Battle of Issus
Issus, Anatolia, Achaemenid Empire (modern-day Kinet Höyük, Yeşilköy, Dörtyol, Hatay
What happened
Alexander the Great of Macedon and his general Parmenion faced the Persian King Darius III in person for the first time. Alexander's army and Darius's army marched on opposite sides of the Amanus Mountains, and Darius came through a mountain pass behind the Macedonians. Alexander turned back, and the two armies met at the Pinarus River, on a narrow plain between the mountains and the sea. Alexander's horsemen broke through the Persian line and headed for Darius, who left the battlefield, and the Persian army followed him in retreat.
Why it matters
Result: Macedonian victory. Leaders: Alexander the Great / Parmenion against Darius III / Sabaces. Why it matters: It was Alexander's first victory over Darius himself, and the Persian army was destroyed.
What came next
Darius's mother, wife and daughters were found in his camp, and Alexander promised they would not be harmed. Darius offered half his kingdom to end the war, but Alexander refused and challenged him to fight again.
Did you know?
Darius organized his army so well that, according to Livius, grain prices in Babylon did not soar while his huge army stayed there.
Timeline
- 334 BCEAlexander invades Asia and wins at the Granicus River.
- Autumn 333 BCEThe Macedonians enter Cilicia through the Cilician Gates.
- 5 or 6 November 333 BCEAlexander defeats Darius at the Pinarus River near Issus.
- 331 BCEAlexander and Darius meet again at Gaugamela.