1. Alexander The Great
The Major Battles

2. Division of the Army
Cavalry
Infantry
Skirmishers

3. 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

4. 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

5. Macedonian Battle Strategy

6. 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

7. 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.

8. Macedonian Battle strategy

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

10. The Companion Cavalry

12. 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).

14. Paeonians

15. Allied Cavalry

16. Thessalian Cavalry

17. 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

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

20. Cavalry at Issus

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

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

34. Cavalry at Hydaspes

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

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

39. Elephants cause major damage but pincer cavalry movement effective

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

41. 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

45. 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.

46. 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.

47. 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.

48. 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

50. 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.

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

56. Infantry at Hydaspes

60. 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

62. Agrianaians

63. 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

66. 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.

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