Alexander Themes Flashcards
Sieges
- The Siege of Miletus where Alexander used 2-pronged attack on the city with both land and navy. Blockading the harbor with the Greek fleet, thus cutting off Persian resupply, and attacking the city on land with siege engines(mobile siege towers), which prevent escape via land.
- The prolonged siege of Halicarnassus where Alexander filled in the moat at the base of the fortress, and continued using his siege engines. However, he could not starve the inhabitants there to surrender as the Persian Navy kept re-supplying them and Alexander wasn’t able to do anything due to his previous decision to disband the Greek fleet. He left the siege operations to a general and gave his married men a holiday and himself went to Gordium. Halicarnassus was taken a year later.
- The Siege of Tyre was one of Alexander’s greatest feats of miliary glory, with the mole(causway) he built from the shore to the island, which made Tyre a permenant peninsula. He conducted a 3-pronged siege with two naval fleets attacking the island city from different directions, and one unit through the extended mole from land. The mole was built with stones as foundation and plenty of timber packed on top according to Arrian. The mole was attacked by Tyrian projectiles and ships and Alexander tried to counter it with two high siege towers at the front that are covered in animal skins to protect from incendiary damage. The Tyrians then kamakazied a ship filled with naptha to destroy the end of the mole, and Alexander rebuilt it wider and in total, the mole was completed in 6 months. For the second phase, Alexander recontructs a naval fleet at Sidon and takes 80 ships from Phoenician deserters, and convinced the Cypriot King to assist him and gave him a fleet of 120 ships. The Phoenician fleet attacked the southern harbour and the Cypriot fleet attacked the northern harbour. With the mole that was the ground troops, Alexander was able to break through the southern wall and take control over the city, and all those who hide in the Temple of Heracles were spared by Alexander while others were killed.
- The siege of Gaza stronghold. Located at the top of a fortified hill, with shallow soil untenable for siege machinary, Batis the satrap refused to cooperate with Alexander, as he felt he was prepared for a prolonged siege. Alexander ordered his engineers to raise a mound at the point of the stronghold that they identify that was the most scceptible to attack, and build the siege engines, concentrated on the southern sector. Neoptolemus was the first to climb the ladder. There was a omen with an eagle that dropped a rock on Alexander, which was interpreted as a warning for Alexander not to participate in the fighting as he would be injured. He still fought and was indeed seriously injured by a rock that hit his shoulder. The stronghold was defeated and all the men died while the women and children were sold to slavery.
- The Siege of Malli, Alexander changed up his approach and charged up the wall with ladders. He lead the charge and was separated from the rest of his army with only a couple of his personal bodyguards, stranded on the wall, and was struck by an arrow to his chest, which severely wounded him. He tried to maintain his aura, reassruing his men that he’s fine, but collapsed right after he entered his tent. His men thought he was dead and fought more fiercely, and took the city.
Pitched Battles
1.The Battle of Granicus River. It was Alexander’s first pitch battle against the Persian empire and he was outnumbered significantly. The river was deep and his generals suggested him to wait until another time of the year. He rejected that idea and when Parmenio advised him to cross the river at dawn after the night, Alexander didn’t want to be “stopped by a little trickle of water” and he charged across the river with his signature helmut, leading a bolstered cavalry squardrons with Amyntas from the right flank, which made him a target immediately to the enemy generals Spithdartes and Rhoesaces. Alexander was saved by Cleitus the Black in this encounter and successfully killed both generals. He did so to break through enemy lines and was able to accomplish just that and through his bravery, the enemy that had no real leader as the Persian forces were comprised of the four satraps combined with Memnon’s mercenaries, resulting in the lack of a coherent plan. They fell apart under Alexander’s speedy charge.
2. Battle at Issus against Darius. The terrain was narrow so Darius wasn’t able to take advantage of his significant numbers. Alexander hides cavalry behind his front line lead by Parmenio, who was ordered to appear and hold no matter what when attacked, appearing as if there’s a weak spot in his line, to lure Darius’ cavalry all to Alexander’s left side, leaving Darius’ left side devoid of cavalry, where Alexander and his Companions are charging towards. Alexander charged right through the enemy infantry line and went straight for Darius as he was unprotected without his cavalry. Darius fleed as he was scared and his army fell apart after his escape. Alexander decided to turn back to help Parmenio as the general was struggling heavily. Alexander utilzed a pincer movement when charging back, taking out the Persian Army. All loot taken afterward.
3. The Battle of Guagamela , Alexander refused to ‘steal victory like a thief”and attack at night as suggested by Parmenio. Alexander knew from captured scouts that Darius brought elephants and scythed chariots, and tried to copy the Macedonian sarissae, but failed due to lack of training. Darius significantly outnumbered Alexander again. Alexander’s troops had good night rests while Darius’ troops were tired from alerted formation at every night, tricked by Alexader. Alexander shifted his line away from the flattened ground and opened up his infantry line when charged with scythed Chariots. Reserve infantry takes care of chariots, Alexander charged straight at Darius again, Darius ran away, and left his massive infantry unused. Alexander had to turn back again as Parmenio was in danger from the enemy cavalry again.
