March to
[C 4.8-11; D 17.53-55; A
3.6-7; P 29-31; J 11.12]
Begins march late spring 331
March to
Rebellion of the Samaritans [C 4.8.9-11]
Burn Andromachus to death
Attacked and executed
Embassy from Athenians to release captives granted [C 4.8.12-14; A 3.6.1]
Local aristocracies remain in place
Cultural contests [P 29]
Navy [C 4.8.15; A 3.6.1-2]
100 ships dispatched to
to conquer
to maintain order in
Some Persians and Spartans still resisting
Satraps
Using Persian administrative system
And later court ritual
Ascepiodorus in
Coeranus in
Return of some refugees and deserters [A 3.6.4-6]
Bridging the
Parmenion sent ahead
Pontoon bridge
Lashing boats and building causeway on boats
Builds ¾ of the bridge
Mazaeus with 3000 Persian cavalry harasses
Arrival of Alexander and Persians withdraw
Strategical dilemma
Can be forded in upper regions
Crossed further from Darius who was marching up
Mazaeus had stripped the
Green on the battle of
Captured spies reveal Persian plan [A 3.7.4, 3.8.2]
Darius’ policies
Scythed chariots [C 4.9.3-5; D 17.53.2; A 3.8.6]
Cavalry scouts and harassment
Scourched earth policy [C 4.9.7-8,13-14, 4.10.11-12; D 17.55.1-2]
Mazaeus and 6000 cavalry
Draw Alexander away from supplies and communications
Pick open battlefield for cavalry outflanking
Darius arrives and
picks battlefield at
Fording of the
Use horses to break the speed of the river
Men cross carrying their equipment over their heads
Cavalry skirmishing
The eclipse of the Moon [C 4.10.1-9; A 3.7.6]
Effect on morale
Soothsayers interpret it favorably
Grain saved from buring [C 4.10.13-15]
Plot to murder Alexander [C 4.10.16-17]
Death of Darius’ wife [C 4.10.18-34; D 17.55.7; P 30]
Darius’s third peace envoy [C 4.11.1-22; D 17.54.1-6]
Offer [C 4.11.5-6]
All land to the
Daughter in marriage
30,000 talents of gold
Alexander rejects [C 4.11.14; P 29]
Parmenio “I would accept were I Alexander”
Alexander “So would I, were I Parmenio”