Alexander The Great The Major Battles

Division of the Army Cavalry Infantry Skirmishers

The Pitched Battles Alexander The Great 323 B.C 356 B.C 356 BC Alexander the Great is born. 336 BC Death of King Phillip and Crowning of Alexander the Great as ruler of Macedonia 333 BC The Battle of Issus 326 BC Battle of River Hydaspes 324 BC Troops mutiny at Opis 323 B.C 356 B.C 338 BC Battle of Chaeronea 334 BC Battle of the Granicus River 331 BC Battle of Gaugamela 327 BC Marriage to Roxane and the Beginning of the Indian Quest 323 BC The Death of Alexander the Great 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 GREEK INFANTRY IN NORMAL FORMATION Light Troops Companion cavalry used to deliver the main blow Hypaspists used to keep contact between Phalanx and Companion cavalry Light troops and cavalry to stop enemy outflanking Thessalian cavalry to stop enemy outflanking Macedonian Phalanx used as a holding force

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. I C B I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I B I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 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 I I I A A = Unit Commander B = Wing Commander C = Rearguard Commander

Cavalry at Grannicus http://www. youtube. com/watch

Cavalry at Issus

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

D Infantry Archers Heavy cavalry Greek mercenaries River Pinarus Companions Thessalian cavalry Macedonian phalanx Light troops

D Infantry Archers Heavy cavalry Greek mercenaries Greek mercenaries River Pinarus Companions Thessalian cavalry Macedonian phalanx Macedonian phalanx Light troops

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

Used as a brute-force breakthrough formation 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. The Phalanx

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 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 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 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.

Difference in Infantry capabilities. Show students the armour differences and they will come to their own conclusions.

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

Scythian Archer 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.

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