Battle of Issus
The Battle of Issus (also Issos) occurred in southern Anatolia, on 5 November 333 BC between the Hellenic League led by Alexander the Great and the Achaemenid Empire, led by Darius III. It was the second great battle of Alexander's conquest of Asia, and the first encounter between Darius III and Alexander the Great. The battle resulted in the Macedonian troops defeating the Persian forces.
| Battle of Issus | |||||||||
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| Part of the Wars of Alexander the Great | |||||||||
Alexander battling Darius at the Battle of Issus (Naples National Archaeological Museum) | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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Macedon League of Corinth | Achaemenid Empire | ||||||||
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| Strength | |||||||||
Total: c. 37,000
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Total: 50,000–60,000 (modern estimates) Total: 250,000–600,000 (ancient sources)
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
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4,952 casualties 150 killed 4,500 wounded 302 missing | ~20,000-40,000 casualties | ||||||||
Issus Location of the Battle of Issus Issus Issus (Turkey) | |||||||||
After the Hellenic League soundly defeated the Persian satraps of Asia Minor (led by Greek mercenary Memnon of Rhodes) at the Battle of the Granicus, Darius took personal command of his army. He gathered reinforcements and proceeded to lead his men in a surprise march behind the Hellenic advance, in order to cut off their line of supply. Alexander was forced to countermarch, and the stage was set for the battle near the mouth of the Pinarus River and the town of Issus.