Alexander’s commanders were spellbound as they watched and listened. Their king’s plan involved a series of brilliant, high-risk tactics, but it would probably work. No one doubted that he had out-strategized the Persians again.
The king then addressed only his Corinthian League and Thessalian troops. His Macedonians didn’t need pre-battle motivation; they were ready for the killing to start. He told the fighters that eternal glory was about to be theirs. Riches beyond their imagination were about to make them and their families wealthy.
Aristander gave the ceremony a favorable prophetic cast and all was ready. Everything depended on Darius becoming impatient and making a premature charge. Alexander was confident that Zeus-Ammon would force the Great King to take the required action.
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The battle started with both armies moving sideways, like crabs. Each commander knew the other’s oblique advance tactics and they would not be drawn into battle before their formations were ready. However, this positioning soon worked to Alexander’s advantage. Both sides’ battle lines were moving toward rougher and higher land that Darius had not cleared.
The Great King, sensing loss of field advantage for his cavalry and chariots, launched the Persian attack. Bessus, the satrap of Bactria, charged his massed cavalry against Alexander’s advancing right wing.
It was an anticipated and much-welcomed action. Desperately, Alexander fought a holding action against Persian forces that greatly outnumbered his own, while keeping an eye on the Persian center.
Darius then launched a scythed chariot attack as a diversion, but the Macedonian phalanx handled it easily. Loosed next were all of the Persian cavalry on both flanks. The mayhem of battle exploded into full conflict as fighters on both sides screamed and began the process of tearing apart enemy bodies. Horses were falling all around and the air was filled with arrows and javelins from both sides.
At last, Alexander spotted a weakness in Darius’ left-center. The predicted gap always occurred when the enemy launched his full assault.
“Form the wedge,” he shouted. With a fury that reflected his personality, Alexander led his Companion Cavalry straight into the weakened left center. Remarkably, the tide of battle shifted in just a few minutes.
Bessus looked around and saw what had happened. He was out of contact with Darius and feared that Alexander’s wild charge would swing around, encircle him, and destroy his cavalry units. He sounded the retreat and led his forces away from the battle scene.
Because of Bessus’ withdrawal, Alexander’s infantry and cavalry charge was close to encircling Darius. Persia’s Great King suddenly gave up the fight and fled. He had done the same thing at Issus.
Alexander’s wedge continued its deadly charge and was about to pursue Darius when a rider galloped up to him and told him that Parmenio’s Thessalians were in jeopardy. “Indian and Persian cavalry have penetrated his line!” the scout yelled. “He needs you, now!”
Alexander took most of his cavalry and fought to their left. Parmenio was right; his situation was grave. “Don’t let them circle back into Parmenio’s fighters,” Alexander yelled as they advanced closer to Parmenio’s line.
However, the Persian’s wild charge, under Mazaeus’ able command, did not circle back against Parmenio. Instead, they kept riding at a breakneck pace until they entered Alexander’s baggage camp, fifty stadia beyond the battle line. There, they began killing, looting, and freeing what Persian prisoners they could find. Soon, they were driven out of the camp, and they headed back to what they thought was a stable and soon-to-be victorious Persian battle line.
Charging straight at them was Alexander and his cavalry. Fierce, hand-to-hand combat started and killing ruled on both sides. Alexander nearly received a mortal blow more than once, but slowly, the tide of this encounter flowed to the Macedonians’ side.
Mazaeus saw that both Darius and Bessus were in full retreat and broke off from the pursuing Alexander and Parmenio’s recovering Thessalian fighters. It was nearly over.
“Wrap up here, Parmenio,” Alexander yelled to his second-in command. The old man had fought valiantly. Without his superb defensive efforts, the battle could not have been won. “I’m going after Darius,” the king shouted. “I’ll get the bastard this time.”
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Darius fled, once again, into his empire’s eastern provinces. Bessus and his Bactria cavalry soon joined him. Only 2,000 Greek mercenaries and some stragglers from the Great King’s Royal guard accompanied him.
Gaugamela was a staggering Persian defeat. Darius’ army had suffered 53,000 killed. The rest were either enslaved or in flight.
Alexander lost just 1,000 foot soldiers and 200 cavalrymen.
Ancient Babylon awaited the new Lord of Asia.
CHAPTER 13
PERSIA’S HEART: BABYLON, SUSA AND PARSA
“Stunning! Beautiful! The city is a prize worth dying for,” Alexander said as he and his army approached Babylon. His forces were in full battle formation, fearing treachery from Mazaeus, the Persian satrap of Babylon. “Don’t relax our battle readiness, Parmenio,” he commanded. “I fear a trap.”
Imposing Babylon lay before them. Its great walls created a rough square, each side nearly 125 stadia. The horizontal surfaces of the city’s prodigious outer walls were so wide that two chariots, pulled by four horses each, could travel side-by-side. Even from this distance, Alexander could see that the walls were made of mud-brick, held together with the strange, black substance about which he had just learned. It was bitumen.
As Alexander waited, assessing the magnificent city’s possible dangers, he heard the sound of trumpets and cymbals. Then, led by Mazaeus himself, a procession appeared from the main gate. Behind Mazaeus were groups of Babylon’s leading citizens, a dour group of Chaldaean priests, and an unarmed squadron of the Great King’s royal cavalry.
The Babylonian entourage turned out to be peaceful. Through a translator, they offered King Alexander the city. He boarded a royal chariot, still under heavy guard by his Royal Companions and personal bodyguards and entered Babylon through the Processional Way. Its tall walls, built by Nebuchadnezzar, were made of deep blue, fire-glazed bricks. Covering the walls at regular intervals were ornate, highly stylized bulls and dragons. At the end of the Way was the Ishtar Gate, standing before a large square.
Alexander looked up as his chariot went under the Gate. He saw hundreds of impressive lapis and gold inlaid tiles and smiled. Above the Gate were Babylon’s citizens cheering their new conqueror and showering him with a blizzard of rose petals. Piles of rich spices smoldered in small, richly decorated alters along the procession way. The air was filled with exotic smells and fragrances, causing Alexander’s senses to soar. He and his Macedonians had never experienced such a scene.
“They know what happened to Tyre,” Alexander remarked to Hephaestion riding at his side. “A victory like Tyre causes more surrenders without any loss of life on either side. I’ll have Callisthenes develop this story more as we move east.”
At last, the conquerors’ came to the city center where trumpet blasts increased to a deafening crescendo. Alexander raised his arms, accepting the acclaim. Slowly, he turned inside his chariot in a series of full circles.
Parmenio, still riding on horseback behind his king, frowned.
The trumpet blasts finally stopped, and Mazaeus walked before Alexander. Speaking through a translator, he raised his hands and began. “Great conqueror, Alexander, Pharaoh of Upper and Lower Egypt, beloved of your great god Zeus-Ammon, I give you the city of Babylon.”
Babylon’s citizens issued a muffled cheer. Alexander noted that it was far more subdued than the wild acclamation he heard upon entering the Ishtar Gate.
Mazaeus continued. “All of your officers and most of your men will be honored by the citizens of Babylon. Starting tonight each will be a guest in a private house somewhere in the city. You will drink our wine and taste our native food. I know that you have never had such an eating experi
ence as what awaits you. As many women as you desire will present themselves for your pleasure. Nine months from now Babylon will begin to have both a Macedonian and Persian population.”
There was a roar of laughter after the translation, and Alexander felt that the reception was genuine. Nevertheless, he was still cautious. “Place units around the perimeter of the city,” he quietly commanded Parmenio as both men walked toward the center of the square. “Rotate them regularly, allowing all of our men to revel in what appears to be a full Babylonian capitulation.”
Mazaeus continued. “Come with me, Great Alexander. Babylon’s wonders await you. We shall first visit our Hanging Gardens. I know the Greeks have heard of them. They were built for a Persian king’s wife who longed for the dense forests of her native Iran.”
