Battle of the Granicus
At the Granicus in the Troad region (modern-day Biga River, Balıkesir, Turkey)
What happened
Alexander the Great, king of Macedon, with his general Parmenion, fought an army raised by the Persian governors of Asia Minor; the Persian king Darius III was not there. Alexander crossed into Asia and met a Persian army waiting on the far bank of the Granicus River, today called the Biga, in Turkey. He led his horsemen across the stream and up its steep, muddy banks, where he was surrounded and nearly struck down until his officer Cleitus the Black saved him. The rest of his army crossed, and the Persian army fled.
Why it matters
Result: Macedonian victory. Leaders: Alexander the Great / Parmenion against Arsites / Memnon of Rhodes. Why it matters: It was Alexander's first victory in his invasion of the Persian Empire. It left Asia Minor open to his army and let him gather supplies from the land he took.
What came next
Alexander marched on to Sardis, which surrendered to him, and Ephesus, which its garrison left without a fight.
Did you know?
Alexander sent 300 suits of captured Persian armor to Athens, with an inscription saying the victory belonged to him and the Greeks, except the Spartans.
Timeline
- Spring 334 BCEAlexander crosses into Asia before the usual fighting season, catching the Persians off guard.
- Late May or early June 334 BCEThe Macedonians defeat the Persian army at the Granicus River.
- After the battleSardis surrenders to Alexander and Ephesus is left by its garrison.