Arrian's History of the Expedition of Alexander the Great ... Translated ... by Mr. Rooke and now corrected and enlarged ... The second edition

Preface

. J HATŒ, chose to make use of the writings of Ptolemy, the son of Lagus, aud of Aristobulus, the son of Aristobulus, concerning Alexander, the son of Philip, as the most authentic accounts of those actiotis, so far as they are consistent ivith themselves, or with each other, and in those points ivhere they differ, whichsoever appeared to me the most consonant to truth, and fittest to he recorded, I have followed. Others indeed have set Alexander's acts in a different light, and there is no hero, on whose life so many pens have been employed, or ivhere they disagree so 'much among themselves. But Aristobulus and Ptolemy are preferable to all the rest, and most worthy of credit; for, as the first was ane of Alexander s companions in that expedition, and the latter not only bore a command there, but was also a king himself afterwards, a deviation from truth would be more unpardonable in them than others.

And sure their veracity is the less to be doubted, because. they compiled their histories after Alexander's death, when neither fear nor favour could induce them to relate fads, otherivise than they really happened. Some things touched upon by others I have thought not al together unworthy the rehearsal, as falling within the compass of probability ,- but those are only delivered as reports. And if any now wonder why, after so many tvriters of Alexander's acts, I also attempt the task, and endeavour to elucidate the same, after he has perused the rest, let him proceed to the reading of mine, and he will find less cause of wonder than before. ALEXANDER'S EXPEDITION. BOOK THE FIRST. CHAP. I Philip* died whenPythodemiis was archon at Athens; and his son Alexander, then about twenty years of age, ascended his throne, and marched into Peloponnesus, where, in a grand council of all the Greeks of those parts, he requested to be made general of the intended expedition against the Persians, an honour which had l*ieen before conferred on his father Philip.

This was granted by all except the Lacedæmonians, who alleged, that by an ancient custom of theirs, deduced from their ancestors, the Lacedæmonians ought not to obey the orders of a foreign general, but themselves to have the command of any army raised for a foreign expedition. The Athenians were also busy in contriving to bring some innovation about, but were so ter rified at Alexander's approach, that they decreed him more honours than they had before promised his father. He then returned into Macedonia, to raise forces for his expedition into Asia. However, the spring following, he determined to march through Thrace, and so to penetrate into the countries of the Triballif, and IllyriansJ, who, he heard, were also plotting mischief; and as they almost bordered upon his kingdom, he deemed it inconsistent with true policy to ne - gleet humbling them, before he attempted to march with his army against places so remote; wherefore, setting out from Amphipolis§, he marched first against those Thi*acians|| who were governed by their * Pausanias, a young nobleman of Macedonia, having been forcibly abused by Atta lus, made his complaints to King Philip; but Attalus's interest prevailing, and finding no redress, turned his rage upon the king; whereupon, as he was to see some shows be tween the two Alexanders, his son, and nephew, without his ordinary guards, he was suddenly assaulted and slain. — See Diodor. lib. xvi. p. 482.

Editionis Hannoviæ, and Justin, lib. ix. cap. 6 and 7. t The Triballi were a nation inhabiting the lower part of Mœsia, between Mount Hæ mus and the river Ister. Their country is now called Bulgaria. X The country of Illyria bordered on the Adriatic sea on one side, and on Pannonia on the other It is now called Sclavonia. § Amphipolis was a city seated on bolh sides of the river Styrmon, partly in the bor ders of Thrace, anoV partly in those of Macedonia. || The Thracians were a valiant people. Their country, which was bounded by the Euxine and Ægæau seas, and Mount Hæmus, is now called Romania. own laws, and tenacious of their own customs, and leaving the city Philippi, and the mountain Orbelus on the left, and having passed. the river Nesus, after ten day _ journey, he arrived at Mount Hæmus.

Here a mighty number of the neighbouring inhabitants appeared in armour, as also multitudes of the free Thracians above mentioned, be ing fully determined, by seizing the tops of the mountains, and secur ing the straits, or pass, to hinder him and his army from any fui her progress. Their carriages, or waggons, they therefore placed before them, not only to serve instead of a breast-work for their security, if they should be attacked, but they resolved, if the Macedonians at tempted to ascend, to tumble them down among them, from the most steep and rugged parts of the mountain ; for they had well considered, that the more firm the phalanx was into which these carriages should he thus hurled, the more execution would be performed by the violence and rapidity of their fall. But Alexander consulted how he might, with the least danger, gain that pass, and being assured that the mountain must be ascended, and that there was no other way for an army to march, warned his soldiers, the moment they per ceived the enemy's machinery put in motion, that those whom the convenience of their station would allow should open their ranks, and suffer them to roll freely through, but those who were confined by the narrowness of the pass, should close their shields artfully to gether, and fall flat on the ground, so that when the carriages passed over them with their utmost velocity, they might receive as little damage as possible; and the event answered Alexander's expectations; for some of them opening their ranks, and others closing their shields, and thereby coverir g their bodies, they sustained the shoclt without the loss of one man.

