encamped at Issus
• At Issus, Darius discovered Alexanders sick and
  wounded troops and killed them (what are they
  sick and wounded from?)
• Darius then moved south to fight Alexander
• Alexander realised his mistake and turned back
  with great speed to meet Darius. He camped at the
  Pillars of Jonah.

10

• Darius army outnumbered Alexanders..
• 5 to 1.
• note darius travelled with his family wives
  of officers
• The two armies met On the narrow coastal plain
  near Issus
• Sea on one side
• Mountains on the other side
• River Pinarus between them
• This location suited Alexanders smaller/bigger
  (you choose the right one) army
• And there was not enough room for Darius big
  Army to arrange their cavalry.

11
Sothe mistake Alexander had initailly made,
became an advantage.

• Alexander arranged his army thus
• Allied greek cavalry on the left (sea) side under
  Parmenios command
• The phalanx in the centre
• Macedonian cavalry on the right (mountain side)
  under A_________s command
• Archers and light infantry at an angle to counter
  the Persians on mountain side.
• Diagram it.

12
Darius army

• Arranged his army like this
• Solid wall of defenders in front line.
• Mountain side heavy infantry
• Sea side cavalry under Nabarzanes command
• Greek mercenaries (hoplites foot soldiers) in
  centre
• Rest of troops Darius centre back, no room
  for them anywhere else

13
The Persians plan

• They were up on the north bank of the river
  Pinarus so Alexander had to cross to attack (just
  like at the battle __________). But this time
  there were no muddy river banks. They wanted to
  use their cavalry t to get around behind the
  Macedonians on the sea side.
• To block this, Alexander put the Thessalian
  cavalry on his left (the sea side) strengthened
  by archers and javelin throwers.
• He ordered Parmenio (in command of the left, as
  always) not under any circumstances to leave any
  gap between his troops and the sea for the enemy
  to get through. He didnt see any threat coming
  from the Persians on the mountain side.

Alexanders plan
14
The battle of Issus homework

• Your task for this battle, is to write a detailed
  account of what happened using the following
  resources
• Paul Artus book, p.47 - 48
• Your workbooks, p.47, also take note of the
  diagrams
• Study materials The battle of Issus p.42
• You will be attempting to answer this previous
  exam question
• At the end of 333BC Alexander defeated the
  Persian King, Darius III at the battle of Issus
  in the South of Turkey.
• Discuss
• - The events leading up to the battle
• - The tactics used by each of the commanders in
  this battle

15
Tips for the layout/structure to a good answer.

• List the events that have happened prior to the
  battle his fathers death, the battle at
  granicus, halicarnassus, miletus, disbanding the
  fleet. List what achievements he had and what
  mistakes he had made.
• Describe Alexanders eagerness to fight King
  Darius III
• Describe the situation in Darius IIIs camp
• Describe where the two met to fight
• List the layout of the armies (what was
  positioned where)
• Describe Alexanders attack

16
Tips for the layout/structure to a good answer
continued.

• Describe Darius IIIs action in battle
• Describe how Darius was defeated
• List the ways in which Alexander was successful
  in battle
• Describe how Darius troops would be feeling
  after this
• Outline what Alexander did after the battle to
  show he was now ruler of Persia
• List what Alexander and his troops now had on
  their side
• Discuss whether Alexander deserved the win at
  this battle

17

• End ?