The Anabasis of Alexander or, The history of the wars and conquests of Alexander the Great
1,000 Bactrians and 100 scythe-bearing chariots. In front of Darius’s
royal squadron of cavalry stood the elephants and 50 chariots. In
front of the right wing the Armenian and Cappadocian cavalry with 50
scythe-bearing chariots had been posted. The Greek mercenaries, as
alone capable of coping with the Macedonians, were stationed right
opposite their phalanx, in two divisions close beside Darius himself
and his Persian attendants, one division on each side.[407]
Alexander’s army was marshalled as follows: The right wing was held
by the cavalry Companions, in front of whom had been posted the royal
squadron, commanded by Clitus, son of Dropidas. Near this was the
squadron of Glaucias, next to it that of Aristo, then that of Sopolis,
son of Hermodorus, then that of Heraclides, son of Antiochus. Near
this was that of Demetrius, son of Althaemenes, then that of Meleager,
and last one of the royal squadrons commanded by Hegelochus, son of
Hippostratus. All the cavalry Companions were under the supreme command
of Philotas, son of Parmenio. Of the phalanx of Macedonian infantry,
nearest to the cavalry had been posted first the select corps of
shield-bearing guards, and then the rest of the shield-bearing-guards,
under the command of Nicanor, son of Parmenio. Next to these was the
brigade of Coenus, son of Polemocrates; after these that of Perdiceas,
son of Orontes, then that of Meleager, son of Neoptolemus, then that
of Polysperchon,[408] son of Simmias, and last that of Amyntas, son
of Andromenes, under the command of Simmias, because Amyntas had been
despatched to Macedonia to levy an army. The brigade of Craterus, son
of Alexander, held the left end of the Macedonian phalanx, and this
general commanded the left wing of the infantry.[409] Next to him was
the allied Grecian cavalry, under the command of Erigyius, son of
Larichus. Next to these, towards the left wing of the army, were the
Thessalian cavalry, under the command of Philip, son of Menelaüs. But
the whole left wing was led by Parmenio, son of Philotas, round whose
person were ranged the Pharsalian horsemen, who were both the best and
most numerous squadron of the Thessalian cavalry.
CHAPTER XII.
ALEXANDER’S TACTICS.
In this way had Alexander marshalled his army in front; but he also
posted a second array, so that his phalanx might be a double one.[410]
Directions had been given to the commanders of these men posted in
reserve, to wheel round and receive the attack of the foreigners, if
they should see their own comrades surrounded by the Persian army. Next
to the royal squadron on the right wing, half of the Agrianians, under
the command of Attalus, in conjunction with the Macedonian archers
under Briso’s command, were posted angular-wise (_i.e._ in such a way
that the wings were thrown forward at an angle with the centre, so as
to take the enemy in flank) in case they should be seized anyhow by
the necessity of folding back the phalanx or of closing it up (_i.e._
of deepening it by countermarching from front to rear). Next to the
archers were the men called the veteran mercenaries, whose commander
was Cleander. In front of the Agrianians and archers were posted the
light cavalry used for skirmishing, and the Paeonians, under the
command of Aretes and Aristo. In front of all had been posted the
Grecian mercenary cavalry under the direction of Menidas; and in
front of the royal squadron of cavalry and the other Companions had
been posted half of the Agrianians and archers, and the javelin-men
of Balacrus who had been ranged opposite the scythe-bearing chariots.
Instructions had been given to Menidas and the troops under him to
wheel round and attack the enemy in flank, if they should ride round
their wing. Thus had Alexander arranged matters on the right wing. On
the left the Thracians under the command of Sitalces had been posted
angular-wise, and near them the cavalry of the Grecian allies, under
the direction of Coeranus. Next stood the Odrysian cavalry, under the
command of Agatho, son of Tyrimmas. In this part, in front of all, were
posted the auxiliary cavalry of the Grecian mercenaries, under the
direction of Andromachus, son of Hiero. Near the baggage the infantry
from Thrace were posted as a guard. The whole of Alexander’s army
numbered 7,000 cavalry and about 40,000 infantry.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE BATTLE OF ARBELA.
When the armies drew near each other, Darius and the men around
him were observed; viz. the apple-bearing Persians, the Indians,
the Albanians, the Carians who had been forcibly transported into
Central Asia, the Mardian archers ranged opposite Alexander himself
and his royal squadron of cavalry. Alexander led his own army more
towards the right, and the Persians marched along parallel with him,
far outflanking him upon their left.[411] Then the Scythian cavalry
rode along the line, and came into conflict with the front men of
Alexander’s array; but he nevertheless still continued to march towards
the right, and almost entirely got beyond the ground which had been
cleared and levelled by the Persians.[412] Then Darius, fearing that
his chariots would become useless, if the Macedonians advanced into
uneven ground, ordered the front ranks of his left wing to ride round
the right wing of the Macedonians, where Alexander was commanding,
to prevent him from marching his wing any further. This being done,
Alexander ordered the cavalry of the Grecian mercenaries under the
command of Menidas to attack them. But the Scythian cavalry and the
Bactrians, who had been drawn up with them sallied forth against them,
and being much more numerous they put the small body of Greeks to rout.
