The Ancients

The Fall of Persia | Alexander the Great

February 19, 2026

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  • Alexander the Great's campaign in 332-331 BC was defined by the strategic necessity of securing the Mediterranean coast, culminating in the eight-month, engineering-intensive siege of the island city of Tyre. 
  • Alexander's entry into Egypt was a major diplomatic success, as the native Egyptians readily accepted him as Pharaoh due to their long-standing resentment of Persian rule, allowing him to found the city of Alexandria. 
  • The Battle of Gaugamela represented the decisive military confrontation where Alexander's superior tactical maneuvering, particularly his use of cavalry and willingness to attack Darius's prepared ground, shattered the Persian army, leading to the fall of major capitals like Babylon and Persepolis. 
  • The destruction of the palace at Persepolis was a highly symbolic act demonstrating Alexander the Great's complete subjugation and humiliation of Darius III. 
  • Alexander's relentless pursuit of Darius, and subsequently Bessus (who declared himself the new Great King), marked a transition from a war of conquest to a pursuit driven by personal imperative and the need to eliminate rivals, leading to friction within the army. 
  • The execution of the key general Philotas and his father Parmenion, stemming from conspiracy fears and accusations of 'Asian' influence, signaled a dangerous shift toward paranoia and internal purges within Alexander's command structure as he pushed into Bactria (modern Afghanistan). 

