THE TRACES LEFT BY THE GREAT ISKENDER IN ANATOLIA AND THE GRANICOS WAR !

THE TRACES LEFT BY THE GREAT ISKENDER IN ANATOLIA AND THE GRANICOS WAR !

 Alexander the Great certainly wanted to conquer the Persian Empire after ascending the throne.  In the spring of 334 BC, he set out with his army from the city of Amphipolis in Central Macedonia.  In May of the same year, the first major battle of Alexander the Great in his Asian expedition, which crossed the Dardanelles Strait, took place on the banks of the Granikos river in the north-east of Troas.  Proceeding along the Gallipoli Peninsula, Alexander the Great visits the grave of “Protasilaos”, one of the Iliad heroes, and makes a great fire here.  Then he crosses the ship and comes to Troy to show his respect to Achilles, the great warrior of the Iliad.  According to Greek and Roman period writers, the tomb of Achilles was located in Beşike-Sivritepe tumulus.  This visit was of great importance for Alexander, as he believed that his ancestry was descended from his mother's wife, Andromachhe, the wife of Hector of Troy, and Achilles of Akha, who was the enemy of Hector.  Besike Cape, located on the sea shore, is also referred to as "Achilleion" in sources.

 Alexander then meets with his army in Abydos and marches towards the city of Perkote.  Perkote is an Anatolian city mentioned in the Iliad, and means "High Fortress" in Luwi-Pelasg language.  The Mekodon army, which has set up camp in the Arisbe plain called Zelia, moves towards the east and reaches Lampsakos (Lapseki).  After that, the city of "Daskyleion", which is the center of Persian Satrap, is located.  Lapseki settlement is an ancient Anatolian city known as "Pityausa" before the Hellenic migrations, and the name Lampsakos comes from Lampseke, the daughter of King Mandrom.  It is known that there is the picture of a winged horse (Pegasus) on the coins minted in this city.

 The Macedonian army Granikos confronts the Persian army for the first time around the Biga stream.  War is tough.  There were also Greek mercenaries in the Persian army.  As the commander of the mercenaries in the Persian army, Memnon knew very well the power of the Macedonian phalanxes and suggested to draw the Persian army into the country instead of fighting them face to face.  As they retreated they would destroy all crops and food.  Thus, the Macedonian army following them would be weakened by hunger and their supply routes would have been cut.  Memnon's proposal was not accepted by the Persians, and the attack was immediately launched in line with the decision of the Persian war council.  The strategic importance of this region, which was between the ancient Troas and the border of Mysia, was great.  For this reason, it has been described as "The Gates of Asia".  In addition, the roads connecting Daskyleion, the capital of Hellespontos Phygia satrapy, to Kyzikos and Lampsakos passed here.  Although the election of Granikos seemed to give the Persians an advantage because they forced Alexander to fight on a battlefield they determined, the war did not end as they had hoped.

 The Persian army relied on their cavalry.  It is difficult to pinpoint the exact course of the war.  The most reliable source on this subject is the information provided by Diodoros or Arrianos.  The Persian cavalry, consisting of approximately twenty thousand soldiers, is about 2.5 km on the slopes east of the Granikos plain.  long, it was lined up to be sixteen rows of cavalry.  On the left wing, Greek mercenaries of unknown number and soldiers from their own land took positions, while the Cilician satrap Arsames, then Hellespontos Phrigian satrap Arsites with the Paphlogonians and Lydia and Ionian satrap Spithridates with the Hyrkanian cavalry.  It is not certain who the main great power at the center was, but probably the Capadokians under the rule of the satrap Mithrovouzanes.  The right wing, on the other hand, was held by two thousand Bactrian cavalry, the other two thousand under the command of the Reominthas, and one thousand Medli.  Less than twenty thousand Persian infantry were placed behind the cavalry line.  In this case, the number of Greek mercenaries in the Persian army should not exceed five thousand.  Alexander the Great drove five thousand hundred cavalry and thirteen thousand infantry on the battlefield.  While he himself took command of the right wing, he placed the famous Pharmenion on the left wing.  Although Alexander's life was in danger during the collision, Kleitos was rescued.

 In addition to many factors, his strategy ability played a major role in Alexander's victory in the first major battle in Asian territory.  The professional soldiers called the 'Phalanx', who formed the center of the Macedonian army, played a major role in the victory.  This military unit, known for its six-meter long spears, overcame the Persians, who were superior in number.  The famous commander Pharmenion also played an important role.

 The Granikos War was the war in which a large part of the Persian force in western Anatolia was destroyed in an instant, and the Western Anatolian gates were opened in front of Alexander the Great.  In this war, the Persians lost their lives as well as many high-ranking commanders, while the Macedonians lost only twenty-five hetairoi, sixty cavalry, and thirty infantry.

 B.C.  In June 334, the capital of the Persian satrap Lydia, Sardes, which was the beginning of the famous King's Road, was captured.  Heading towards the Ionian shores, Alexander the Great then comes to Ephesus.  Alexander the Great, BC.  Although he offered to pay money for the reconstruction of the Temple of Artemis, which Herostratus burned to be famous, in 356, the proud people of Ephesus refused this.

 Lysimakhos, one of the generals of Alexander, rebuilt the city named after his wife Arsinoe in Ephesus and a new port was built and the city was moved to the slopes of Panayırdağ and Bülbüldağ.  After this date, Ephesus has become one of the most important commercial ports of the Mediterranean.

 Magnesia ad Meandrum (Aydın Province, Germencik District) established by Magnets from Thessaly in the same year surrenders without resisting to Alexander and Miletos is besieged.  The governor of the desperate city first agrees to surrender, but when he hears that 400 Persian ships are approaching, he gives up his decision.  At that moment, Miletus, the Macedonian fleet of 160 ships under the command of Parmenion's son Nicanor, which I mentioned briefly above, comes before him, which is also the first sea war of Alexander against the Persians.  Miletos falls.

 Although the Halicarnassians resisted Alexander for three months, Alexander eventually seized the city and Ada, the Karian princess, took over the administration.  Alexander the Great has now completely conquered Western Anatolia.

 B.C.  In the spring of 333, Alexander the Great, following the Mediterranean coastal road, connected the cities of Xanthos (Kinik), Antiphellos (Kas), Phaselis (Phaselis), Perge, Aspendos and Sagalassos near Burdur one by one, heading towards Central Anatolia to Ankara and from there to Cappadocia and  It goes south over Cilicia.

  Persian ruler III.  Darius confronts Alexander once again, knowing that he is next.  B.C.  In the autumn of 333, he suffers a decisive defeat in the famous Battle of Issos on the coast of Pinaros (Deliçay) and escapes, leaving his family on the battlefield.