Alexander’s Army: Unleashed Power by the history:
in the spring,One of the greatest military campaigns in history began, when Alexander led his army across the Hellespond into Asia Minor in 334 BC, ready to begin his battle against the Persian Empire.Alexander’s Army was about 40,000 strong drawn from all parts of Greece, the Infantry were commanded by the veteran Macedonian General parmenia in the front rank 9,000 Macedonian valentites armed with the 18 ft sarissa.
Readiness Alexander’s Army:
these were professional soldiers well-trained and drilled, who formed up for battle in the Phalanx 16 ranks deep this pack formation presented a solid wall of iron spare tips,and was virtually Unstoppable but it was also difficult to maneuver and highly vulnerable to attacks on its flanks or rear, so 3000 Elite infantry the hypospice or Shield bearers armed with shorter Spears guarded its flanks.
Beyond the Phalanx: Other Forces in Alexander’s Army :
they will commanded by pomanian son nickena North the second line of Alexander’s Army was made up of 7,000 Greek allies and 5,000 mercenaries armed,as hot lights they took their name from the Hopland,their large round shield and carried shorter 8 foot Spears,a hoplight Phalanx was not as effective as the Macedonian phalange,but still well armed and heavily armored for the time,Adriana is well the armies Elites commissions expert Javelin throwers from what’s now Southern Bulgaria.other skirmishers from Thrace and Elyria were armed with javelin’s slings and bows the shock troops of Alexander’s Army were the companion cavalry,1,800 Elite Horseman armed with spear and sword commanded by philitas,another son of Armenian Alexander led the Royal Squadron in person,there were also 1,800 Cavalry from thesley commanded by callus,600 from other part of Greece led by eriggers,a 900 mounted Scouts from Thrace and peonia under Kassander.
the granicus
Persian Strategy: Scorched Earth or Confrontation?
The great Persian Empire was divided into provinces called satrapies,each Saturday was ruled by a governor or satrap.those in Asia Minor now threatened by Alexander’s Invasion,met to discuss strategy. memnon of Roads.the skilled Greek General in Persian service, urged them to avoid battle with Alexander,instead he advised them to use a scorched Earth strategy to burn Villages and crops and withdraw to the interior, Alexander’s Army he promised would quickly starve it.was good advice,but the sad traps were unwilling to lay waste to their own provinces without a fight.
The decision to confront Alexander :
The Persian Empire decided to face Alexander’s Army at the river granicus,the Persian army formed up behind the river which was shallow but 60 ft wide with steep Banks,their front line was a wall of Cavalry about 10,000 Horsemen from across the empire,meetings and titaniums from Modern Iran,bactrians from Afghanistan,and papagonians from turkey’s,Black Sea Coast behind in reserve were the Infantry.
Alexander’s Bold Gamble: The Crossing of the Granicus :
several thousand Greek mercenaries are common sight in Persian armies at this time,these men fought for Persian gold and were armed with the round shield and short Spear of Hot Lights,the Persians may have been unsure if they could trust these men in combat against fellow Greeks,so placed them at the rear.
The attack begins:
Alexander determined to attack and Destroy This Persian Force before it could Retreat,raced to the granicus with his best troops on his left wing,he posted thessalian Greek and thracian Cavalry under parminians command in the center where the Mast Spears of the Phalanx,it’s 6 divisions commanded by perdicast Colinas I’m in Tass Philip meliaga and crateros on the right,Alexander himself with the companion Cavalry under philatas as well as the elite hypospits the Adriana is Javelin throwers and The Archers,Alexander with 13,000 infantry and 5,000 Cavalry in all was probably slightly outnumbered,but ignoring advice to wait until dawn to cross the river,yodered an immediate assault,he sent a squadron of companion Cavalry to forward the river,followed by a regiment of my pastists and the peony and light cavalry.