Segments

Post-Gaugamela Strategy
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Alexander’s immediate focus after defeating Darius III was securing the Mediterranean coast by conquering Tyre and Gaza before proceeding to Egypt.
  • Summary: Alexander had defeated Darius III in battle but recognized the Persian Empire remained vast and capable of raising new armies. He needed to secure the coastal cities, like Tyre, to eliminate the threat of the Persian fleet operating in the Aegean. This required a calculated sequence of sieges before turning east toward Babylon.
The Siege of Tyre
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(00:05:43)
  • Key Takeaway: The siege of Tyre was the apex of Alexander’s siege craft, requiring the construction of a massive mole to reach the island city.
  • Summary: The island city of Tyre presented a formidable defense, forcing Alexander to undertake an eight-month siege involving the construction of a mole to connect the city to the mainland. The defenders actively countered the siege works with fire ships, leading to a battle of engineering ingenuity that ultimately resulted in the city’s capture and brutal sacking.
Siege of Gaza and Brutality
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(00:18:15)
  • Key Takeaway: The subsequent siege of Gaza, though shorter, involved mining operations and ended with Alexander brutally mistreating the Persian commander’s corpse.
  • Summary: The siege of Gaza followed Tyre, utilizing mining techniques due to the sandy soil, lasting two months. The resistance was led by a loyal Persian commander who fought aggressively, leading to Alexander being wounded. Alexander’s subsequent mistreatment of the dead commander’s body reflected frustration after the arduous Tyre campaign.
Conquest of Egypt
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(00:21:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Egypt surrendered without a fight because the native population resented Persian rule and Alexander showed immediate respect for their traditional cults.
  • Summary: The Persian governor of Egypt, Mazikais, surrendered immediately as the Egyptians harbored deep resentment toward their Persian overlords. Alexander tactfully displayed respect for Egyptian cults, leading to his recognition as Pharaoh. During this period, he initiated the founding of Alexandria in the Nile Delta, which became his most enduring legacy.
Journey East and River Crossings
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(00:28:50)
  • Key Takeaway: After securing Egypt, Alexander marched east through Assyria, crossing the Euphrates and Tigris rivers using practical cavalry formations to manage the strong currents.
  • Summary: Alexander left Egypt to confront Darius, following a practical route up through Assyria toward the main Persian forces. The army crossed the fast-flowing Tigris River by deploying lines of horsemen both upriver to slow the current and downriver to rescue soldiers who lost their footing. This movement, dated around September/October 331 BC, positioned him for the final showdown.
The Battle of Gaugamela
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(00:32:50)
  • Key Takeaway: At Gaugamela, Alexander countered Darius’s prepared battlefield and scythed chariots by deliberately veering right and creating lanes in his infantry to channel the enemy cavalry.
  • Summary: Darius prepared the ground for his massive cavalry force and scythed chariots, intending to break the Macedonian lines. Alexander countered by advancing obliquely to the right, forcing Darius to stretch his lines, and instructed his infantry to create gaps for the chariots to pass through harmlessly. Alexander then charged the resulting gap toward Darius, whose flight caused the rest of his disparate army to collapse.
Capture of Persian Capitals
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(00:44:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Following Gaugamela, Alexander entered Babylon and Susa peacefully, but deliberately destroyed the symbolic royal palace at Persepolis as an act of revenge.
  • Summary: Babylon welcomed Alexander, who respected their traditions and priesthood, effectively replacing Darius as the legitimate king in Babylonian records. Susa followed suit, but Persepolis was burned to the ground, likely as a deliberate symbolic act of vengeance for the Persian destruction of the Athenian Acropolis centuries earlier. Alexander then separated from Parmenion near Ecbatana to pursue the fleeing Darius.
Destruction of Persepolis Palace
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(00:59:05)
  • Key Takeaway: The destruction of the palace at Persepolis was a deliberate, humiliating, and symbolic act by Alexander.
  • Summary: The palace at Persepolis was destroyed, which is described as a very symbolic act intended to humiliate Darius III by showing he could not defend his own home. Alexander declared himself the new ruler, implying he did not need the old symbols of power. Following this, Alexander and his army proceeded to the royal tombs at Pasargadai.
Parting with Parmenion
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(00:59:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Alexander left Parmenion at Ekbatana to administer captured territory while he continued east to pursue the still-living Darius.
  • Summary: The army moved north and west to Ekbatana, the last major administrative center of the Achaemenid Empire. Alexander decided to leave Parmenion there with part of the army to handle administration. This separation is highlighted as becoming important later in the narrative. Alexander maintained that the war was not over as long as Darius remained alive.
Transition to Chasing Bessus
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(01:01:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Darius’s murder by his own satraps, led by Bessus, shifted Alexander’s objective to punishing the regicide and usurper.
  • Summary: Bessus, a senior commander, orchestrated the arrest and eventual murder of Darius III as Darius became a liability to his remaining followers. Alexander then adopted the role of the Avenger King, pursuing Bessus who had declared himself the new Great King and adopted the royal tiara. This pursuit was undertaken by a small vanguard, leading to growing uncertainty among the troops about the war’s ultimate purpose.
Geographical Context and Amazon Story
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(01:03:52)
  • Key Takeaway: By this point, Alexander was operating in northern Iran, east of Tehran, before pushing into the far eastern satrapies.
  • Summary: The army was situated south of the Caspian Sea, in what is modern northern Iran, preparing to pursue Bessus into the far eastern provinces. A legendary story recounts an Amazonian queen visiting Alexander, having sex with him for thirteen days, and leaving after conceiving, believing she would bear the greatest child on earth. Alexander then continued east through the Caspian Gates, facing nomadic allies of Bessus.
Campaigning Style and Leadership
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(01:05:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Alexander’s later campaigns involved relentless fighting in difficult terrain against different enemies, showcasing a mix of empathy and autocratic decision-making.
  • Summary: The fighting shifted from cavalry-dominated engagements to continuous combat against different types of enemies in harsh environments, requiring adaptation and artillery use. Alexander demonstrated great leadership by waiting for short-of-water troops, yet he also showed a lack of empathy by suddenly dismissing Greek troops, leaving them stranded far from home. This period involved more dangerous wounding for Alexander than previous campaigns.
The Philotas Affair in Frada
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(01:07:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The execution of General Philotas and his father Parmenion, following a conspiracy rumor, exposed deep-seated Macedonian suspicion regarding Alexander’s increasing monarchical power.
  • Summary: In Frada (modern Farah, Afghanistan), suspicion arose over Alexander’s growing wealth and perceived shift toward Eastern customs, making him paranoid about Macedonian courtiers. Philotas, son of Parmenion, was implicated for failing to report an alleged plot and was subsequently executed after a mock trial where his Greek speech was mocked. Alexander then sent agents to execute Parmenion quickly to prevent potential civil war.
Entry into Bactria and Bessus Capture
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(01:11:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Alexander entered the wealthy province of Bactria, where Bessus’s intended resistance evaporated due to Alexander’s overwhelming reputation, leading to Bessus’s swift capture and brutal execution.
  • Summary: Alexander’s army entered Bactria, a region known for its cities along the Oxus River and famed cavalrymen, where Bessus had hoped to rally support. However, Bessus’s intended army dissolved because local populations saw Alexander’s unstoppable momentum and chose not to fight a lost cause. Bessus was handed over to Alexander and brutally executed as a warning against regicide and pretenders.
Episode Conclusion and Future Preview
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(01:13:24)
  • Key Takeaway: With Darius and Bessus eliminated, Alexander’s campaign continued into the hardest slog yet, involving brutal fighting in Afghanistan and the Indian subcontinent.
  • Summary: The episode concludes with Alexander deep in the northeastern fringes of the former Persian Empire, having defeated Darius and executed Bessus. The hosts note that the hardest fighting, including campaigns in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and India against forces with war elephants, is yet to come. The final episode will cover this later period, Alexander’s return to Babylon, and his early death at age 32.