The Macedonians, thus freed from the enemy's contrivance, re-assumed their courage, and raising a loud shout, advanced against the Thracians. Alexander ordered his archers to move from the right wing, and place themselves before another phalanx, because there the ascent was easier, and gall the enemv from thence with their arrows. He himself, besides his own cohort, led on the targeteers and dartsmen on the left. The archers beat the Thracians back with their arrows, wherever they approached within their reach; and the phalanx advancing, without any great difficulty, forced the barbarians, who were ill armed and defenceless, to quit their posts, and thereby rendered them unable to stand the shock of Alexander rushing upon them from the left; wherefore, casting awav what armour they had on tlie mountain, they fled.

About fifteen hundred of them fell on the spot ; few were taken prisoners the swiftness of their flight, and their exact knowledge of the country se curing them; but the women and children who followed the camp were all taken, as also much spoil. CHAP. II — The spoil which the king had seized he sent into the maritime places behind him, giving the charge thereof to Lysanias and Philotas. He himself having gained the ascent, passed by way of Hæmus in his march against the Triballi, and came to the river Lyginus, which is distant from the Ister, if you take Hæmus in the way, about three days journey. Syrmus, king of the Triballi, being informed of Alexander's approach, had despatched the women and children, and all his defenceless multitude, to the Ister, with a strict charge that they should pass over a branch of that river, and secure themselves in a small island named Peuce, whither also the Thracians, their neighbours, on the same intelligence, had before retired, and Syrmus himself, with his guards, soon after followed.

However, a great multitude of the Triballi retreated to the river Lyginus, from whence Alexander decamped the day before. When he heard this, he returned, and marching against these, surprised some of them in their tents, and then proceeded against the rest, who lay encamped in a wood adjacent to the river. Alexander first prepared his own cohort for the onset, and then despatched the archers and sliugers, with orders to provoke the barbarians with stones and arrows, and by that means, if possible, draw them out of the wood into the open country. The enemy, who were within reach of their darts and stones, and were galled with their arrows, rushed forward upon the slingers and archers, who were unarmed, and endeavoured to fight them hand to hand: but Alexander having, by that stratagem, drawn them out of the wood, ordered Philotas, with a choice party ot Mace donian light horse, to charge them on the right wing, and Heraclides and Sopolis, with the Boitiæan and Ampliipolitan troops, on the left, he, with a phalanx of foot, and another of horse, rushing in among the midst of them.

And indeed, so long as they only skirmished with the bowmen and slingers, the fight seemed doubtful, but as soon as the firm phalanx attacked them, and the horsemen began not only to strike them with their spears, but trample them under foot, they betook themselves to their heels, and passing through the wood, es caped to the river. Three thousand of them were slain in this fight; few were taken alive, the thick wood contiguous to the river, and the approach of night, hindering the ehace. About eleven of the Mace donian horse, and forty of their foot, according to Ptolemy's account, fell in that action. CHAP. Ill On the third day after that battle, Alexander came to the river Ister, the most considerable of all the European streams, both in regard to the length of its course, and the many warlike nations through whose territories it passes, among which the most re nowned are the Celtes, where it has its rise.

The remotest of these nations are the Quadi and Marcomanni, next the Jazyges, a brancli of the Sauromatæ; and, lastly, the Scythians, whose country terminates the river, where, through five vast mouths, it falls into the Euxine sea. Here Alexander found some long ships, which had been brought from Byzantium through the Euxine sea, and thence drawn up the river against the stream; on board which, having embarked as many soldiers as they were capable of containing, he steered directly for the island, to which the Triballi and Thracians had fled for shelter. But endeavouring to land his forces, the barbarians rushed forwards to oppose him ; and forasmuch as his ships were few, and his force on board small, the shores of the island in most places steep and rugged, and the river, by being confined in narrow banks, fierce and rapid, he drew off his fleet, and altered his resolutions, designing to attack the Getæ*, who inhabited the other side of the river; for he observed great numbers of them to come flocking down to the shore, and stand ready to obstruct his landing, if he attempted it; for they were, in all, about four thousand horse, and ten thousand foot.

Besides, he had a strong desire to pass the Ister there. He therefore embarked on board his ships as great a force as he could, and at the same time ordered the hides which had been made use of as covers for their tents, to be filled with light buoyant matter, and all the boats employed on that part of the river to be seized, and brought together. The neighbouring inhabitants made use of a vast number of these, partly for their fishery, and partly for commerce, besides many for piracy. This done, the rest of the army was ferried over with all the speed and secrecy imaginable. The number of those who then passed the river was about one thousand five hundred horse, and nigh four thousand foot. CHAP. IV — They passed over by night, to a place where the corn stood thick on the opposite shore, that they might be the less perceived by the enemy.

