Towards eve out-of their climactic conflict having Darius, Alexander learned of your Greek threat so you’re able to their bottom. This is going to make their decision to help you strike-out actually deeper on the China much more remarkable, showing one to Alexander, even with securing the entire east Mediterranean to Oceanside escort own themselves, try willing to stake that which you he had into a battle with Darius into the “lordship from Asia.” This new fates out-of Alexander plus the kingdom of the Persians carry out hold on the outcomes of the promotion.
Macedonia’s Blistering Wasteland March
The Macedonians following marched away from Controls to possess Thapsacus on the Euphrates River inside the July, whenever heat here mediocre in the 120° F in the day. A great Persian cavalry force 3,100000 strong within the demand of a single regarding their officers, Mazaeus, shadowed the Macedonian military. Darius surmised that the rich city of Babylon was Alexander’s objective and you may, consequently, the guy led Mazaeus to follow a great scorched-environment plan in hopes regarding decline the fresh Macedonians before they showed up to grips to your main Persian army.
To reach you to definitely grains Alexander might have was required to besiege them-unthinkable while the Darius was at highest that have an army
Darius needless to say wished in order to very debilitate brand new Macedonians that they perform be easy sufferer towards the better-given Persian army which he had recruited in the last season. Supply was of critical benefits into victory or failure away from Alexander’s venture. By the point the guy hit brand new Euphrates Lake valley, most of the grain produced in the fresh new southern and you can central places carry out already have started gathered and you will stored in municipal and temple granaries of your high and you will well-fortified cities. Moreover, uncultivated end in this type of areas might have stayed desertified and you will do not promote fodder towards ponies.
But Alexander won’t fall into Darius’s trap. In lieu of pressing southern to your Babylon, the latest Macedonians set off northeast across the Mesopotamian plain where he you will easier offer their armed forces. Mazaeus rode so you can Babylon towards reports from Alexander’s unforeseen disperse. Darius following chose to keep Alexander west of the new Tigris. To achieve this however need certainly to disperse his military all how as much as north Mesopotamia in advance of Alexander you will definitely get to the river and prevent their crossing. New Persians suspected one to Alexander carry out make an effort to mix from the ford away from Mosul, near by the new old Assyrian capital off Nineveh. If Alexander made an effort to cross someplace else, Mazaeus’s cavalry push would be to challenge a great slowing down action until the chief army arrived in assistance.
Alexander found this tactic when numerous Persian scouts had been caught. It shown this new Persian strategy and proportions and you will gadgets regarding Persian military. Alexander then lead instead toward ford on Abu Wajnam, further northern, and hit and you may entered the fresh Tigris River. The latest north regarding Mesopotamia offered alot more in the way of provides to the Macedonians as compared to straight down Euphrates Lake valley, thereby Alexander’s troops might possibly be left well-fed and you will suit. The metropolises and you may villages of your own north lake valley have been unfortified and also the grains stored in him or her would have been very easy to receive. Unfarmed parts could well be grassy because of the wetter environment compared on south and you will central countries.
With the Macedonians now just 50 kilometers faraway, Darius had to changes his bundle once more. The best he seems to have hoped for were to confront brand new Macedonians on ground advantageous so you can his personal armed forces. He searched for and found an article of flat surface near the newest community away from Gaugamela when you look at the progressive northern Iraq. He previously his engineers clear the area off obstructions, as well as got specific parts of it flattened to incorporate easier path for their scythed chariots.