Alexander the Great Flashcards
Granicus - Army
Alexander marched to the River Granicus with his phalanx hoplites in two lines and cavalry on the wings. Alexander sent out a small army of 500 light armed troops to spy.
Alexander sent Parmenio to take control of the left wing and he took control of the right.
Alexander used combined arms tactics and was a reason the battle was successful.
Macedonians were superior in experience and skill and the cavalry
used lighter more effective cornel wood spears
Alexander had a very clear and organised command structure with his companions serving as sub-commanders of particular units
Granicus - Character, beliefs and relationships
Alexander gave control of things in Macedonia and Greece to Antipater.
Parmenio was in charge of transporting most of the infantry. Alexander Sacrificed a bull to Poseidon.
Alexander wanted to start the battle then but Parmenio gave him the advice to set up camp as the enemy won’t attack as them as they have more infantry and crossing the river would be dangerous. Alexander politely disagreed saying that he wouldn’t be stopped by ‘this little stream’ if he could cross the Hellespont.
Cleitus saved Alexander’s life by cutting Spithridates arm off.
Alexander ordered everyone should be killed and massacred the mercenaries who betrayed him
Gordian knot - character and beliefs
There was a story that whoever undid the knot was destined to rule Asia so Alexander had a desire to do so. Alexander undid the knot by either cutting it with his sword or taking the bolt holding the knot together.
Alexander offered sacrifices to the gods after for the omens.
Tyre - Army
They break the walls using siege engines and hypaspists breach and enter.
Gaugamela (Arrian) - Army
Javelin throwers took down the chariots and then the hypaspists finished them off
Alexander lead his forces right and then turned back in with a wedge formation
The dense Macedonian Phalanx were “bristling with pikes”
Gaugamela (Arrian) - Character, beliefs and relationships
Alexander followed Parmenio’s advice to set camp and wait to survey their surroundings before the battle
Parmenio advised to attack at night but Alexander replied that stealing the victory would be shameful
Alexander wanted to chase Darius but Parmenio needed help so went back to help him.
Gaugamela (Plutarch) - Army
Parmenio was again in charge of the left wing and Alexander on the right and Parmenio began to struggle.
Gaugamela (Plutarch) - Character, beliefs and relationships
Before the battle, there was a single combat between two of Alexander’s companions with one of them being Alexander and the other Darius. The ‘fake’ Alexander won so they took it as a sign of how the battle will happen in real life.
Alexander performed several sacrifices before the battle.
Parmenio tried to persuade Alexander to attack at night to ambush the enemy to which Alexander replied “I do not steal my victories”
Parmenio had to wake Alexander up.
Supposedly Aristander the seer saw an eagle hover above Alexander’s head, a sign of Zeus.
Alexander wanted to chase after Darius but Parmenio needed help so went to help him.
Persian Gates - Army
Some prisoners told Alexander of another route around the pass so Alexander took some men consisting of light armed archers, the Agrianians, hypaspists and some companion cavalry and left Craterus in charge.
Persian Gates - Character, beliefs and relationships
Alexander burned down a Persian palace against Parmenio’s advice that he already owned it so there was no point in burning it. Alexander claimed he wanted revenge for the burning of Athens.
Aornus rock - Character, beliefs and relationships
Alexander realised this and let them withdraw from the mound and remove their guard of it. Then the Macedonians turned on the departing Indians at an agreed signal.
Alexander wanted to conquer this rock as Heracles had not.
Murder of Cleitus - Character, relationships and beliefs
Alexander loses his temper with Cleitus as Cleitus is angry at Alexander’s adoption of Persian customs. Alexander kills Cleitus with a spear
Arrian - He immediately regrets what he did and after he laid in bed and cried Cleitus’ name.
Plutarch - Alexander immediately regrets what he did and tried to kill himself but was carried to his chamber
Mass marriage at Susa - Character, beliefs and relationships
Alexander wanted to be related to Hephaestion and he wanted Hephaestion’s children to be cousins of his own.
Death of Hephaestion - character, beliefs and relationship
Alexander mourned for may days and asked an Oracle to ask the gods whether Hephaestion could be sacrificed to like a god but was denied.
He had a funeral pyre made that cost 10,000 talents.