The new ruler of great Babylon started the tour like any wide-eyed diplomat from the east. What could be more wonderful than possession of this stunning city? How could he ever surpass this grand personal achievement?
The triumphant day continued, and every Macedonian in Alexander’s army knew that every sacrifice they had made had been worth it.
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Alexander enjoyed the tour for most of the day, and then told Mazaeus what was really on his mind: Babylon’s monetary treasure.
“The royal treasury must be turned over to me immediately. My men have sacrificed everything. Soon, I will reward them with more than wine, food, and women. Babylon’s entire treasure will go to them. Gold means little to me, except for its power to continue my conquests.”
“Babylon’s riches await you, Alexander,” a surprised Mazaeus said. “Here is a written account of our treasury. The city’s riches, plus what you will seize at Susa, will make you the wealthiest man in the world. Not even the combined Greek city-state treasuries can approach what you are about to receive.”
Alexander examined the clay tablets showing Babylon’s vast treasury balance. As a Persian scribe made oral account to him in Greek, he smiled and knew that his economic troubles were over.
He was now at a crossroads in his campaign. After Susa’s occupation, he knew that Parmenio and many of his Macedonian supporters would consider the campaign at an end. Territorial stabilization, then eventual return to Macedonia would be their demand. Clearly, he must take immediate action that would alter that demand.
“I am impressed with your actions, Mazaeus,” the king said. “Inform your citizens that I intend to honor your ancient religious heritage. In time, I may even restore Babylon’s ziggurat and the Esagila Temple honoring your god. This will depend on my future success, but nothing can stop that now.”
Mazaeus bowed and smiled. “You are gracious in victory, Alexander. Respecting our religion will mean everything to Babylon’s citizens. The priesthood will be the last group to serve you, but this decision is a good start.”
Alexander continued. “You will retain your position as satrap of Babylon. But your full duties will be reduced. There will be a Macedonian garrison commander here when I leave. A Macedonian finance officer will direct the collection of taxes. If you violate these arrangements, I will remove and execute you. Is that clear?”
“Perfectly,” Mazaeus answered solemnly.
Alexander dismissed Mazaeus and sent for Callesthenes. His command to him would delay the scholar’s personal enjoyment of Babylon’s alluring temptations.
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“I’m told that the Babylonians have astrological records that go back 31,000 years, Callesthenes,” Alexander said to his chief historian. “Is that possible?”
“It appears so, Alexander,” Callisthenes answered. “I am just beginning to organize and group the artifacts now. It’s not an easy task because none of us knows how to read their strange Aramaic orthography. Full examination of the records and translation into Greek will take years.”
Alexander grew pensive and suddenly realized what he had conquered. Persia’s empire was more than gold, treasure and the Great King’s vast lands. Persia had a cultural and intellectual history that was far deeper than either he or Aristotle ever dreamed. That profound realization swept over him and caused continued silence.
“Send the records back to Macedonia, then on to Aristotle in Athens after your survey is complete,” he told Callisthenes at last. “They are too valuable to take with us on the rest of the campaign. Who knows what priceless knowledge is contained in them.”
“It will be done.” Then, he changed the subject. “I have the first draft describing your latest victories. I would like for you to read them while we enjoy Babylon.”
“I will,” Alexander answered. “Future written records must be carefully done, however. Some of our men, chief among them Parmenio, think we are nearing the end. We are not.”
“I want a rationale developed why we must continue east. I will write some reasoning points for you to consider. Work them into your draft. We will write the final record together. I don’t want any homesick feelings adversely affecting morale. Do you understand me?”
“Fully. Send me your ideas and I will expand them. I will support the concepts you want included. This expedition is the opportunity of a lifetime for me. No other scholar may ever have this chance to gain and categorize so much new knowledge.”
Alexander grasped Callesthenes’ shoulders and thanked him for his service. The two left the luxuriant Babylonian audience room together.
The king then called for Hephaestion. It was time for them to see what this striking city was really like.
