Alexander The GreatThe Major Battles

Division of the Army

• Cavalry

• Infantry

• Skirmishers

356 B.C

323 B.C

356 BC Alexander

the Great is born.

338 BCBattle of

Chaeronea

336 BC Death of King

Phillip and Crowning of

Alexander the Great as ruler of

Macedonia

334 BC Battle of the

Granicus River

333 BC The Battle of Issus

331 BC Battle of

Gaugamela

327 BCMarriage to Roxane and

the Beginning of the Indian

Quest

326 BCBattle of

River Hydaspes

324 BCTroops

mutiny at Opis

323 BC The Death of

Alexander the Great

The Pitched Battles

Alexander The Great

Questions• Need to be able to give an account of the

battle. This should be in stages to assist marking scheme. (use keywords to help)

• Preparations

• Topography

• Formations

• Key moments for success

• Key moments for failures

• Aftermath

• Tactical assessment

Macedonian Battle Strategy

Macedonian Army Battle Tactics

CAVALRY CAVALRYGREEK INFANTRY IN NORMAL FORMATION

Thessalian cavalry to stop enemy

outflanking

Macedonian Phalanx used as a holding force

Hypaspists used to keep contact

between Phalanx and Companion

cavalry

Companion cavalry used to deliver the

main blow

Light troops and cavalry to stop enemy outflanking

Light Troops

• Heavy cavalry for delivering knock out blow and for repulsing same of the enemy.

• Hypaspists used to connect Phalanx and right wing. Formation less compact in comparison to phalanx: able to extend if necessary.

• Phalanx there to be immovable object.

• Light cavalry there to harass enemy. This weakens their formation before impact of heavy units.

• Skirmishers do the same for infantry.

Macedonian Battle strategy

Cavalry: Split between light and heavy examples. Most common known names are Thracian, Thessalian, and Companion Cavalry

The Companion Cavalry

Companions• Consisting of 8 squadrons, almost exclusively

made up of Macedonian nobles, they charged at the enemy lines in order to drive home a concentrated punch designed to break a hole in the enemy formation.

• The commander of the Companions, usually Alexander, who led his Royal Squadron, led from the front of the wedge.

• These men (2500) carried a 12 foot sarissa, and were heavily armoured, each wearing a metal helmet, a bronze Corselet (body armour) and bronze Greaves (shin armour).

Paeonians

Allied Cavalry

Thessalian Cavalry

• The Companion cavalry were the elite troops of the Macedonian army.

• Highly trained, they were able to change to attack in any formation, though the most common was the wedge.

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

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I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I II

I I I I I I

I I I I

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A

A = Unit Commander

B = Wing Commander

C = Rearguard Commander

Cavalry at Grannicushttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5_5f-N0bq0&feature=related

Cavalry at Issus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjLd4pUHcWY

River Pinarus

Greek mercenariesHeavy cavalryInfantryArchers

D

Macedonian phalanxThessalian cavalry Companions Light troops

River Pinarus

Greek mercenariesHeavy cavalryInfantryArchers

D

Macedonian phalanxThessalian cavalry Companions Light troopsMacedonian phalanx

Greek mercenaries

Cavalry at Hydaspes

Alex hides cavalry behind his infantry making his right wing look weak

Porus reinforces left wing with all cavalry and attacks, not knowing that other units are lurking

Elephants cause major damage but pincer cavalry movement effective

Indian Cavalry routed. Macedonian cavalry begin to roll up Indian infantry

The Phalanx

Used as a brute-force breakthrough formation. Philip made the Phalanx a versatile weapon, with the ability to advance, hold and retreat in good order.It was primarily used as a holding force while the Companion cavalry delivered the main blow against the enemy.

• Each man held a 6.5 metre-long pike or sarissa with both hands, wore a Cuirass or breastplate, and wore a shield around his neck.

• The men in the front five ranks would hold their sarissas out in front. The ranks behind would hold their sarissas in the air to break the flight of arrows and other missiles.

• If the phalanx broke formation the battle was effectively lost, so discipline was essential.

• In open order, each man occupied an area of 1.8m². As the phalanx advanced the men would close ranks until each occupied around 1m². If a defensive formation was required the men would lock shields and move closer until the men occupied 50cm².

• The Macedonian phalanx was made up of 64 battalions of 256 men. (16,384 men)

• The phalanx could maneouvre into many different formations, but the most common were:

Straight Oblique

Open half square

Crescent

Open wedge

The Hypaspists

•The Hypaspists were an elite infantry unit, distinct from the phalanx.•They were similarly armed, but had shorter sarissas and lighter armour.•They were more versatile and more highly trained than the phalanx.•They were usually deployed between the phalanx and the Companion cavalry in order to hold the Macedonian line together.

Infantry at Hydaspes

Other Troops

• At different times Alexander used Greek allied troops and the local peoples he conquered in his armies.

• These men all had different areas of specialism, but they were usually lightly armed infantry, light cavalry or archers.

• Alexander also used them to assist him in defeating unknown forces. For example: the use of Taxiles’ troops against Porus

Agrianaians

Skirmishers

• They soften opposition up for impending blow.

• They can protect flanks against infantry.

• They, like Hypaspists, can be used to connect different elements of the army.

• At Issus Agrianians were used to negate the threat of the Persian detachment

Thracian Peltast

These men used bow and arrow, slings, and light javelin. They were lightly

armed and able to evade the charge of the

heavy cavalry.

Scythian Archer

Links

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4rqmOS_Kno

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2qUDdu-KRU

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDmyG8DDiOs&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF5D3mP25IE&feature=related