Alexander of Macedon was one of the greatest military strategists that the world has seen. Historians say that the youthful king, who entered the battlefield around 20 times before the age of 32, was never defeated in a single battle—even against armies larger than his own.
The most significant of Alexander’s battles was the one at Gaugamela, also called the Battle of Arbela, where he defeated the Darius III, the ruler of the mighty Achaemenid Empire of Persia, in 331 BCE.
Darius arrived to confront Alexander with a massive army, with an estimated strength between 50,000 and 1,00,000, including infantry, cavalry, archers, and chariots. Alexander's Greek army, on the other hand, had only 40,000 infantry and 7,000 cavalry.
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Both armies took their positions, ready for battle. Observing the enemy's deployment, Alexander began to move to the right with a small contingent of his cavalry. Darius, thinking Alexander was trying to attack his flank, sent his cavalry parallel to Alexander's movement.
However, the Persian army did not realise that Alexander was also moving a portion of his infantry behind the cover of his cavalry, which was moving to the right. After moving a short distance, Alexander slowed down his movement. This caused the Persian army to get slightly ahead of Alexander’s army. This meant Alexander's flank now looked vulnerable to attack by the Persian cavalry.
The Persians did exactly that. Then, it happened suddenly. With the speed of a whirlwind, Alexander turned back his cavalry and charged into the centre of the Persian army, where there was a gap created where the Persian cavalry had stood earlier.
The Persian cavalry, which had come to attack Alexander's cavalry on the right flank, became confused upon seeing the enemy retreat. Taking advantage of this, Alexander’s infantry, which had previously moved under the cover of his cavalry, rained arrows on the Persian cavalry.
Darius, who was positioned in the centre of the Persian army, was stunned to see Alexander charging at him with his cavalry. Darius fled the battlefield and was later found and killed by Alexander's soldiers. It is said that he was killed without Alexander's permission. Alexander buried Darius's body with honours and treated the members of the Persian imperial family with utmost respect.