Alexander 13: "Wanted Dead or Alive"

After pausing in Egypt, Alexander was spurred by the revolt of the Samarians (Israel), in 331 BCE, to renew his pursuit of the Persian king Darius. Alexander’s veteran army was unstoppable. Cities fell before it and opened their gates to the crush of people who rushed out to greet their liberators. Even the city of Susa, the seat of Persian administration, allowed Alexander and his army to enter without resistance. Darius had urged Persian cities to remain loyal to him and to support his army. But, after being routed by Alexander at Issus, Darius’ allies were few and dwindling.

Unwilling to yield despite the shift of odds against him, Darius set a trap for Alexander’s army in Gaugamela (Iraq) where he hoped to defeat Alexander decisively. Darius’ general Mazaeus drew Alexander toward Assyria, and his army offered no resistance to Alexander’s troops as they crossed the Tigris River. In preparation for battle, Darius leveled the battlefield so it would accommodate his 200 scythed chariots. To prevent Alexander’s crack cavalry from encircling the Persian Army, Darius’ soldiers laid down stakes, spikes and snares on either side of the flattened plain. With his supply lines in place, Darius believed conditions were right for defeating Alexander and sending him home.

It was not to be. Alexander’s army thrashed Darius’ army at Gaugamela in 331 BCE and irrevocably changed the course of history, putting Alexander on a trajectory to the Persian throne. This victory opened the way for Alexander to capture Babylon and Susa as well as Persia’s capital city, Persepolis, which suffered greatly at the hands of his army. Choosing to wreak vengeance upon Persepolis for the ill-treatment of Greek cities during Persian domination, Alexander and his men burned Xerxes’ palace to the ground and looted its treasury to preclude the city from rising again as a seat of Persian power. They also took revenge on the people of the city.

Alexander began his titular rule of the Persian Empire. He appointed men loyal to him to governing positions, and he left his veterans behind to pacify and become residents of the Persian communities. Alexander's ascendancy to the Persian throne marked the end of the Persian Empire and Persian influence over the Mediterranean region. But, in order to seal his grip on the Empire and to become its legitimate king, Alexander had to finally defeat Darius.

In 330 BCE, after following Darius deep into Persia, Alexander and his cavalry overtook Darius’ caravan. Fearing Alexander’s wrath, Bessus and Barsaentes, the satrap of Arachosia and Drangiana, arrested Darius and killed him. Darius was buried with full royal honors at a state funeral held at Persepolis. Alexander was truly king, but his struggle was not finished.
Continuing in pursuit of Darius, Alexander moved on. Finally in 300 BCE, Alexander caught up with Darius’ troops. He made his way to Darius’ vehicle and opened the door. Darius lay within, murdered by his own men. Struck by the sight of the Great Persian King killed with such indignity, Alexander began his pursuit for the king’s assassins. When finally he found the man who had killed Darius, Alexander had him publicly flogged and, in accordance with Persian tradition, had his nose and ears chopped off. Alexander then turned him over to a Persian court who put him to death. Darius was buried with full royal honors.