The Battle of Gaugamega
The Battle of Gaugamela took place in the summer of 331 B.C.E. Alexander
the Great goes through north- east Syria. No later than July 10 he gets
to Thapsacus on the Euphrates. Alexander the Great army had thirty-four
thousand horsemen. He predicted that they would be tired by the time he
reached Cunaxa. Then when in war they would fall easy and he would lose
the battle. Alexander decided not to walk down stream, but instead he decided
to walk across the Mesopotamia plain. Mazaeus watched Alexander do this
and rode about Four hundred and forty miles back to Babylon to tell Darius
what Alexander had done. One the way Alexander had captured some of the Persians
spys and got them to tell the Persian plan. After capturing the spies and
everything that was going on he decided to go in the direction of Abu Wajnam,
which was forty miles to the north. On September 18 Alexander had reached
Abu Wajnam. Spies had seen Alexander and fled to tell King Darius. King
Darius decided to change his plans. He decided take his army to a village
called Gaugamela, which was between Khazir river and the Nineveh ruins. Alexander
scouts saw everything he did three miles away on low hills. This was a mistake
by Darius by not taking over these low hills. Alexander crossed the Tigris
river and Mazaeus calvary was there. Paeoniar soldiers were sent to
take care of the problem. Alexander made the Persians flee. After this they
had aproxmintly forty- eight hours to rest. Darius layed eight miles away,
and decided not to move. Since Darius decided not to move Alexander wanted
his soldies to be well rested, so he gave them four days of rest. During
these four days of rest; Darius tried to smuggle in notes that Alexander
troops should kill Alexander. These notes were destroyed before they got
to the army. Alexander's camp was proctected by a ditch. Darius tried setting
a treaty with Alexander. He offered all lands west of the Euprates. Alexander
saw Darius army for the first time, and he was outnumbered. He was out numbered
five to one. Darius had 47,000 armed calvary compared to alexanders 7,250
armed calvary. His strategy was to protect hs rear flanks and to make his
front line calvary look smaller than it really is. September 30th, Alexander
and darius armies move closer and finally reached each other. Alexander
plan was amazing and work perfectly. His left wing tried to suck the persians
into a flank. Darius acted first to start the battle. Darius told his army
to attack the right wing. Alexander knew that he was going to do this and
was ready. Alexander outnumbered was holding the Persians. Darius then told
the Chariorts to go. Alexader front line had armored troops with spears
took down the horses. Paremenio was engaged with Mazaeus, who was fighting
a defensive system. Alexader saw a space in Darius's left wing. Alexander
took action and charged with the remaining soldies of his army. This had
worked, but the right side could be outflanked. Alexander then called a retreat,
but at the same time Darius was about to flee. The Persian's were dragged
in and the frontline was mudilized. Alexander was not able to kill Darius.
He chased Darius party, but took a break for a couple of hours. During Alexader
rest Darius had traveled 75 miles and the time they had reached Arbela Darius
was gone. Darius fled to the Armenian mountains and rested to let sagglers
catch up. This battle had torn him to parts and his army. He had never recover
after this war.
More information on the Battle of Gaugamela at
http://www.hackneys.com/alex_web/siteinfo.htm