MEDIA 330 PARTHIA 330

1
MEDIA 330PARTHIA 330
2
MEDIA 330BC

• Alexander was at Persepolis when he heard Darius
  was at Ecbatana
• Alex went there but found Darius gone
• Speed, determination, strength and fitness mark
  Alexs trip.
• He had heavy infantry because he expected serious
  trouble.

3
CASPIAN GATES

• Alex decided to conquer the surrounding lands
• Local cities fell one after another, satraps that
  surrendered were pardoned
• Here Alex discovered
• Mercenaries fighting with Persians
• Rebel envoys whose purpose was to reach Darius
  and negotiate with him

4
DARIUS MURDER

• Alex heard that Bessus had placed Darius under
  arrest
• Sent him on a mad gallop across the desert
• Near Shahrud he reached the wagon found Darius
  killed
• Nabarzanes and Barsaentes were the killers
• Alex proceeded to act as Darius legitimate
  successor
• Body was sent to Persepolis to be buried in the
  tomb of the Achaemenid kings

5
PURSUING THE MURDERERS OF DARIUS 330-328bc

• Darius murderers had fled to the East
• Satraps (Satibarzanes and Spitamenis) refused to
  surrender
• Barsaentes fled to India handed to Alex and
  executed in 326
• Nabarzanes was pursued by Alex for sometime.
  Alex caught up with him and begged for
  forgiveness and was granted it.

6
ARIA

• Satibarzanes satrap of Aria surrendered to Alex.
  Everything was peaceful,
• Then Alex heard that Satibarzanes had sided with
  Bessus.
• Sati kills the few men that Alex had left behind
  and started organising an army.
• Alex, furious found that Sati, had fled and
  remained for month too sort

7
ARACHOSIA 329BC

• Alex misjudged how severe the winter was
• So crossing the mountains saw great losses from
  frost bite, snowblindness and hunger.
• They fed on fish, raw meat and even their horses.
  
• Losses wouldve been worse had locals not helped
  them off.

8
BACTRIA

• Countryside had been destroyed by Bessus so Alex.
  would not have any supplies.
• Alex was determined though and kept going with no
  provisions.
• He heard that Bessus had crossed river Oxus into
  Sogdiana.