![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() He began dressing like a Persian and adopted the practice of proskynesis, a Persian court custom that involved bowing down and kissing the hand of others, depending on their rank. To gain credibility with the Persians, Alexander took on many Persian customs. With Bessus out of the way, Alexander had full control of Persia. Alexander couldn’t let the claim stand.Īfter relentless pursuit by Alexander, Bessus’s troops handed Bessus over to Ptolemy, Alexander’s good friend, and he was mutilated and executed. But another Persian leader, Bessus (also thought to be Darius’s murderer), had also claimed the Persian throne. It’s said Alexander was sad when he found Darius’s body and he gave him a royal burial.įinally rid of Darius, Alexander proclaimed himself King of Persia. Following fierce fighting and heavy losses on both sides, Darius fled and was assassinated by his own troops. Alexander Becomes King of PersiaĪfter conquering Egypt, Alexander faced Darius and his massive troops at Gaugamela in October 331 B.C. Still, the visit furthered speculation Alexander was a deity. Legends abound about what transpired at the oracle, but Alexander kept mum about the experience. After several weeks, he took the town and entered Egypt where he established the city that still bears his name: Alexandria.Īlexander traveled to the desert to consult the oracle of Ammon, a god of supposed good counsel. He was sidelined at Gaza, however, and forced to endure another lengthy siege. and executed thousands of Tyrians for daring to defy him many others were sold into slavery.Īfter rejecting another peace offer from Darius, Alexander set out for Egypt. He amassed a large fleet, finally breached the city’s walls in July 332 B.C. Again and again, Tyrian forces thwarted Alexander’s clever attempts to gain entry, and he realized he needed a strong navy to penetrate their defenses. All went well until they came within striking distance of the Tyrians. But Alexander had no navy to speak of and Tyre was surrounded by water.Īlexander instructed his men to build a causeway to reach Tyre. He then laid siege to the heavily fortified island of Tyre in January 332 B.C., after the Tyrians refused him entry. He rejected a plea from Darius for peace and took the towns of Byblos and Sidon. Next, Alexander took over the Phoenician cities of Marathus and Aradus. He would build an empire on the back of his motto, “there is nothing impossible to him who will try.” Battle of Tyre His mother, Sisygambis, was so upset she disowned him and adopted Alexander as her son.īy now it was clear that Alexander was a shrewd, ruthless and brilliant military leader-in fact, he never lost a battle in his life. Alexander’s forces were greatly outnumbered in men but not in experience or the determination for revenge and to claim Persia’s great wealth, much of it plundered.Īs it became clear Alexander would win the Battle of Issus, Darius fled with what remained of his troops, leaving his wife and family behind. In 333 B.C., Alexander and his men encountered a massive Persian army led by King Darius III near the town of Issus in southern Turkey. He took another approach and sliced through the knot with his sword, claiming triumph. Legend had it whoever unwound the knot would conquer all of Asia.Īs the story goes, Alexander took on the challenge but was unable to unravel the knot by hand. Gordian Knotįrom Halicarnassus, Alexander headed north to Gordium, home of the fabled Gordian knot, a group of tightly-entwined knots yoked to an ancient wagon. Under siege yet not beaten, Halicarnassus held out long enough for King Darius III, the newest Persian king, to amass a substantial army. But his army encountered resistance in the cities of Miletus, Mylasa and Halicarnassus. Victory went to Alexander and the Macedonians.Īlexander then headed south and easily took the city of Sardes. They crossed the Hellespont, a narrow strait between the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara, and faced Persian and Greek forces at the Granicus River. Once he’d cleaned house, Alexander left to follow in his father’s footsteps and continue Macedonia’s world domination.Īlexander appointed the general Antipater as regent and headed for Persia with his army. He also quashed rebellions for independence in northern Greece. Just 20 years old, Alexander claimed the Macedonian throne and killed his rivals before they could challenge his sovereignty. In 336 B.C., Alexander’s father Philip was assassinated by his bodyguard Pausanias. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |