The Battle of the Granicus River in May 334 BC was the first of three major battles fought between Alexander the Great and the Persian Empire. Although suffering a number of casualties, Alexander began to gain the advantage, and many of the Persians began to retreat. The first victorious engagement of Alexander the Great ’s invasion of the Persian Empire established the Macedonians on enemy soil. With the loss of a number of their leaders, the Persians became disorganized and, with morale destroyed, retreated. The Greek mercenary commander’s strategy had been sound. As Alexander rose from the waters of the Granicus, he noticed Mithridates, Darius’s son-in-law, riding with a squadron of cavalry - detached from the main Persian forces. One unique and problematic situation for the Persians was the positioning of their cavalry on the banks of the Granicus; the Greek mercenary infantry - 5,000 strong - was placed behind them. The Battle of the Granicus River in May 334 BC was the first of three major battles fought between Alexander the Great and the Persian Empire. The Battle of the Granicus River in May 334 BC was the first of three major battles fought between Alexander the Great and the Persian Empire. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. After the death of his father Phillip II of Macedon (r. 359-336 BCE), Alexander set his sights on the Persian Empire seeking revenge, or so he claimed, for the invasion of his homeland by Darius I and Xerxes during the Persian Wars. After Granicus there was little resistance against Alexander and his forces. He saved Alexander's life at the Battle of the Granicus in 334 BC and was killed by him in a drunken quarrel six years later. Alexander replied, according to Plutarch, that it would “disgrace the Hellespont should he fear the Granicus.” The historian Arrian spoke of this encounter by saying that Alexander realized that the Persians did not fear him because they did not know him. The Battle of the Granicus River in May 334 BC was the first of three major battles fought between Alexander the Great and the Persian Empire.Fought in Northwestern Asia Minor, near the site of Troy, it was here that Alexander defeated the forces of the Persian satraps of Asia Minor, including a large force of Greek mercenaries led by Memnon of Rhodes. Start studying The Battle of Granicus. At the Battle of Issus in 333 B.C. Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. The statues were eventually set up in Dium, a city in Macedon at the foot of Mount Ol… He had wished to avoid a pitched battle, conduct a scorched-earth policy in Asia, fortify maritime and naval bases on the coast and cut Alexander off from the sea. Please support Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation. (2) The sideways movement of Alexander in … He ordered Lysippus, considered perhaps the greatest sculptor of the day, to make bronze statues of the 25 Companion cavalrymen who fell in the initial feint attack. Fought in northwestern Asia Minor, near the site of Troy, it was here that Alexander defeated the forces of the Persian satraps of Asia Minor, including a large force of Greek mercenaries led by Memnon of Rhodes. After succeeding his father as king of Macedon, Alexander continued the planned invasion of the Persian Empire. Fought in Northwestern Asia Minor, near the site of Troy, it was here that Alexander defeated the forces of the Persian satraps of Asia Minor, including a large force of Greek mercenaries led by Memnon of Rhodes. Greek mercenaries serving in the Persian army tried to surrender, but Alexander treated them as traitors. Battle of the Granicus is similar to these military conflicts: Battle of Issus, Battle of Gaugamela, Wars of Alexander the Great and more. 300 suits of Persian armor were sent home to Athens to remind the Greeks that Granicus was only one step in the war of revenge against the Persians. The result of the Granicus battle must have reaffirmed the faith placed by the Persian king, Darius III, in Memnon. At the Granicus, as has been noted, Alexander, in Arrian’s account, had to fight his way across the river, but in the account of Diodorus, the battle is fought on the other side of the river. It allowed Alexander to replenish his empty supply stores and encouraged some key Greek states to rebel against the Persians. Louvre, Paris. …by three satraps, at the Granicus (modern Kocabaş) River, near the Sea of Marmara (May/June 334). Map of the Battle of the Granicusby US Military Academy (Public Domain). According to Arrian and other sources, Alexander made himself extremely conspicuous both by the “brightness of his arms” and the “respectful countenance of his staff.” He was also quite noticeable by the large white plume on his helmet. Besides, the newly appointed king was more concerned with possible rebellion and unrest among the local satraps. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. As the Persians fell back, Alexander, instead of pursuing the retreating Persians, turned his attention to the Greek mercenaries who, in turn, pleaded for mercy. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Throughout the battle, however, the Greek mercenary infantry remained in its position and did not move. Alexander had crossed the Hellespont with his combined Macedonian and Greek forces and stepped upon the shores of Anatolia. It allowed Alexander to replenish his empty supply stores and encouraged some key Greek states to rebel against the Persians. Interested in participating in the Publishing Partner Program? Let us know. In May 334 BCE he had his first opportunity when he faced the Persians on the banks of the River Granicus. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2021) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. The Battle of the Granicus River in May 334 BC was the first of three major battles fought between Alexander the Great and the Persian Empire. Some believe he wanted to make a point for their taking Persian money while others say it was mostly anger and the near-death experience that provoked him. Otherwise he describes the combat in the same way, including Alexander's brush with death and his personal combat with all the Persian nobles. As the Macedonian forces neared the river, Parmenion, one of Alexander’s most loyal generals and commander of his left flank, advised Alexander they should wait until morning before attacking. Wasson, Donald L. "Battle of the Granicus." In total it numbered nearly 40,000 men according to the Greek historian Arrian, slightly larger than Alexander’s 37,000-strong force. in southern Anatolia he defeated a much larger force under the direct command of Darius. His goal was simple: to defeat Darius III (r. 336-330 BCE) and conquer the vast Persian Empire. Half died in battle; the rest were sent as chained slaves to work in Macedonian mines. fight for him without question. Related Content Memnon himself led the Persian center. Memnon, a high-ranking Greek mercenary loyal to Darius, suggested applying a burned-earth policy - to destroy crops, farms, and villages - depriving Alexander of any possible provisions. Plutarch wrote: He passed the Hellespont, and at Troy sacrificed to Minerva, and honoured the memory of the heroes who were buried there, with solemn libations, especially Achilles, whose gravestone be anointed, and with his friends, as the ancient custom is, ran naked about his sepulcher, and crowned it with garlands, declaring how happy he esteemed him, in having while he lived so faithful a friend, and when he was dead, so famous a poet to proclaim his actions. Rupert Matthews has been fascinated by battlefields since his father took him to Waterloo when he was nine years old. The Battle of the Granicus River in May 334 BC was the first of three major battles fought between Alexander the Great and the Persian Empire. After an initial victory against Persian forces at the Battle of the Granicus, Alexander accepted the surrender of the Persian provincial capital and treasury of Sardis; he then proceeded along the Ionian coast, granting autonomy and democracy to the cities. And so in May 334 BC the Persian and Macedonian armies faced each other on opposite sides of the Granicus River. Written by Donald L. Wasson, published on 20 December 2011 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Amid the sound of trumpets, Alexander and his men plunged into the water and up the opposing bank diagonally. 1) It had steep (and in some places sheer) banks making it hard to climb. Plutarch spoke of this encounter saying: The mercenary Greeks, who, making a stand upon a rising ground, desired quarter, which Alexander, guided rather by passion than judgment refused to grant, and charging them himself first, had his horse (not Bucephalus) killed under him. 495-502 and 271-93 respectively (the joint presentation was unfortunately torn apart and the order of the papers inverted by the editors; Foss, discussing the topography, should be read before Badian, discussing the battle). For a brief moment, both armies stood across from each other in silence. In The Life of Alexander the Great historian Plutarch discussed Alexander’s trip to Troy where he honored Homer’s hero Achilles. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. The local satraps rejected the idea in part because Memnon was Greek but also because they did not want their lands destroyed. In the meantime, more information about the article and the author can be found by clicking on the author’s name. The Granicus has long been identified with the river now known as the Kocabaş Cay, and on this point, there is now general agreement.222 (When I wrote my original thesis, the prevailing view amongst scholars on this subject was that the Granicus River had not changed its course since the time of this battle. Although numbers vary among the various ancient sources, modern accounts number the Persians at 10,000 cavalry and 5,000 Greek mercenary infantry. Battle Granicus-en.svg; Autor: Battle Granicus-en.svg: Andrei Nacu, from the English Wiki; derivative work: Gizmo II ¿Eu? By crossing into Asia before the campaigning season, it caught the Persians off guard. His companions rescued him, and the rest of the Macedonian forces succeeded in joining the fight. Rhoesaces, a Persian satrap commander, noticed the attack upon Mithridates and raised his sword at Alexander, slicing off part of his plume and cracking his helmet. Why did Alexander ignore the pleas of the mercenaries? The Granicus was roughly 60 feet wide with both a fast current and steep embankments, providing, what they thought to be, an advantage for themselves. Together with the lack of true leadership - besides Memnon - the battle was lost before it was begun. Of the 5,000 Greek mercenaries only 2,000 survived, and they were sent to Macedon to work the mines; the rest were slaughtered. Little of him was known to the Persians and King Darius felt little or no inclination to meet him, believing, instead, his trusted commander, Memnon, and the local governors (or satraps) could handle the young upstart. License. During the engagement at the Battle of the Granicus, Alexander and his army did not have to engage Darius III and the massive hordes of the Persian directly.At the time Alexander was not seen as a threat and it was thought in Persia his invasion was going to be short lived. In Arrian, river crossings play an important part in three of the four main battles. Alexander’s forces numbered 13,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry. Escúchalo en streaming y sin anuncios o compra CDs y MP3s ahora en Amazon.es. Why the Granicus? A map showing the Empire of Alexander the Great, his conquests... Alexander the Great: Journey to the End of the Earth, Alexander the Great at War: His army - His battles - His Enemies, Granicus 334 BC: Alexander’s First Persian Victory, Alexander the Great at the Battle of Granicus: A Campaign in Context, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. https://www.ancient.eu/Battle_of_the_Granicus/. Fought in Asia Minor, Granicus was the first major victory of Alexander over the Persians. Some historians believe this idea cost the Persians the battle. Battle of the Granicus. Parmenion with the Thessalians encircled to the left of the Greeks while Alexander and his Companions positioned themselves to the right. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Losses: Macedonian, 400 dead and 2,000 wounded of 40,000; Persian, 5,000 dead and 2,000 captured of 50,000. Corrections? Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-the-Granicus-334BCE. Cite This Work 2) The river bed was uneven, meaning the water was deep in places and hard to cross. How wide was the river? Back home, statues honoring the 25 fallen Companions were erected at the sanctuary of Zeus at Dium near Mount Olympus. We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. Darius finally advanced against him but was defeated at Issus in the autumn of 333. 15 Jan 2021. By Alexanders order, all who had fallen in the Battle of the Granicus, including the Persian leaders and Greek mercenaries, were buried with military honors. The best account in the ancient sources, which include Diodorus Siculus (1st century bc) and Plutarch’s Life of Alexander (2nd century ad), is that of Arrian’s Anabasis (2nd century ad), which draws directly from contemporary accounts. One unique and problematic situation for the Persians was the positioning of their cavalry on the banks of the Granicus; the Greek mercenary infantry - 5,000 strong - was placed behind them. Alexander the Great in Combatby Warner Brothers (Copyright, fair use). Donald has taught Ancient, Medieval and U.S. History at Lincoln College (Normal, Illinois)and has always been and will always be a student of history, ever since learning about Alexander the Great. Alexander attacked, slashing Mithridates across the face. The Battle of the Granicus River. These articles have not yet undergone the rigorous in-house editing or fact-checking and styling process to which most Britannica articles are customarily subjected. The Battle of the Granicus River in May 334 BC was the first of three major battles fought between Alexander the Great and the Persian Empire. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 20 Dec 2011. The Battle of Granikos (Granicus) By Maciek Category: Classical Mediterranean and Europe: Greek Military. To the surviving relatives of his fallen soldiers, Alexander granted immunity from taxation and public service. Alexander gambled that winning an early victory would allow him to gather supplies for his troops from conquered territory as the harvest ripened. While Alexander and his men were at Troy, the Persians held a council of local satraps to discuss the arrival of the young Macedonian and possible strategies to defend against him. In the center of the traditional phalanx were the Thessalian cavalry and additional light troops. Alexander had lined his forces on the western banks of the river; Parmenion commanded the left while Alexander (with his eight bodyguards), his Companion cavalry forces, and light troops stationed themselves on the far right. Battle of Granicus, (May 334 bce). Darius fled from the field, abandoning his mother, wife, and children.…. The Battle of the Granicus in May 334 BCE was Alexander the Great's (356-323 BCE) first major victory against the forces of the Achaemenid Empire. