Period which extends from the campaigns of Alexander to the conquest of the Greeks by the Romans (- 320 - 146).

Chronology

- 334 Battle of Granique. He beats the satraps of minor Asia

- 333 Battle of Issos. He demolishes Darius III and refuses its conditions of peace

- 331 Battle of Arbeles (Gaugameles) Darius succeeds to escape

- 326 Alexander demolishes and captures king Indien Porus, on the river Hydaspes (Jhelum)
 

The command Macedonian. Contrary to the general rule of the time, the king orders the army with the battle normally, and takes part in it. However the system Macedonian gives a rather big part of initiative to the immediate subordinates. Those are selected for their intelligence to act and their capacity of decision during the course of the battle.

- the battle of Granique - 334:
 

One solves to go on the edges of Granique, river of very low importance, always gueable, except after the large rains which transform it into torrent, but whose enough escarpee right bank offers a serious obstacle to the attack. In Anatolia, Alexander stops initially in Troy, where he achieves several ritual monk - way, undoubtedly, to be identified with the heroes of Iliade. Alexander who, since his unloading, is made precede by an advanced-guard of light troops, is informed soon by his runners of the position chosen by Arsites. He goes right to Granique (today Kocabas) on four columns: those of the center including the hypaspists and the taxeis of hoplites, those of the sides, the heavy cavalry supported by the light cavalry and the bowmen. Arrived near his adversary, the king of Macedonia examines the position. He sees that the Persian cavalry is developed on the edge of Granique which it can defend only passively, which the infantry is on the contrary further placed and covered behind by the troops with horse. Alexander solves to operate by his line, to vigorously push the attack on the left wing, where he sees joined together the largest enemy characters, to support this movement by the remainder of its line in levels and to drive back the cavalry on the infantry, with her phalangites supported by its squadrons. But it is important, for the continuation of this plan, not to let himself overflow. We are regulated on the column of right-hand side which takes its direction towards the left of Aristes; the others go at their distance of deployment and are reformed in battle by a double rectangular movement. The line being established, Alexander orders to attack by successive divisions, the advanced-guard forming the advanced part; other troops moving away more and more from the adversary to the opposite wing ordered by Parmenion. But the cashing of banks, the dominant position of the Persians, the fatal effect of the arrows return the action of the unfruitful advanced-guard ; it must move back. Then Alexander precipitates in the river with the head of his heavy cavalry, the Greeks follow it while shouting: "Ennualios! Ennualios!" who is another name for the god of the war, Mars; supported on the right by the bowmen, on the left, by the light cavalry, while the driven back troops, obliquing on the right, seek to turn the line of Aristes completely. " If you are in war, you arranges so that sun and the wind are with you and not against you. "Alexander the Great. There is in this point a great fray; the Persians have for them the advantage of the position, the Macedonians, the superiority of the armament. Moreover, Alexander awaited the afternoon to fight, thus the Persians are dazzled by the sun which is from now on opposite them, badly distinguishing their adversaries they lose their advantage of the position which they maintained ; the Macedonians triumph, force the line and thus facilitate the attack of the collateral parts, made up of the remainder of the less quarrelsome troops. Parmenion, during the fight, takes again his walk ahead, he arrives at height of Alexander and the face is reformed. The greco-Asian infantry, which did not take yet share with the combat, then sees itself delivering opposite to the attacks of the center Macedonian, whose manpower exceeds to his own, and of side, with the combined efforts of the cavalry of Alexander and Parmenion. She is cut in parts almost on the spot after a desperate resistance. The latter proposes to go, but as the majority of these infantrymen are Greek mercenaries, Alexander refuses and he makes them put at dead as traitors. According to Diodore, the Persians lose 2 000 riders and 10 000 infantrymen. The number of the killed riders is relatively weak, but a great number of chiefs fell under the blows from the companions from Alexander. Moreover, the total destruction of the body of hoplites brings the ruin of the infantry of Darius. The losses on the side of Alexander are not very considerable. One hesitates to add faith to the accounts of the old historians who mention only 85 riders and 60 phalangists killed with the attack of a position which, according to them, was valiantly defended. The battle of Granique is thus reduced to a passage of river operated by light troops with a reinforced wing and in an oblique order; walk in diagonal before approached was transformed into an attack in level carried out by taxeis, as soon as the line had uncoupled sufficiently not to have to fear an attack of side more. All the chances of the victory lay then in the success of the combat that Alexander delivered with his heavy cavalry constant by his light cavalry and the archers. The great fault of the Persians lies in the bad order of battle adopted. The cavalry was condemned to the immobility, was bored in a point and was overflowed, it was obliged with the retirement, compromising the second too brought closer line, thus throwing the disorder there, becoming themselves the cause of their own disaster. Thus delivering itself without defense to the combined movements of the phalange and the islands Macedonians. It thus carries the victory of Granique over a Persian army evil organized, unable to coordinate the actions of the cavalry and the infantry.      Plan of the battle of Granique :   Caption battle of Granique:  ¤ heavy Cavalry: M : Cavalry Macedonian  C : Cavalry confederated T : Cavalry thessalienne ¤ Light cavalry: S : sarissophores  p : peoniens T : thraces ¤ Infantry of line: H : hypaspists  : hoplites ¤ light Infantry: I : light infantry     ¤ Colors: In black: Phase 1: Deployment Purple: Phase 2: Attack against the Persian cavalry. In red: Phase 3: Attack against the Persian infantry.          