Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Battle of Granicus 334 - Coggle Diagram
Battle of Granicus 334
Persian debate
the Persian commanders were encamped at a city called Zeleia, not far from Troy
Arrian describes a debate amongst them: Memnon of Rhodes advised that they should not take on the large Macedonian force, especially because King Darius was so far away, and should instead adopt a scorched-earth policy to deprive Alexander of provisions
the other Persian commanders did not like this idea, and Aristes declared that he would not destroy single house of those under his dominion
the other Persians sided with Aristes, perhaps because Memnon was Greek (he was from Rhodes)
-
events of the battle
Alexander had sent an advance party ahead of him, who now returned at speed to report that the Persians were assembled for battle
Alexander readied his men, but Parmenion disagreed
Parmenion stated it would be wiser to delay attacking until dawn, as the Macedonian forces would be disadvantaged by coming out of the water out of formation and vulnerable
Alexander disagreed. He calls the Granicus river a 'little stream' in comparison to the Hellespont that they had already crossed, and states it would be false to Macedonian prestige to delay the battle
-
however, when Alexander got involved, his Macedonian men were now able to cross the Granicus easily whilst he defended them
Perhaps this is Arrian aggrandising Alexander - showing that the battle only started going their way when he came onto the scene
Cleitus
Alexander's lance was broken towards the end of the battle, and so he called for another from Aretis, but his was also broken
he was offered a lance from Demaratus, who was in the entourage of Companions
Alexander saw Mirthridates, son-in-law of Darius, riding out far from the others, so he pursued him and killed him
a man named Spithridates raised his scimitar against Alexander from behind, but Cleitus saw this and attacked Spithridates, saving Alexander
-
-