Battle of Issos

Historical context

Alexandre unloads in Asia in spring 334 and demolishes the Persian satraps with the Bataille of Granique. But as of the winter 334 Darius takes again the initiative and starts to gather an army with Babylon. Entrusting in its capacities of strategist, he intends to face Alexandre in person and to make his junction in Syria with the quota of the Greek mercenaries brought by the fleet of Pharnabaze, successor of Memnon of Rhodos in the defense of the Égée.

At the summer 333, Alexandre, who at that time has just subjected all the Asia Mineure (except the Paphlagonie and the Cappadoce), learns the arrival from Darius in Cilicie. He leaves Gordion and decides to go to the front of the Persian army by the Lycaonie; he subjects the Cilicie and occupies Tarse where he is retained several weeks of the continuations of a disease (perhaps had with a hydrocution). Alexandre thus preserves the principal body of troops at Tarse but sends Parménion to occupy the area of Issos of which the Pillar of Jonah and the collar of Beilan which carry out of Cilicie in Syria.

Eager to make up for lost time taken, Alexandre advances, somewhat imprudently, in November 333 towards the south through the master key of Jonas. But Darius is informed that Parménion holds already the ground; it emerges by the Doors of Amanos in north and is found on the backs of Alexandre. Darius captures the town of Issos without opposition and keep silent all the patients and wounded that Alexandre left behind him. For as much Alexandre, driven back with the hostile areas of Syria and Phénicie, tries to remain Master of the situation. He turns back towards the Pillar of Jonah in order to carry out combat in a known ground. In spite of the opinion of its Greek advisers, Darius accepts the battle in an area however not very favourable with the cavalry; the numerical superiority which is its principal asset cannot play full. Indeed, Darius holds a defensive position in a narrow coastal plain which crosses the Pinaros river.

Course of the battle

Darius with the advantage of putting its army the first in battle order. It positions in the center, perched on its tank, with its best infantry, them: 10000 Hoplite S mercenaries and them: 10000 Immortal, and its royal cavalry. It places: 20000 light infantrymen (Cardaces armed like Peltaste S) on the mountainsides and lays out close to the coast, on its right wing, most of its light riders Perses, Mèdes and hyrcaniens.

According to the usual device, Alexandre directs the cavalry of the Compagnons on the right side while it places on the left side, supported on the shore, the cavalry thessalienne under the command of Parménion. The phalange, laid out in withdrawal along the river, is protected on its sides by battalions from peltastes.

The battle starts with a shock between the two infantries on banks of Pinaros, while the Persian slingers, archers and javeliniers did not manage to decrease to it solid phalange. The Greek mercenaries of Darius fight with strength and arrive a time to break the phalangites Cratère. Against the same moment the Persian cavalry runs up against the resistance of Parménion which holds the left wing Macedonian. Supported by the crack corps of the Hypaspistes, Alexandre, with the head of the cavalry of the Companions, demolishes the unfavourable left wing and folds back himself towards the center of Darius. Certain ancient sources consider that Alexandre seeks to defy Darius in singular combat, but this operation in the center seems at the beginning more directed against the Greek mercenaries. For as much once Darius in sight, Alexandre launches the attack against him; the Persian royal guard opposes a sharp resistance around the royal tank. Several satraps and officers of high ranking leave the life there. Its horses being seriously wounded, Darius would have been constrained to change Quadrige, when a last movement of panic the constrained one with the escape, involving the rout of its cavalry then of its very whole army. In rout in a narrow procession, the Persian riders perish while being pressed mutually or while falling in the ravines. The cavalry Macedonian continues Darius until laying down in vain it sun.

Consequences

Darius manages to flee towards the Euphrate, leaving his/her mother, her wives and his/her children to the hands of Alexandre, whose magnanimity is large in their connection. It is at this time that this locates the legendary episode of the confusion made by the mother of Darius between Alexandre and Héphaistion. The defeat of Darius is a dishonor according to the royal uses Achéménides: in its escape it gave up its royal badges (its quadriga, its arc, its shield and its coat). Alexandre then starts the conquest of the Phénicie and the Egypt and gains then an ultimate victory against Darius with the Bataille of Gaugamèles in 331.

Artistic posterity

The battle of Issos was illustrated according to Pline Old the by a Greek painter, Philoxénos d' Érétrie, for the account of Cassandre towards 300. This painting was destroyed but it inspired celebrates it Mosaïque of Alexandre , found in the house of Fauna to Pompéi. This mosaic, which would date from second century BC, is now visible with the national museum of Naples. The battle of Issos is also probably represented on the sarcophagus known as of found Alexandre with Sidon and which was ordered by the king phenician Abdolonymos.

Random links: