Osprey Campaign 7 : Alexander 334-323 BC : Conquest of the Persian Empire

Alexander of Macedonia was undoubtedly one of the greatest generals of all time. His over- riding passion for war and conquest led him not only to confront the might of the Persian Empire but also to lead his armies as far afield as India. He managed to successfully portray himself as liberator of the Greek cities in Asia, and sought to fuse the culture of his own lands with those of the east by choosing to make Babylon the capital of his empire and encouraging his officers to take oriental wives. John Warry, an expert on the warfare of the Classical world looks at Alexander's campaigns, examining his principle battles in detail. The battles of the Granicus, Issus, Gaugamela and of the Hydaspes are all treated at length, as is the difficult siege of Tyre. These careful studies shed light on Macedonian tactics: in particular the combination of armoured infantry phalanx with fast moving cavalry. The men and equipment of both Alexander and his Persian enemies are looked at, and this greatly helps to shed light on the later battle accounts. This book provides a comprehensive insight into Alexander's life and military actions, as well as placing them in their proper historical context and explaining their consequences.

Contents

• Persia, Greece and Macedon
• Armies and Commanders
• The Battle of the Granicus
• After the Granicus
• The Battle of Issus
• After Issus
• The Siege of Tyre
• The Battle of Gaugamela
• The Bactrian Years
• The Battle of the Hydaspes
• Back to Babylon
• After Alexander
• Glossary
• The Battlefields Today
• Chronology
• A Guide to Further Reading
• Wargaming Alexander's Battles