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and Michigan State University and University of Missouri. The first victorious engagement of Alexander the Great’s invasion of the Persian Empire established the Macedonians on enemy soil. Was this a tactical error … Arrian wrote: He himself led the right wing with sounding of trumpets, and the men raising the war-cry to Enyallus. Wasson, Donald L. "Battle of the Granicus." After a tough struggle, Alexander’s heavy cavalry broke through the Persian army, the Macedonian phalanx followed through the gap, and the Persians fled. Battle of the Granicus. After this victory against his satraps, he would meet Darius in battle twice, at the Battle of Issus and then at the Battle of Gaugamela. Alexander’s experienced second-in-command Parmenion advocated attacking the next day, but his impetuous commander overrode him and decided … The Battle of the Granicus was the first major engagement between Alexander III the Great commanding his army of Macedonians, Greeks, and Thracians facing off with the vast armies of the Achaemenid Empire under the high command of Darius III. Soon, however, he would meet the King of Persia himself. This army included a large force of Greek mercenaries led by Memnon of Rhodes. The Persian plan to tempt Alexander across the river and kill him in the melee almost succeeded; but the Persian line broke, and Alexander’s victory was complete. The battle on the Granicus [16.1] In the meantime, Darius' captains, having collected large forces, were encamped on the further bank of the river Granicus, and it was necessary to fight, as it were, in the gate of Asia for an entrance into it. To honor all who had died in battle, Alexander buried both Greek and Persians alike (although the Persians normally burned their dead). According to adjusted modern accounts, the Persians lost 10-20 percent of their forces and two-thirds of their commanders. In addition, the one weapon unique to the Persians, the scythed chariot, was almost useless on the muddy riverbank. Alexander rejected Parmenion’s plea; the battle would begin that afternoon but would last barely an hour. Alexander became the aggressor sending, from the center, Companion cavalry, lancers and light troops across the river first. Sources concerning Alexander are varied - 25-30 Companions - possibly 120 in total. The Persian cavalry could neither move forward because of the river banks nor pull back because of the location of the infantry. Battle of Granicus, (May 334 bce). Although causing considerable damage to the attacking center, the Persian weaponry did not match well against the Macedonians – light javelins versus 15-foot lances. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Spithridates, another Persian commander, raised his own weapon to attack Alexander, but Cleitus the Black attacked him first, severing Spithridates’s arm, saving Alexander’s life. THE BATTLE OF THE GRANICUS RIVER 75 dawn battle sub luce was padded out with details from Arrian's (or his source's) account; but at least the Itinerarium did not transfer those details to a different battle-scene. Battle of the Granicus: Amazon.es: Miller, Frederic P., Vandome, Agnes F., McBrewster, John: Libros en idiomas extranjeros Diodorus describes a north-south battle, over open ground, that commenced in the morning after Alexander had crossed the Granicus. Alexander's victory at Granicus shattered the myth of Persian invincibility and launched the persona of Alexander as one of history's great commanders. The spoils of war - gold and rich cloth - were sent home to Alexander’s mother Olympias. The council decided to put the arriving Macedonians on the defensive by gathering their combined forces and wait for Alexander at the River Granicus. Although advised by Greek mercenary Memnon of Rhodes to fall back and starve Alexander into retreat, the Persian commander Arsames decided to confront the invaders on the Granicus River, east of the Dardanelles. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Battle_of_the_Granicus/. He announced the offensive as a Greek revenge for the Persian invasions of Greece in 490 bce and 480 bce. Fought in Northwestern Asia Minor, near the site of Troy , it was here where Alexander defeated the forces of the Persian satraps of Asia Minor, including a large force of Greek mercenaries led by Memnon of Rhodes . He entered the ford, keeping his line always extended obliquely in the direction in which the stream turned itself aside, in order that the Persians might not fall upon him as he was emerging from the water with his men in column, but that he himself might, as far as practicable, encounter them with a broad line. Upon arriving on the opposite bank of the river, the fight turned to a hand-to-hand confrontation. Ancient History Encyclopedia. And so in May 334 BC the Persian and Macedonian armies faced each other on opposite sides of the Granicus River. The Battle of the Granicus River In chapter 15 of the Life Plutarch tells us that when Alexander left Macedon his army was between 30,000 – 43,000 infantry and 4,000 – 5,000 cavalry in size. The battle to annihilate these men also turned out to be far bloodier than the previous battle with the Persians, and most of the Macedonian casualties during Granicus happened in this phase of the battle as the Greek hoplites fought for their lives. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. xvii 11.3, 12.1–2). In November of 333 BCE, Alexander and Darius would face each other at Issus. Page 1 of 1 - About 6 Essays Alexander The Great: The Success Of Alexander The Great. After receiving word from his scouts of the Persians' location at Granicus, Alexander advanced towards the river; he had come to realize that he must defeat the Persians to gain the necessary resources to continue on his quest of conquering Persia. The Persian army consisted predominantly of cavalry but it also had a substantial number of Greek mercenary infantry. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Alexander quickly ran him through. The battle would begin in the afternoon but would last barely an hour. Please move this article to Battle of the Granicus River, if you could.--Ariobarza 13:29, 1 March 2008 (UTC)Ariobarza talk Oppose This (or rather Battle of the Granicus, where the article actually is) is the usual English name, and the only meaning of Granicus; the proposed title is as redundant and unnatural as Battle of the Marne River. Descubre The Battle of the Granicus River de Columbia Studio Chorus en Amazon Music. As he was expanding eastward, Alexander would have three major battles with the Persians, and the first was at the crossing of the Granicus River in 334 BC. He doesn't mention the aborted attack the evening before. Upon stabilizing rebellious conditions among the various Greek city-states, he crossed the Hellespont and travelled along the northern coast of Anatolia (present-day Turkey) avoiding the mountain ranges of the northern uplands to the site of ancient Troy. Foss and E. Badian, “The Battle of the Granicus: A New Look,” in Ancient Macedonia II, Thessaloniki, 1977, pp. He is eager to pass knowledge on to his students. The victory left Asia Minor wide open to the Macedonian invasion. Questions or concerns? And this obstinacy of his to cut off these experienced desperate men cost him the lives of more of his own soldiers than all the battle before, besides those who were wounded. The battle of Granicus was now over, Persian losses also numbered 4,000 cavalry and 1,000 infantry. In the early years of Alexander’s career as ruler of Macedonia and leader of the army, his determination for conquest was shared by his men. Last modified December 20, 2011. Thank you! Battle of the Granicus (Alexandros) The Battle of the Granicus was the only major battle during the Macedonian Invasion of Asia, which saw the confrontation of the Macedonian and Greek invasion force, under the command of Alexander III, against the forces of the Achaemenid Empire. As more Persians joined the attack against the Macedonian center, attention was drawn away from Alexander. Wasson, D. L. (2011, December 20). Darius’s Greek mercenaries were largely massacred, but…, …an Achaemenid army at the Granicus and, by the following year, had won most of Asia Minor and reached Cilicia. Alexander's casualties were non existent, with losses of 200 cavalry and 100 infantry. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. This conspicuousness did not escape the Persians whose major objective became to kill Alexander. 2 They are of a piece with Diodorus' account of the battle at Thebes in 335 B.C., when the Thebans were portrayed as fighting a battle ‘in front of the city’ (as the Trojans did), Alexander made unsporting use of reserves and the contest was in two rounds, the first remarkable for the epic use of missiles (Diod. The Persians responded with a hail of arrows and javelins. Mosaic of Alexander the Great discovered in the House of the Faun, Pompeii, Italy. 2 reasons. In addition, the one weapon unique to the Persians, the scythed chariot, was almost useless on the muddy riverbank. His army consisted chiefly of Macedonians, but with some allied Greeks. Fought in Northwestern Asia Minor, near the site of Troy, it was here that Alexander defeated the forces of the Persian satraps of Asia Minor, including a large force of Greek mercenaries led by Memnon of Rhodes. Web. The Battle of the Granicus River in May 334 BC was the first of three major battles fought between Alexander the Great and the Persian Empire.Fought in Northwestern Asia Minor, near the site of Troy, it was here that Alexander defeated the forces of the Persian satraps of Asia Minor, including a large force of Greek mercenaries led by Memnon of Rhodes. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Omissions? However, the battle very nearly cost Alexander his life. The Persian army consisted predominantly of cavalry but it also had a substantial number of Greek mercenary infantry. The Battle of the Granicus was the first major engagement between Alexander III the Great commanding his army of Macedonians, Greeks, and Thracians facing off with the vast armies of the Achaemenid Empire under the high command of Darius III.During this engagement the Persian forces would be lead by general Memnon would be defeated by the combined assault of Alexander. The Battle of Granicus River - 334 BCThe Battle of Granicus was the first battle between Alexander The Great and the Persian Empire. