Battle of Issus 

Combatants

• Macedonians and their Greek Allies, led by Alexander. With about 5,000 cavalry, 26,000 infantry.
• Persians under Darius III with some 30,000 Greek mercenaries, 60,000 Persian infantry and 30,000 Persian cavalry.

Location

Prelude

While Alexander was in Tarsus he heard of Darius massing a great army in Babylon. If Darius would reach the Gulf of Issus he could use the support from the Persian fleet under Pharnabazus still operating in the Mediterranean sea. Thus easing his supply and possibly landing troops behind the enemy. Alexander kept his main army at Tarsus but sent Parmenio[?] ahead to occupy the coast around Issus. In november Alexander got reports that the great Persian army had advanced into Syria. Alexander decided to mass his scattered army and advance south from Issus through the Pass of Jonah.

Darius knew that Parmenio held the Pass of Jonah and thus chose a northern route of advance. The Persians captured Issus without opposition and killed all the sick and wounded that Alexander had left behind. Now Darius found out that he had placed his army behind the Macedonians and had cut their supply lines. He then advanced to a good defensive position along the river Pinarus and waited for Alexander to come to him.

The battle

Darius had placed some 20,000 of his troops on the mountain slopes and he positioned himself behind in the centre with his best infantry, the greek mercenaries, and his royal cavalry guard. He placed most of his cavalry close to the coast.

The Hypaspists[?] lead by Alexander, on foot, delivered an assault on the Persian infantry and managed to punch an hole through the Persian line. At the same time the Persian cavalry clashed with Parmenions forces on the left.

Alexander with his companion cavalry then lead an direct assault against Darius who fled from the battlefield. This caused the Persians to abandon their positions. The Macedonian cavalry pursued the fleein Persians for as long as there was light.

Aftermath

Darius fled over the Euphrates to safety, leaving his mother, wife and children to be captured. Alexander would defeat Darius again at the Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC.

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