Manpower Macedonians    Persians        Infantry    Infantry  Hoplites (8 taxeis)  9 000   Hoplites Greek  10 000 Hypaspists 3 000   Asian infantrymen  8 000 Combined  7 000     Light infantry  11 000   Total of the infantry 30000 H    Total of the infantry  18000 H       Cavalry    Cavalry  Cav. Macedonian  1 500   Persian riders  20 000 Heavy cavalry  2 100     Light cavalry  900   Total of the cavalry  4 500   Total of the cavalry  20 000   Total  34 500 H   Total  38 000 H   Losses    Losses  infantrymen 60   infantrymen 10 000 riders 85   riders    2 000 Total  145 H   Total  12 000 H   The battle of Issos - 333:     Alexander wants to rest on the sea and to carry his greater mass of cavalry on his line; but the provisions taken by Darius force it to modify its ideas. The king of Perse, tightened in a small fort spaces, formed his army on several lines behind of Pinaros, while it makes some supervise left bank by a large mixed detachment, composed, says one, of 30 000 riders and 20 000 infantrymen. He wants to also stop progress of Alexander launched in the mountain beyond the sources of this river.  But before the action, Darius recalls the body of left bank and directs towards the line, opposite Parmenion, the squadrons which form part of it. At once that the retirement of the Persan detachment makes it possible Alexander to go an exact account of the provisions of its adversary, it orders in the islands thessaliennes to change place by concealing line behind and to counterbalance, as much as it is possible, the mass of cavalry which threatens Parmenion. It mingles with the detachments of light infantry with her cavalry of right-hand side, covers all its face of archers, finally it opposes light troops to those which Darius sent in Amanus. These last, in spite of their number are easily pushed back, and Alexander having made them follow not to rather far have more concern to conceive of their share, points out a part of the troops that it opposed to them, in order to prolong its line of battle and to make its face equal to that of the enemy. The device Macedonian thus contains two distinct parts: the principal line parallel with the brook, and the body flanking in the mountain; in all 28 000 men approximately.  Alexander advances with very slow steps towards Pinaros. This slowness is calculated. It can thus gain ground without breaking its ordinance, and then, it hopes to attract Darius beyond the river of which a part of right bank had been cut off. But the king remains motionless. Then Alexander, made at range of feature, does not give to his lines time to be a prelude to with the combat; he precipitates with his heavy cavalry, supported by the light cavalry, and a part of the hypaspists, on Cardaques (or hoplites Asian) who form the enemy left. Frightened by the violence and the brusqueness of this attack, Cardaques hardly resist and release foot, vigorously continued by all the line Macedonian which, as soon as it conquered the sufficient ground, carries out a change of direction towards the left so as to form a hook with the line of the taxeis. Darius, which is on a tank in the center of its army, realizes movement of retirement of its left and oblique walk of the Macedonians towards him. Taken terror, it flees as quickly as it can it through its accumulated lines, involving with him all those which accompany it, and those which, attending its escape by far, judge that it is necessary no more to defend a position which the chief himself gives up. The disorder is thus with its roof behind of the first line, where remainder are the worst troops.  It is not the same on the face. Alexander made his movement with the light troops of the right-hand side and a part of the hypaspists. The remainder of the line cannot undoubtedly bind to this level because of the impetuosity of the attack. Also the center and the line of Parmenion are seen they vigorously charged by the majority with the Greek hoplites of the first line. The combat is obstinate and failed to turn to the disadvantage of the Macedonians; but it is restored by the arrival of Alexander. The surrounded Greeks vigorously frayent a passage through their enemies and move towards Phenicie. The Macedonians have another thing to make to continue them, they let them be withdrawn. The old authors also speak about a combat of riders towards the sea, but it lasted little. The defeat of the Persians completed, Alexander begins a vigorous continuation. The massacre of fugitive is considerable in this narrow strip of land which should be gone up to reach the cilicians Pyles and which still cut of the ravines and the torrents. This immense relaxed multitude, not finding any release, is cut the throat of like a cheap herd, leaving 10 000 riders and 100 000 infantrymen on the ground. The Macedonians lose approximately 300 infantrymen and 150 riders, one can add 4 000 wounded. Darius cannot join together, far from the field battles, that 4 000 men with whom it hastens to gain Thapsaque, then it passes by again Euphrate.  The principal cause of the loss of the battle of Issos is the imperitie of Darius... Since it had neglected defenses of Cilicie, it was to remain in plain, where its immense cavalry could operate at ease; but it engaged on the contrary in a narrow procession and a kind of bowel where the number even of its troops was to be the principal cause of its disasters. However, so at the same time as it occupied by its walk on the cilicians Pyles the line of communication of Alexander, it had combined this movement, (and its manpower allowed it) with a powerful diversion on Syrian Pyles, it could have destroyed the army engaged Macedonian, near the enemy, in inextricable master keys of which it did not order the outlets. The only provision of Darius which one can rent, is the beginning of the diversion against the right wing. The body of face could with him only compromise the existence of the enemy army, if it had been posted at the exit of maritime Pyles. On the other hand, all the provisions of Alexander are well taken as soon as it re-occupied the last procession. The walk of its taxeis adapts to the ground, its line of battle, glaze of face and of side, is wisely led; the strength with which it pushes its line proves that it had an exact knowledge of the value of its adversaries. However precipitation is too large, since the center is divided. Remainder, with manners of time, one can affirm that the most skilful provisions of the Persians had been counterbalanced for the disastrous example given by the king. No victory was more complete and did not have, in the continuation, of the more wide political consequences than those of Issos. Not only the Persian army was destroyed and dispersed, but the glare of the name of Alexander was raised of all the contempt which with it the pusillanimity of Darius involved. To commemorate its victory, it melts one of the many named cities Alexandria (today Iskenderum). Astounded by the width of its defeat, Darius offers to negotiate, but Alexander requires his tender in precondition to any talks.