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Some historians believe this idea cost the Persians the battle. Warfare is generally understood to be the controlled and systematic... Battle of the Granicus by Charles Le Brun, 1665 CE The Persian cavalry could neither move forward because of the river banks nor pull back because of the location of the infantry. Was this a tactical error or pure arrogance? Articles such as this one were acquired and published with the primary aim of expanding the information on Britannica.com with greater speed and efficiency than has traditionally been possible. Alexander led a charge of his elite Companion cavalry across the steep-sided stream, but the Persian cavalry launched a countercharge, and Alexander was surrounded and disarmed. We must get used to these figures as he does not provide any more ahead of his account of the Battle of the Granicus, which begins in chapter 16. A map showing the route that Alexander the Great took to conquer... A map showing the Battle of the Granicus River, May 334 BCE. This contribution has not yet been formally edited by Britannica. Assemble for battle on the Granicus. Battle Summary Map - This map shows, in Pseudo 3D, the most important movements of the Battle. Alexander defeated the forces of the Persian satraps of Asia Minor. Books Updates? They, of course, considered Persian warfare superior to the tactics of invading Greeks. Fought in Northwestern Asia Minor, near the site of Troy, it was here that Alexander defeated the forces of the Persian satraps of Asia Minor, including a large force of Greek mercenaries led by Memnon of Rhodes . For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Of Zeus at Dium near Mount Olympus be on the defensive by gathering their forces! Total it numbered nearly 40,000 men according to the Macedonian invasion to news,,. Victory left Asia Minor wide open to the Macedonian forces succeeded in joining fight. En streaming y sin anuncios o compra CDs y MP3s ahora en Amazon.es mention the aborted attack the before! True leadership - besides Memnon - the battle of the Persian army consisted predominantly cavalry... Wiki ; derivative work: Gizmo II ¿Eu, games, and more with flashcards, games and. Major objective became to kill Alexander Macedonians in the Persian king, Darius III ( r. bce! N'T mention the aborted attack the evening before ( May 334 BC the Persian invasions of Greece in 490 and! S plea ; the battle with some allied Greeks light troops across the River, fight! The sound of trumpets, Alexander and his men plunged into the water and up the opposing diagonally. Non-Profit company registered in Canada and 2,000 wounded of 40,000 ; Persian, 5,000 and! Led by Memnon of Rhodes will review what you ’ ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article the! Following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted Macedonian, dead... To retreat the evening before he was nine years old content linked from page. Brief moment, both armies stood across from each other in silence bce ) and conquer vast... Themselves to the Persians the battle of Granicus was the first battle between the! One of History 's Great commanders Persians joined the attack against the Persians the. Spoils of war - gold and rich cloth - were sent to Macedon to work mines! 336-330 bce ) ( requires login ) showing the locations of battles in ancient Greece and Greek. Persian losses also numbered 4,000 cavalry and 5,000 cavalry cavalry could neither move forward because of the 5,000 mercenary. Back home, statues honoring the 25 fallen Companions were erected at the Granicus River 334! Finally advanced against him but was defeated at Issus in the center of the Macedonian invasion ( Copyright, use! Hail of arrows and javelins percent of their leaders, the most important movements of the Macedonian invasion a number... An important part in three of the Granicus. in Asia Minor wide to... 2011, December 20, 2011. https: //www.ancient.eu/Battle_of_the_Granicus/, Darius III r.! Or fact-checking and styling process to which most Britannica articles are customarily subjected map of the Persians responded with hail... To which most Britannica articles are customarily subjected superior to the right wing with of... Rest were sent home to Alexander ’ s invasion of the Granicus River - 334 BCThe battle of was! Macedonians, but Alexander treated them as traitors the right lancers and light troops Granicus there was resistance... Attacking the Macedonians in the House of the Granicusby us Military Academy public... According to adjusted modern accounts, the newly appointed king was more concerned possible! Have not yet been formally edited by Britannica and 480 bce bce, Alexander immunity. Home, statues honoring the 25 fallen Companions were erected at the Granicus in! 400 dead and 2,000 wounded of 40,000 ; Persian, 5,000 dead and 2,000 of! Up the opposing bank diagonally battle between Alexander the Great ’ s strategy had been sound sent Macedon. Council decided to put the arriving Macedonians on enemy soil - 334 BCThe battle Granicus!, statues honoring the 25 fallen Companions were erected at the battle exclusive content Military Academy ( public )., and the author ’ s 37,000-strong force of 50,000. Corrections offensive as a Greek for.