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A month later, in late fall, Alexander moved on to Susa. It was the Persian Great King’s principal residence and administrative center. Here, the Royal Road ended. It was also the location of Darius’ court.
Alexander had sent Philoxenus ahead to Susa after the Gaugamela victory, while he waited to move south to Babylon. Philoxenus’ orders were to demand the city’s surrender and secure its treasure. Nearing Susa, Alexander received good news.
“Philoxenus has obtained Susa’s surrender,” a scout announced to his king. “Persia’s national treasury is safe and under Macedonian guard.” The scout handed Alexander a scroll that confirmed his verbal report and rode off.
“They won’t all surrender as easily as Babylon and Susa,” Alexander told his riding companion, Craterus. “Enjoy this while it lasts.”
Nevertheless, Craterus roared with laughter and rejoiced with his king. “I want to tell my phalanx fighters about this. They need good news. Most are questioning why we continue deeper into Persia.”
Alexander was irritated with his friend’s remark. His men’s growing unrest was not news to him. “I don’t want my officers speaking of this. Soon, Persia’s entire treasury will be mine. Then I will make our fighters an offer that will quell any dissatisfaction. You must keep morale high until I can make my move. Don’t say anything about this. Parmenio must be kept guessing.”
Craterus frowned, and then answered Alexander. “The only thing that will improve morale is to make your fighters rich. They demand more than women and victories.”
“That’s enough, Craterus! Leave me! Have Harpalus join me. I’m formulating a plan and I want his assistance. Before long, I will handle your concerns. Speak to no one about this conversation.”
Craterus rode off to seek Harpalus. He knew that his king was up to the challenge of his army’s growing unrest. For now, he would be silent.
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Abuleites, the satrap of Susa, met Alexander at Susa’s gate and escorted him to the city center. “Secure the city,” he told Parmenio. “I’m going to the palace and the treasury. Gold matters most now. Harpalus, come with me.”
Each of the Great King’s palaces seemed to get more luxurious. Alexander strode arrogantly through the great hypostyle corridor, covered with rich wall coverings of glazed brick. Eventually, he entered the treasury itself. What awaited him would change everything.
“Give me an accounting,” he commanded Abuleites through a translator.
“Ther
e is over 40,000 talents of gold and silver,” the satrap began. “The gold Darics number more than 9,000.”
Alexander and Harpalus looked at each other with broad grins and expressions of astonishment. Never in their dreams did they imagine the immense value of the Great King’s gold and silver hoard.
“How could one king have acquired so much?” Harpalus asked. “I wonder if there is more in Parsa.”
Alexander stood in the middle of the treasury vault with his hands on his hips. He was ecstatic. “Is there more?” he finally asked Abuleites.
“Great King Xerxes appropriated many priceless objects and treasure from Greece during his invasion long ago, King Alexander. It’s all in the next room. No doubt, you will want to send it back to your homeland.”
“What else?” Alexander asked with a glower on his face.
“The treasury has another room,” Abuleites answered. “Additional gold furnishings, silver and gold plates and personal jewelry the king and queen rarely wore is kept there. Do you wish to see it?”
“Show it all to me,” Alexander said with impatience.
Gradually, he was beginning to understand what he had won. The monetary value of Persia’s treasure meant little to him personally. The unlimited purchasing power that the hoard represented, however, was beyond value. How much more will I be able to achieve now?. The treasure validated him. Beyond anyone’s doubt, he had already surpassed his ancestor Heracles’ and Philip’s achievements. The achievement was worthy of Zeus-Ammon’s son.
“Is that all?” he asked again.
“The Great King’s throne room is a priceless, national treasure, King Alexander,” Abuleites answered. “May I take you there?”
“Lead the way.”
“Remain here, Harpalus, and make a Greek accounting of this cache. We will meet tomorrow to decide how to use it. Darius didn’t understand that money must be used, not hoarded. It perpetuates a king’s reign.”
“Think about what just happened. Darius is running for his life while his vast treasure sets here, useless to him. That will never happen to me.”
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