Tne battle of Granicus
This was the first battle of Alexander, and the very start of his chain of victories.
It was also the first where Alexexander came the closest to both failure and death.
It is 334 B.C., where battles near Macedonia is decided largely by cavalry strength.Alexander's three legendary mentors (Arrian, Diodorus and Plutarch) have given Alexander no real education on battle. Alexander 's experience is at it's zenith. If the tactical genius will ever lose it will be this time and place.
A few hundred yards across, a massive Persian army gathers. They have more cavalry, more numbers. Alexander takes note that their horseman are in the front and the infantry are in the back.(according to ancient writings of Diodorus,the extreme right of the Persian forward line was held by 1,000 Median cavalry and 2,000 cavalry of unknown nationality, both under the command of Rheomithres, and by 2,000 Bactrian cavalry. The center was held by cavalry units of unknown size and nationality, probably under the joint command of Mithridates and Rhoesaces, and no doubt others not mentioned in ancient texts.
Alexander gives an order and giant-shield-wielding hoplites step forward to support Alexander's troops. A plan has appeared in Alexander's mind.
According to many military historians, the Persian formation was a tactical error
Historians also speculate that it was this error that Alexander saw and began to cross the river
It was also the first where Alexexander came the closest to both failure and death.
It is 334 B.C., where battles near Macedonia is decided largely by cavalry strength.Alexander's three legendary mentors (Arrian, Diodorus and Plutarch) have given Alexander no real education on battle. Alexander 's experience is at it's zenith. If the tactical genius will ever lose it will be this time and place.
A few hundred yards across, a massive Persian army gathers. They have more cavalry, more numbers. Alexander takes note that their horseman are in the front and the infantry are in the back.(according to ancient writings of Diodorus,the extreme right of the Persian forward line was held by 1,000 Median cavalry and 2,000 cavalry of unknown nationality, both under the command of Rheomithres, and by 2,000 Bactrian cavalry. The center was held by cavalry units of unknown size and nationality, probably under the joint command of Mithridates and Rhoesaces, and no doubt others not mentioned in ancient texts.
Alexander gives an order and giant-shield-wielding hoplites step forward to support Alexander's troops. A plan has appeared in Alexander's mind.
According to many military historians, the Persian formation was a tactical error
Historians also speculate that it was this error that Alexander saw and began to cross the river
Alexander divided his army in two main components. The right, with 3 units of phalanxes and all the combatants on that side was commanded by Alexander. Parmenion was made to command the right. According Arion, a second century greek historian, the Persian leaders focused Alexander. The Persians and Alexander met each other in silence, and then the Macedonians sent a feint attack on the left, lead by Socrates. "At the point where the vanguard under Amyntas and Socrates touched the bank,... But the Macedonians, much outnumbered, came off badly in the first onslaught; they were defending themselves from the river on ground that was not firm and was beneath the enemy's while the Persians had the advantage of the bank; in particular, the flower of the Persian cavalry was posted here, and Memnon's sons and Memnon himself ventured their lives with them. The first Macedonians who came to grips with the Persians were cut down, despite their valor."
Though with heavy losses, the macedonians were able to break the persian left formation. Alexander saw the and made a full-out assault on this area. "Arrian described the fighting at that point: 'Though the fighting was on horseback, it was more like an infantry battle, horse entangled with horse, man with man in the struggle, the Macedonians trying to push the Persians once and for all from the bank and force them on to the level ground, the Persians trying to bar their landing and thrust them back again into the river."
The battle dissolved into individual duels where alexander was almost wounded by several person generals, but saved by some of his cavalrymen. Despite the perian's resistance, the macedonians made it through and fired perian retreat, which caused greater chaos, foot soldiers behinded the cavalry were run over by their own side. concluding the battle as a macedonian victory.
Though with heavy losses, the macedonians were able to break the persian left formation. Alexander saw the and made a full-out assault on this area. "Arrian described the fighting at that point: 'Though the fighting was on horseback, it was more like an infantry battle, horse entangled with horse, man with man in the struggle, the Macedonians trying to push the Persians once and for all from the bank and force them on to the level ground, the Persians trying to bar their landing and thrust them back again into the river."
The battle dissolved into individual duels where alexander was almost wounded by several person generals, but saved by some of his cavalrymen. Despite the perian's resistance, the macedonians made it through and fired perian retreat, which caused greater chaos, foot soldiers behinded the cavalry were run over by their own side. concluding the battle as a macedonian victory.