 

Manpower
 

Macedonians			Persians
Infantry			Infantry
Hoplites (5 taxeis)	12 000		Hoplites Greek mercenaries	8/10 000
Hypaspists	3 000		Cardaces mercenaries	20 000
Combined Greek	7 000
Light Infantry Thrace	6 000		Light infantry	12/15 000
Light Infantry Illyrie	1 000		levy in masse in the tribes	50 000
Light infantry Crete	1 000
Mercenaries	5 000
Total of the infantry	35 000 H		Total of the infantry	470 000 H!!!
Cavalry			Cavalry
Companions	2 100		Noble	20 000
Thessalie	2 100		Cavalry	8/10 000
Combined Greek	750
Prodomoi	600
Peonie	300
Total of the cavalry	5 850		Total of the cavalry	28/30 000
Total	40 850		Total	500 000!!!
Losses			Losses
infantrymen	60		infantrymen	100 000!!!
riders	85		riders	10 000
Total	145		Total	110 000

The figures given concerning the Persian army are of doubtful validity. This being due to few information available.
 

Gaugameles - 331:
 
 

Darius makes prepare the ground to employ its cavalry as well as possible and to remove stones for better using its charrery. Alexander takes the formation obliques (refused on the left) and slips in diagonal to entirely leave released space. Bessus seeks to overflow it during this movement.

