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<strong>Campaigns</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Bactria</strong> & <strong>Sogdia</strong>
Alexander’s route
A New Campaign• Alexander now had a very different aim:- Conquest – to establish his own empire <strong>in</strong>Asia.• The Greeks who had accompanied theexpedition as members of the League ofCor<strong>in</strong>th were now given a choice:- Return to Greece- Cont<strong>in</strong>ue to fight for Alexander asmercenaries
Ma<strong>in</strong> events of this period of thecampaign• The murder of Darius by Bessus• Pursuit of the murderers• Subjugation off rebel Satraps <strong>in</strong> <strong>Bactria</strong> &<strong>Sogdia</strong>na.• Reorganisation of the army to cope withthe new style of warfare.• Capture of <strong>Sogdia</strong>n Rock & Rock ofAornus.• Conflict between Alexander and hisMacedonians.
The Murder of Darius• From Persepolis, Alexander pursuedDarius northwards• Darius had been arrested by Bessus, hisformer Satrap of <strong>Bactria</strong>.• Read about what happened <strong>in</strong> Arrian Pg184. Arrian’s summ<strong>in</strong>g up of Darius Pg185 – 186.• Alexander buried Darius with the honoursbefitt<strong>in</strong>g a k<strong>in</strong>g. He saw himself assuccessor to the position of Great K<strong>in</strong>g.
The pursuit of Bessus• Alexander cont<strong>in</strong>ued the pursuit of Bessus<strong>in</strong>to Mardia & <strong>Bactria</strong>.• Bessus had changed his name toArtaxerxes and was call<strong>in</strong>g himself K<strong>in</strong>g ofAsia.• More Persian commanders & Greekmercenaries were surrender<strong>in</strong>g toAlexander.
Cross<strong>in</strong>g the H<strong>in</strong>du Kush• Alexander had noidea just how severethe w<strong>in</strong>ter could be <strong>in</strong>the north.• Curtius (Pg 154)describes thehardships of cross<strong>in</strong>gthe Khawak Pass, <strong>in</strong>the H<strong>in</strong>du Kushmounta<strong>in</strong> range, <strong>in</strong>to<strong>Bactria</strong>.
Bessus seeks support• While be<strong>in</strong>g pursued, Bessusboasted about rais<strong>in</strong>g an armyto defeat Alexander.• However, the <strong>Bactria</strong>ns wereunwill<strong>in</strong>g to support him, manydefect<strong>in</strong>g to Alexander.• Bessus fled across the OxusRiver <strong>in</strong>to neighbour<strong>in</strong>g<strong>Sogdia</strong>na.• He scorched the earth & burntall available boats at the Oxusas he fled.- What problems would thiscause Alexander?
The march <strong>in</strong>to <strong>Sogdia</strong>• From <strong>Bactria</strong>, Alexandercont<strong>in</strong>ued to pursueBessus <strong>in</strong>to the hot,desert country of<strong>Sogdia</strong>na.• Read Curtius’ (Pg 157 –158) description of thisjourney.• Read Arrian’s accountof the cross<strong>in</strong>g of theOxus.
The capture of Bessus• Spitamenes &Dataphernes offered tobetray Bessus.• Read Arrian Pg 197 –198 for his account ofwhat happened.• Arrian (Pg 212 – 213)& Curtius (Pg 161) giveaccounts of Bessus’mutilation & execution.
The revolt <strong>in</strong> <strong>Sogdia</strong>na• Spitamenes led an upris<strong>in</strong>gof the Scythians <strong>in</strong><strong>Sogdia</strong>na.• Read the reasons for therebellion <strong>in</strong> Fox Pg 302 .• The new style of warfareconfront<strong>in</strong>g Alexander(guerilla warfare)demanded a reorganisationof Alexander’s army.
A new style of warfare• The Macedonians wereno longer fight<strong>in</strong>gpitched battles aga<strong>in</strong>stlarge opponents.• The Scythian tribesmenwere excellent mountedarchers.• They fought guerilla style<strong>in</strong> small groups.
Macedonian army reorganised• The Macedonian Companion cavalry wasunequal and phalanx unsuitable.• Alexander made use of <strong>Bactria</strong>n horsemenunder Artabazus, Satrap of <strong>Bactria</strong>.• The army was divided <strong>in</strong>to five separatetask forces that could act <strong>in</strong>dependently.• These set about the subjugation of<strong>Sogdia</strong>na.
The campaign aga<strong>in</strong>st theScythians• The Scythians <strong>in</strong> both <strong>Sogdia</strong>na & <strong>Bactria</strong>created many problems for the Macedonians.• The fight<strong>in</strong>g was harsh.• New cities were founded and settled withvarious groups & Alexander’s veterans.• Eventually Spitamenes was killed. ReadCurtius Pg 183.
The <strong>Sogdia</strong>n Rock• The <strong>Bactria</strong>n Lord Oxyartestook refuge <strong>in</strong> this hilltopfort.- It was sheer on all sides.- Had food & water towithstand a lengthy siege.• Read differ<strong>in</strong>g accounts ofthis famous engagement <strong>in</strong>Arrian (Pg 232 – 234) &Curtius (Pg 172 - 175.A clever & cunn<strong>in</strong>g solutionto a difficult problem.
Marriage to Roxane• One of the prisoners taken at the<strong>Sogdia</strong>n Rock was Roxane,daughter of Oxyartes.• She became Alexander’s firstwife.- Alexander already had one son(Heracles) with his mistress,Bars<strong>in</strong>e, daughter of Artabazus.• Read Curtius’ account, ofAlexander’s marriage to her, onPg 186.
The Rock of Chorienes• A second precipitous mounta<strong>in</strong> fortress <strong>in</strong><strong>Bactria</strong>.• Read differ<strong>in</strong>g accounts of thisengagement <strong>in</strong>:- Curtius (Pg 181 – 182) &- Arrian (Pg 236 – 238)After Chorienes, Alexander’s armycrossed the H<strong>in</strong>du Kush aga<strong>in</strong> & movedtowards India.
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