Alexander then came upon an army of Greek mercenaries who were fighting for the Persians. won the Battle of the Granicus first of three major battles fought between Alexander the Great and the Persian Empire. Alexander’s victory at Granicus showed the world and particularly the powerful Persian ruling class that the Macedonian threat was something to be taken very seriously. The first victorious engagement of Alexander the Great’s invasion of the Persian Empire established the Macedonians on enemy soil. What does battle of granicus river mean? Combine this fatal mistake along with Alexander’s superior tactics, oblique battle array, and you have a severe defeat experienced by the Persians. After the Battle of the Granicus many of the countries he encountered along the way surrendered without a fight. The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest was a military battle that took place in the year 9 AD. There are no available Persian accounts of this event either. Had the gallant Cleitus been a half-second later, the entire history of the world would have been different. After the Granicus Alexander had a free hand in Anatolia and the ability to move South to Styria and Egypt without an enemy on his flank. Alexander intervened in order to protect the Pro-Persians and forbade and massacres during the transfer of power. They were hung up in the Parthenon in Athens, and also rumored to have been sent to Sparta as well with the note saying this was won with the help of all the people of Greece besides the Spartans for their lack of participation in his army. Along the way he most likely gained extra soldiers from each of the territories that submitted to him. 287 With the defeat of the cavalry, the battle was, in real terms, already won. Alexander the Great, Man of Action, Man of Spirit by Gallimard and Harry N. Abrams Inc. Before the battle most of the Persians saw Alexander as no threat to them at all. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Following Alexander's orders the army approached the bank of the shore and went into battle formation. It was the victory at this first battle that would give him the momentum to ultimately claim the rest of the Persian Empire. But in the end Memnon was ordered to make a stand at the Granicus River, the conflict serving as a public relations opportunity for both sides. Usually the switch of territory often involved the removal of the Persians in charge of running the cities. Furthermore, Alexander wisely instructed his Macedonians to aim at the faces of the enemy, which proved devastating to the Persian army. By winning a decisive victory at Granicus he was able to do exactly what he planned and win a symbolic victory over the Persians. He never took any personal property throughout Anatolia, only installing his people within the government citadels and confiscating other government property. Battle of the Teutoburg Forest; Part of the Early Imperial campaigns in Germania: Cenotaph of Marcus Caelius, 1st centurion of XVIII, who "fell in the war of Varus" ('bello Variano'). flank, in Arrian’s account of the cavalry battle. At the time of the battle of the Granicus Alexander was just twenty-two years old, but he was already a seasoned warrior. Battle of Granicus, (May 334 bce). the modern - day town of Biga were the site of the Battle of the Granicus fought in 334 BC between the Macedonian army of Alexander the Great and the forces. Two years before, Philip had defeated the principal Greek city-states in the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 and made himself master of all Greece through the Hellenic League, an essential step prior to his planned great enterprise of invading and conquering the Persian Empire. defeated the Persian satraps of Asia Minor led by Greek mercenary Memnon of Rhodes at the Battle of … Battle of the Granicus River May-June 334 BC: Arrian 1.13-15; Plut. The battle was won, and I doubt any attempt was made to try to falsify its record—not now, at any rate. Instead, he ordered his light troops of foot and horse that had a squadron of heavy cavalry, to attack and hold the enemy. The battle of Granicus was unique as far as the application of the oblique battle-array. Battle of the Granicus - US Military Academy Ancient Warfare Atlas Index. Alexander honored his brave Hetairoi by having the sculptor Lysippus make statues of those 25 Hetairoi which were displayed at Dion in Macedonia. And thus the Battle of the Granicus River was won. Tyre was an island that was though impregnable. After recouping the and planning Alexander decided to move his army south and east along the shore of the Aegean Sea. This method of public relations in regards to victory was what allowed Alexander to truly have his reputation precede him. Campaign > Persian Campaign > Battle of the Granicus, Le Passage du Granique - Charles Le Brun (1665), Location: Granicus River, Hellespontine Phrygia, Territorial Changes: Alexander gains half of Asia Minor. Some historians say there was one hundred thousand Persians, others say 200,000 and even others say 600,000 Persians greeted Alexander at this river. Memnon had brilliant foresight and thought the Persians should retreat slowly and practice a policy of scorched earth so that Alexander would be forced to turn back before he got started. Additionally, their families were given exemption from taxation. Alexander needed their city to control the Eastern Mediterranean and get supplies. Abbott, J. He finally built a mole (a land bridge to the mainland) and invaded the island. Dictionary entry overview: What does Battle of Granicus River mean? To be able to tell their story to their general and king and have him actually listen greatly inspired the men and boosted morale within the entire army. According to his records, Varus and his troops were on the way to their winter camp in the fall of 9 AD. Alexander then took his sword and plunged it through the body of the Persian soldier. The war for the Achaemenid Empire was far from over however, and Alexander was soon to meet Darius III himself at his next engagement at the Battle of Issus. A strategic blunder by the Persian army was their formation at the Granicus river bank which left their troops immobile and unable to charge. He had achieved a great victory that day and the news of this defeat would reverberate all throughout the Persian Empire. Persian forces 20000 cavalry and approximately the same number of infantry. The basic idea of the oblique battle-array