The Ancients The Invasion of Persia | Alexander the Great
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Feb 12, 2026 
Dr Adrian Goldsworthy, historian and author of works on Philip and Alexander, offers concise military expertise. They trace Alexander’s 334 BC crossing into Asia and bold tactics at Granicus and Issus. Discussion covers army composition, siegecraft and naval limits. Stories include the Gordian Knot and the respectful capture of Darius’s family, all framed around the campaign’s logistics and leadership choices.
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Invasion Declared As Full Conquest
- Alexander frames his invasion as a campaign of conquest, not a raid, claiming Persian territory symbolically at Troy.
- His early confidence and theatrical acts signal long-term ambition to both Macedonians and Greeks.
Real Scale Of Alexander's Army
- Alexander's invasion force likely numbered between 30,000 and 50,000 men, not the vast hordes later attributed to Persian armies.
- The core was Macedonian phalanx and cavalry supported by allied Greek contingents.
Persian Response Was Regional And Cavalry-Heavy
- Persian provincial governors (satraps) respond with locally raised forces, not an immediate imperial army.
- Their assembled army is cavalry-heavy and composed of many ethnic groups and Greek mercenaries.