Skirmish: the line Macedonian yields ground in front of the heavy cavalry, the men of Ariston restore the face

The tanks charge but are contained by the light infantry. Some passes through the phalange but is made destroy by the servants of army behind the troops of combatants. The companions tackle the weak point resulting from the operation of Bessus, which extends too its line on the left: the phalange charges of face and the center breaks down. Bessus does not progress any more. Hoplites Greek mercenaries 8/10 000 Hypaspists 3 000 Cardaces mercenaries 20 000 Combined Greek 7 000 Light Infantry Thrace  6 000 Light infantry 12/15 000 Light Infantry Illyrie 1 000 levy in masse in the tribes  50 000 Light infantry Crete 1 000 Mercenaries 5 000 Total of the infantry 35 000 H Total of the infantry  470 000 H!!!     Cavalry  Cavalry  Companions 2 100 Noble 20 000 Thessalie 2 100 Cavalry 8/10 000 Combined Greek 750 Prodomoi 600 Peonie 300 Total of the cavalry 5 850   Total of the cavalry 28/30 000     Total 40 850 Total 500 000!!! Losses Losses infantrymen 60 infantrymen 100 000!!! riders 85 riders 10 000 Total 145 Total 110 000

The figures given concerning the Persian army are of doubtful validity. This being due to few information available.
 

Gaugameles - 331:
 
 

Darius makes prepare the ground to employ its cavalry as well as possible and to remove stones for better using its charrery. Alexander takes the formation obliques (refused on the left) and slips in diagonal to entirely leave released space. Bessus seeks to overflow it during this movement.

Skirmish: the line Macedonian yields ground in front of the heavy cavalry, the men of Ariston restore the face

The tanks charge but are contained by the light infantry. Some passes through the phalange but is made destroy by the servants of army behind the troops of combatants. The companions tackle the weak point resulting from the operation of Bessus, which extends too its line on the left: the phalange charges of face and the center breaks down. Bessus does not progress any more. .

Mazares launches all its cavalry against Parmenion. Two units of the phalange lose the contact with the large one and a part of the Persian cavalry, passing the breach, attacks the train of the crews. In their turn, these riders undergo the attack of the reserves Macedonians. To help Parmenion, Alexander makes a conversion on the left with an aim of rolling up the side of Mazares. Very hard combat against Parthes and Hyrcaniens; 60 companions are killed; many casualties. With the assistance of Thessaliens, Alexander triumphs.
 
 

Manpower

- the battle of Hydaspes - 326:
 
 

When Alexander arrives at the Hydaspes river, it is to find Porus blocking the ford. After several pretences, it decides to cross behind the island of Admana. It makes movement of night, during a storm, posting with the Cratère ford with the head of a mixed force of 2 000 riders and 9 000 infantrymen, also leaving behind him, on the way, Meleagre with 1 000 riders and 16 000 infantrymen. Alexander embarks with the remainder of his manpower, accidentally puts the foot on another island, ended by overcoming inflated water and touching bank, while the phalange rejoins in boats. The cavalry protected by a screen from assembled archers, begins his progression and Porus gives mission to his/her son of intercepting it. Alexander understands that Porus itself does not follow this operation and its cavalry crushes the Indians whose tanks are taken in mud. The son of Porus is killed on the place of the meeting. Porus lays out its army to face Alexander whose cavalry operates in front of the infantry, giving him time to be put in order of battle. The infantry of Porus shelters behind a curtain of elephants. The cavalry of Alexander makes movement towards the line while Coenus carries out a circular motion towards the left. When the assembled bodies Macedonians strike the Indian left, Porus supports its men by moving the cavalry of its right wing, Coenus is put at the continuation of the Indians ; Alexander the load and they seek to shelter behind the elephants. Greek light troops badger them and when the remainders of the Indian cavalry want to swivel to be caught some with these light troops, Alexander pushes back them. Gathered, the cavalry of Alexander attacks the enemy infantry, whereas the phalange comes to the combat. The elephants pack, trample the last Indian riders, encircled soon by the quota of Crater. Porus is beaten and its losses are catastrophic.

Manpower

 

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