Alexander then ordered Aristo at the head of the Paeonians and Grecian
auxiliaries to attack the Scythians; and the barbarians gave way. But
the rest of the Bactrians drawing near to the Paeonians and Grecian
auxiliaries, caused their own comrades who were already in flight
to turn and renew the battle; and thus they brought about a general
cavalry engagement, in which many of Alexander’s men fell, not only
being overwhelmed by the multitude of the barbarians, but also because
the Scythians themselves and their horses were much more completely
protected with armour for guarding their bodies.[413] Notwithstanding
this, the Macedonians sustained their assaults, and assailing them
violently squadron by squadron, they succeeded in pushing them out of
rank. Meantime the foreigners launched their scythe-bearing chariots
against Alexander himself, for the purpose of throwing his phalanx into
confusion; but in this they were grievously deceived. For as soon
as some of them approached, the Agrianians and the javelin-men with
Balacrus, who had been posted in front of the Companion cavalry, hurled
their javelins at them; others they seized by the reins and pulled the
drivers off, and standing round the horses killed them. Yet some rolled
right through the ranks; for the men stood apart and opened their
ranks, as they had been instructed, in the places where the chariots
assaulted them. In this way it generally happened that the chariots
passed through safely, and the men by whom they were driven were
uninjured. But these also were afterwards overpowered by the grooms of
Alexander’s army and by the royal shield-bearing guards.[414]
CHAPTER XIV.
BATTLE OF ARBELA.—FLIGHT OF DARIUS.
As soon as Darius began to set his whole phalanx in motion, Alexander
ordered Aretes to attack those who were riding completely round his
right wing; and up to that time he was himself leading his men in
column. But when the Persians had made a break in the front line of
their army, in consequence of the cavalry sallying forth to assist
those who were surrounding the right wing, Alexander wheeled round
towards the gap, and forming a wedge as it were of the Companion
cavalry and of the part of the phalanx which was posted here, he led
them with a quick charge and loud battle-cry straight towards Darius
himself. For a short time there ensued a hand-to-hand fight; but when
the Macedonian cavalry, commanded by Alexander himself, pressed on
vigorously, thrusting themselves against the Persians and striking
their faces with their spears, and when the Macedonian phalanx in
dense array and bristling[415] with long pikes had also made an attack
upon them, all things at once appeared full of terror to Darius, who
had already long been in a state of fear, so that he was the first
to turn and flee.[416] The Persians also who were riding round the
wing were seized with alarm when Aretes made a vigorous attack upon
them. In this quarter indeed the Persians took to speedy flight; and
the Macedonians followed up the fugitives and slaughtered them.[417]
Simmias and his brigade were not yet able to start with Alexander in
pursuit, but causing the phalanx to halt there, he took part in the
struggle, because the left wing of the Macedonians was reported to
be hard pressed. In this part of the field, their line being broken,
some of the Indians and of the Persian cavalry burst through the gap
towards the baggage of the Macedonians; and there the action became
desperate. For the Persians fell boldly on the men, who were most of
them unarmed, and never expected that any men would cut through the
double phalanx and break through upon them.[418] When the Persians made
this attack, the foreign prisoners also assisted them by falling upon
the Macedonians in the midst of the action. But the commanders of the
men who had been posted as a reserve to the first phalanx, learning
what was taking place, quickly moved from the position which they had
been ordered to take, and coming upon the Persians in the rear, killed
many of them there collected round the baggage. But the rest of them
gave way and fled. The Persians on the right wing, who had not yet
become aware of the flight of Darius, rode round Alexander’s left wing
and attacked Parmenio in flank.[419]
CHAPTER XV.
DEFEAT OF THE PERSIANS AND PURSUIT OF DARIUS.
At this juncture, while the Macedonians were doubtful as to the result
of the battle, Parmenio sent a messenger to Alexander in haste, to
tell him that their side was in a critical position and that he
must send him aid.[420] When this news was brought to Alexander, he
immediately turned back again from the pursuit, and wheeling round with
the Companion cavalry, led them with great speed against the right
wing of the foreigners. In the first place he assaulted the fleeing
cavalry of the enemy, the Parthians, some of the Indians, and the most
numerous and the bravest division of the Persians. Then ensued the
most obstinately contested cavalry fight in the whole engagement. For
being drawn up by squadrons as it were, the foreigners wheeled round
and falling on Alexander’s men face to face, they no longer relied on
the hurling of javelins or the dexterous deploying of horses, as is the
common practice in cavalry battles, but every one on his own account
strove eagerly to break through what stood in his way, as if this
were their only means of safety. They struck and were struck without
quarter, as if they were no longer struggling to secure the victory for
another, but were contending for their own personal safety. Here about
sixty of Alexander’s Companions fell; and Hephaestion himself, as well
as Coenus and Menidas, was wounded. But even these troops were overcome
by Alexander; and as many of them as could force their way through
his ranks fled with all their might. And now Alexander had nearly
come into conflict with the enemy’s right wing, but in the meantime
the Thessalian cavalry in a splendid struggle, had not fallen short
of Alexander’s success in the engagement. For the foreigners on the