How did Alexander the Great defeat Darius III at the Battle of Issus? Through the eyes of a Companion cavalryman, relive the charge that shattered the Persian line, sent the Great King into flight, and captured the royal family. This immersive historical podcast explores one of history's most decisive battles and the unexpected act of mercy that reshaped Alexander's reputation across the ancient world.
Narrator: Amyntas, Companion Cavalryman
Setting: Battle of Issus and its aftermath, 333 BCE
1. Historical Sources
a. Ancient Sources
- Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander
- Plutarch, Life of Alexander
- Curtius Rufus, History of Alexander
- Diodorus Siculus, Library of History
b. Modern Sources
- Adrian Goldsworthy, Philip and Alexander
- Peter Green, Alexander of Macedon
- Robin Lane Fox, Alexander the Great
- Philip Freeman, Alexander the Great
2. Author's Note
a. Historical:
- The Battle of Issus (333 BCE).
- Alexander's breakthrough toward Darius.
- Darius fleeing the battlefield.
- Capture of the Persian royal family.
- Alexander's respectful treatment of Darius' mother, wife, and daughters.
- The strategic consequences of the Macedonian victory.
b. Reconstructed:
- Amyntas the narrator.
- Conversations and battlefield impressions.
- Personal reflections.
- Specific emotional reactions and descriptions.
This episode completes the Issus trilogy. Episode 8 built anticipation, Episode 9 revealed the Persian collapse, and Episode 10 shows the battle and aftermath from the Macedonian side, culminating in one of the defining moments of Alexander's reputation: mercy toward the family of his greatest enemy.