Battle of Granicus
The Battle of Granicus, fought in 334 BCE, marked a significant early confrontation in Alexander the Great's campaign against the Persian Empire. As he sought to fulfill his father's vision of expansion, Alexander faced a hastily assembled Persian force led by regional satraps rather than the Persian king, Darius III. The battle took place near the Hellespont, where Alexander's army crossed the river Granicus and engaged the Persian forces, who were positioned on the steep eastern bank. Despite being outnumbered, Alexander's tactics, including rapid cavalry charges, enabled a swift and effective assault that ultimately routed the Persian troops. The battle also resulted in the defeat of Greek mercenaries allied with the Persians. Following this victory, Alexander established his own satrap in the region and gained momentum for further advances into Persian territory, highlighting the battle's strategic importance in his broader campaign. The outcome of Granicus not only showcased Alexander's military prowess but also prompted Darius III to take more direct action in response to the Macedonian threat.
Battle of Granicus
Related civilizations: Macedonia, Persia, Classical Greece.
Date: spring, 334 b.c.e.
Locale: Granicus (Kocabaş) River, in Hellespontine Phrygia
Background
In 334 b.c.e., Alexander the Great invaded Persia, fulfilling the plans laid by his father Philip II of Macedonia. Close to the Hellespont (Dardanelles), the invader was met by a Persian army.
Action
The Persian force—led by satraps, not the Persian king Darius III—was hastily levied and outnumbered by the Macedonians. The Persians faced Alexander on the steep east bank of the river, evidently expecting that the Macedonian army, on the opposite bank would become disarrayed when marching down that bank, crossing the river, and then pushing uphill against them.
Although the sources are somewhat confused on the details, it seems that Alexander attacked quickly. Parmenion commanded the Macedonian left and Alexander the right. The steepness of the river banks prevented the army attacking in extended line, so it crossed the river with two cavalry charges, the first to disrupt the Persian line and the second to protect the infantry, and then in fierce fighting routed the Persians. The Persian’s Greek mercenaries, which had not been deployed, were defeated by Alexander, and many slaughtered.
Consequences
The battle at Granicus (grah-NI-kuhs) allowed Alexander to establish his own satrap in Hellespontine Phrygia and move further inland in his conquest of Persia. It also served to alert Darius III to the need of leading the Persian army himself.
Bibliography
Bosworth, A. B. Conquest and Empire: The Reign of Alexander the Great. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1988.
Dodge, Theodore Ayrault. Alexander. London: Greenhill Books, 1993.