1. Issus

5. Battle of Issus
Essay Question

6. Part A Alexander ill at Tarsus
Alexander offering sacrifice for success in battle
Hill Tribes
Difficulty of maintaining standing army
Dismissal of advice by Amyntas(poor judgement)
Sycophants having the ear of Darius making him believe that the delay is down to cowardice on Alex’s part.
Darius unable to extricate himself at the last minute

7. Factors/Causes
Luck
Logistics
Ego/Eagerness
Delays
Topography

8. The Formation

9. Why does Darius form as he does?
Necessity : Double Line
Lack of confidence : Stockade and archers
Mercenaries : Combat Phalanx
Cavalry : Taking advantage of flat ground
Detachment : Disrupt Alex’s typical plans to attack from the right hand side
Lessen Impact: Archers and detachment.

10. Macedonian Battle strategy

11. Outline the Course of the Battle
Impossible for Darius to remove himself from narrow pass.
Alex concentrates on resting and feeding his men.
Darius forms using screen of men across the river Pinarus. Huge force of cavalry on his right. Centre made up of Greek and Persian infantry but weakness of Persian forces must be protected by Archers.
In order to deter the usual attack from the Macedonian right Darius sends a detachment to harry them from behind.
He also loads up his right wing with cavalry in order to break through the Macedonian left

12. Alex Formation
Macedonian Phalanx and Hypaspists in the centre. ( )
Companion Cavalry, under Alex’s command, facing Persian left.
Small force with Agrianes and cavalry sent to deal with detachment.
Parmenio facing Persian right with the most of the allied Cavalry.
At the last minute Alex covertly reinforces his left with the Thessalian Cavalry.

13. How does Alex overcome? Concealment Observation Speed of Attack
Flanking move

14. Cavalry at Issus

20. Consequences Undisputed master of Asia Minor
Family captured (leverage)
Financial gain
Threat of theatre of war moving to Greece decreased. (Memnon’s plan)
Free to pursue the Coastal Policy
110,000 killed according to Plutarch
Letter from Darius
Morale boost

26. Images of Issus

27. Chivalry

28. Issus Question
How did it happen that Issus became the battle site between Darius and Alexander? (15)
Explain why Darius lined up his forces the way he did, and how Alexander overcame the problem. (25)
What were the consequences of Alex’s victory? (10)