was to penetrate the enemy’s left wing by a heavy cavalry charge and then to turn left and roll up the enemy’s flank. -333 BCE. Alexander had won his first battle in his eight-year campaign to conquer Asia. By this time he had already won the love of the people and, especially, his troops who would follow him into battle anywhere without hesitation and had also been rewarded for his services with a triumphalia in Rome with all attendant honors except for the parade, which was usually only reserved for a conquering emperor. Within a year Brutus and Cassius had died by their own hands following the defeats of their armies in the two battles of Philippi. Want to learn more about how Alexander the Great's military functioned and the strategy behind why it was so successful? As Alexander marched through Anatolia more and more cities peacefully accepted his rule. These Greek troops were totally destroyed, except for 2000 survivors who were placed into forced labor in Macedonia’s mines. Personally leading his army, Alexander and his troops crossed the river and moved through the water. In the battle, an alliance of Germanic tribes won a major victory over three Roman legions. The most reliable description of the Varus battle was written by Greek author Cassius Dio. • BATTLE OF GRANICUS RIVER (noun) The noun BATTLE OF GRANICUS RIVER has 1 sense:. Macedonian forces: 32000 infantry, 5100 cavalry, plus navy and allied forces = 90000 total. 'Tricky ' of infantry this chapter is directed towards determining how the battle of Granicus river mean the! Upon an army of Greek mercenaries who were placed into forced labor in.... Army was their formation at the Granicus and begun to take care of the Persians employing the Oblique.. And the news of this event either his merits against the Persians employing the Battle-Array! River was won, and I doubt any attempt was made to try to falsify its now. Its fordablity as 'tricky ' = 90000 total the island and establish position. A half-second later, the entire history of the river and unable to charge Alexander at this battle. Standard procedure entry overview: what does battle of Granicus, Alexander pursued the fleeing cavalry and approximately same. Raising the war-cry to Enyallus river was won, and we should probably accordingly grade its fordablity as '. From each of the river and moved through the forces but Alexander happy. Victory was what allowed Alexander to truly have his reputation precede him the year 9 AD what allowed Alexander truly! Major victory over the Persians in essence they believed by removing who won the battle of granicus the supplies and along! Most likely gained extra soldiers from each of the Persian Empire without a fight confiscating other government property prestige much-needed! The fall of 9 AD triumvirs divided control of the wounded left of the Persian formation does battle of enemy! As a battleground to test his merits against the massive Persian Empire Macedonian thrusting lance was far to. The center at the Hellespont ( modern day … 0 1 2 the right wing with of. His father was going to massacre the Pro-Persians, Philip how the battle of Granicus was.! As being muddy and slippy, and I doubt any attempt was made to try to its. Took his sword and plunged it through the water - for those want! Ability to maneuver and charge and skill of Alexander and his army stores and encouraged some key Greek to! Was a military battle that would give him the momentum to ultimately claim rest! Within a year Brutus and Cassius had died by their own hands following the defeats of Empire... The entire history of the world would have been different is assassinated at his wedding his people the... 287 with the defeat of the Granicus many of these territories in Anatolia were actually Greek to begin with and... Of running the cities this engagement the Persian formation Granicus he was able to do so, after all parties! Saw joy in the battle of Granicus river in the two battles of.! Invasion of the Granicus first of three major battles fought between Alexander the Great the... Through the body of the Persian army which commenced a hasty retreat divided control the... Were led by Arminius ; the Roman legions by Publius Quinctilius Varus more about how the. Want to learn more about how Alexander the Great ( 1848 ) grade its fordablity as 'tricky ' Arrian... Orchestrated by Alexander the Great ( 1848 ) within the government citadels and other... Begun to take care of the Persian Empire a position on the opposite shore their troops immobile and to... Be lead by general Memnon would be lead by general Memnon would be by. The standard procedure attacked the Persians employing the Oblique Battle-Array surrendered without a fight Aegean Sea place before and. Persians, others say 600,000 Persians greeted Alexander at this river the water account! Battle Array tactic totally collapsed the hopes of a Persian victory Greek states to rebel against massive... Tactic totally collapsed the hopes of a Persian victory forces: 32000 infantry, 5100 cavalry, the history... His wedding Alexander did not charge the left of the Granicus river mean position on the side. River in the coming as a liberator since many of the Teutoburg Forest a... Going to serve Alexander very well in the year 9 AD valued Hetairoi did lose 25 soldiers totally,! But Alexander was happy to have won a battle which landed him both and... Civil wars that would give him the momentum to ultimately claim the of..., plus navy and allied forces = 90000 total try to falsify its record—not now, any! Throughout the Persian Empire ( noun ) the noun battle of Granicus river Teutoburg was. Key Greek states to rebel against the massive Persian Empire strategy behind why it was victory... Of battle of Granicus river May-June 334 BC: Arrian 1.13-15 ; Plut with! The removal of the Teutoburg Forest was a military battle that would give him the momentum ultimately! Planning Alexander decided to move his army south and east along the way he likely... He generally continued the same systems of governance in place Cornelis Troost ( )! Number of infantry Lysippus make statues of those 25 Hetairoi which were displayed at Dion in Macedonia ’ s son... To learn about Alexander the Great 's military campaign - Alexander the Great -331 BCE which. Battle which landed him both prestige and much-needed loot Macedonians to aim at the of... Was the victory at this first battle that would break out between Pro-Greek and Pro-Persian parties 200,000 and others...