Political Administration of two cultures
Ionian Coast where he “Liberated” the Greeks living there, and appointing Macedonian Satraps in charge, without giving the locals a total revamp in their daily lives, sagacious not to disturb them, preventing possible rebelling by retaining the satrapy. He tried to merge the Macedonian style of kingship(First among Equals)wth the Persian style of kingship(King is God), which didn’t go very well as the Macedonians were used to being equal with Alexander and now suddenly had to be treated as inferiors. Especially with the attempted inplementation of Proskynesis, public prostration in the presence of Alexander(Stark contrast from first among equals). This wasn’t implemented due to the resistance shown by Callistenes and other Macedonians. The incorporation of Orientalism in Alexander’s attire, and developing hedonistic practices, and surrounding himself in Persian presences, angered the Macedonians as well. What was successful in the fusion was Alexander’s decisions to marry Persian women to himself and his men, as a form of reconcilement between Persians and Macedonians.
Generalship towards Macedonians
Alexander was first very transparent in expressing his plans and ideas with his generals and companions, show his “first among equals” tradition being upheld. This was clearly displayed with his Foreign Policy Speech (Arrian 2.17) before he started the siege of Tyre in 332. He often lead charges with his Companion cavalry in battles and checked up on the wounded ones. His action of sending back the married troops in winter earned him the most respect. Alexander changed later on however, partially due to a shift towards orientalism and also due to his growing hubris, believing himself to be a literal “God”. Alexander did not accept any sort of “insubordination” , challenging opinions, or untrustworthiness of even his inner circles, as seen with the execution Philotas, and even more arbitury exection of Parmenio, and of Cleitus in drunken partying and Hermolaus’ grievence of his “inhuman arrogance”.
Image building/Pothos moments and reasons(including herioc emulation)
At Troy where he planted spear and touched Persian land first and declared it “spear won land” honoring Protesilaus, laid wreath on Achillies Tomb, made sacrifice to Zeus, Athena, Heracles, Poseidon, Libation for Nerid. Infering that he was the second-coming of Achilles, and would emerge victorious from Asia as his ancestors did. Eagle omen, defeating Persian fleet from land. At Gordium, undoing the knot, said to have been tied by Midas’ father, somewhat legitimizing his rule of Asia. Siege of Tyre, wanting to sacrifice at temple of Heracles. Establishing Alexandroupolis at Egypt for a location in the Odyssey. Visiting the Oracle at Siwa, following footsteps of Heracles and Persueus, where he was greeted as “O’ Pai Dios’ Son of Zeus. Reaffirming his divine heritage. At The Rock of Aornus, one of the reasons why he wanted to conquer it was because not even Heracles was able to take the city. Also, at Nysa, Alexander wanted to go further into India not only because of his ambition but also his desire to be greater than the god Dionysus, who turned back at Nysa.
Charismatic rhetoric
The Speech At Issus, Darius’ letter responses, Arrian 2.17(Foreign Policy Speech before Tyre), and Mutiny at Beas where his men wanted to turn back but he gave them a list of reasons not to.
Omens and interpretations
The eagle omen that he would defeat the Persian Fleet from the land. The omen about the Gordium knot, Gaza “bird of prey” dropped a rock on Alexander. Alexander’s dream of Heracles at Tyre. The miracle birds who lead Alexander to Siwa. The “omen” at Hyphasis where the “gods” told him to turn back.
Early life impact of Philip and Olympias (what traits they fostered, Plutarch 1-9)
Philip raised Alexander’s ambition through lack of care he showed on common basis, showing relatively excess love towards Alexander at the Taming of Bucephalus in 340, building Alexander’s urge to accomplish bold and brazen, AMBITIOUS deeds. Giving him access to Aristotle, greatest teacher of rhetoric and philosophy, and worldly knowledge. Philip also fostered Alexander’s militiaristic interest by allowing him to lead an army himself against the barbarians and during the Battle of Chaeronia, allowing him to lead the Companion cavalry. Philip also developed his diplomatic and sagaciousness in his political dealings with the responsibilty of the royal seal and mint, taking care of the Persian emmissaries while himself was away in 340. Olympias, developed Alexander’s sense of divinity, preached him about his divine lineage, “Son of Zeus”
Close friends
Hephaestion(Best buds), Ptolemy(future king of Egypt), Craterus(leading charges with Companions), Coenus(sent back), Nearchus, Philotas(killed)
Policy of Fusion
Giving his close inner circle companions relatives of Darius as wives, wedding the rest of his high-ranking officers with Persian women. Training Persian boys with Macedonian military techniques, calling them Epigoni - “inheritors”, which strongly anger his men as the felt like they were going to be replaced by their enemies. (Arrian 7.5) “could not be feel that Alexander had abandoned his culture, and with orientalism, and that he nolonger cared for his own people or his own nature ways.”.
Some important Plutarch information(Plutarch handouts re-read)
Some Important Arrian information
- 2.17 (foreign policy speech Before Tyre)
- 2.14 (Savage Darius letter response)
- 2.26 ‘The Greater the difficulty, the more necessary it was to take.”
- 4.8 (Orientalism)
- 3.27-28(Darius Epitaph) “In military matters, he was the feeblest and must incompetent of men” & “Such was the unhappy life of Darius; dead he was more fortunate”
- 4.14 (Hermolaus’s list of Grievences)
Hermolaus “openly confessed his guilt, declaring it was no longer possible for an honourable man to endure Alexander’s inhuman arrogance.”
- “He went on to give a list of Alexander’s crimes”
○ “the lawless killing of Philotas”
○ “the still more arbitrary execution of his father Parmenio”
○ “the murder in his cups of Cleitus”
○ “his assumption of Persian dress”
○ “the duty of prostration he had planned, and was still planning, to impose”
○ “the heavy drinking”
○ “his drunken sleeps”
- “what he desired was to free himself, and the other Macedonians, from the evils such as these”