The next morning Alexander marched his army through the corn, having ordered his soldiers to transverse their pikes, and bow their bodies, and thus to proceed till they came to an open and uncultivated place. So long as the phalanx was sheltered from sight by the corn, the horse followed; but when they came into a champaign country, Alexander himself led them on to the right wing, and commanded Nicanor to range the phalanx of foot on the left. The Getæ were so much astonished at their unusual boldness, who in one night durst attempt to pass over the mighty river Ister * The Getæ were a considerable people of Sarmatia Europæa, inhabiting both sides of the river Ister, riear the Euxine sea, whence some confound them with the Da ciaus. Their country comprehends what is at this day called Moldavia, Wallachia, and Transilvania. without a bridge, that they stood not the first shock, the firmness of the foot, and the violent assaults of the horse putting them into con fusion ; whereupon they fled first to the city, which was about four miles distant; but when they perceived Alexander draw his foot along the banks of the river with great caution, to prevent falling into ambuscades, and range his horse on the front, they abandoned the city as untenable, and carrying away as many of their women and children as they could, betook themselves to the deserts, at a great distance from the river.

Alexander, in the meanwhile, enters the city, and gathering up whatever was left by the inhabitants, delivered the spoil to Meleager and Philip, and afterwards levelled it with the ground. This done, he offered sacrifice to Jupiter the preserver, and to Hercules, as also to Ister, for affording him a passage so safe and easy; and the same day he brought all his troops into the camp. Thither came ambas sadors as well from sundry free nations bordering upon the river, as from Syrmus, king of the Triballi, and from the Celtes, who inhabit the country near the loiian bay; they are a people strong in body, and of a haughty spirit. All these came with offers of friendship; and a league was accordingly made and accepted on either side. Alex ander then took an opportunity of asking the Celtes what they dread ed most of all things in the world? imagining, that as the terror of his name must needs have reached their country, and much farther, they would have given that for their answer; but he was widely de ceived in his expectations; for as they lived in a remote part of the world, difficult of access, and so far from the course of Alexander's expedition, they told him, they were afraid of nothing more than that the sky should fall upon their heads.

He, hearing this, treated them as friends, ranked them among the number of his allies, and dismissed the ambassadors, saying, that the Celtes were an arrogant nation. CHAP. V Thence, passing through the countries of the Agri ans*, and Pæoniansf, he received intelligence that Clitus, ihe son of Bardyles, had revolted from him, and joined in confederacy with Glaucias, king of the Taulantii J ; as also that the Autarialæ were re solved to obstruct his march; for which reasons he thought fit to hasten his departure. But Langarus, king of the Agrians, a steady friend to him, and who had formerly sent an embassy to him, during the life of his father Philip, being then present at the head of his * The Agrians inhabited part of Thrace, nigh Mount Hæmus; they passed by several names among authors, viz. Agriai, Agriani, Agrianes, and Agnenses. t The Pæonians were a nation seated northward of Macedonia, near the fountains of the river Axius. t The Taulantii inhabited part of Illyria, and the Autariatæ another part thereof. choicest and best armed pikemcn, hearing that Alexander was making inquiry who, or of what force these Autariatæ were, assured him, that they were able to give him no disturbance, as being less inured to martial discipline than any of their neighbours; that himself would make an irTuption into their confines, and find them employment enough.

To this Alexander assenting, he marched suddenly among them, laid their country waste, and so deterred them from attempting any thing. At his return, he was received with the highest ho nours, and not only rewarded with choice presents, but with the promise of his sister Cyna for a wife, at his return to Pella. But the death of Langarus, on a journey to his own kingdom, put an end to that design. Alexander, after this, marching near the river Erigone, advanced towards Pellion, which city Clitus had seized, it being the strongest in all those parts. When Alexander approached, and had pitched his tents near the river Eordacius, he determined to batter ■die walls the next day. Clitus had encamped his forces upon the adjacent mountains, which were very high, and covered with thick woods, determining that if the Macedonians assaulted the city, they would rush upon them on all hands, for as yet Glaucias, king of the Taulantii, had not joined them.

When Alexander drew nigh the city, the enemy having offered three boys, three maids, and as many black rams for sacrifice, made a feint as though they would have encountcrered them ; but those mountaineers, however advantageously posted, soon quitting their stations, retreated into the city, leaving their very sacrifices behind. When they were thus inclosed within their walls, Alexander encamped against them, and determined to have surrounded them with a wall, to prevent all succours; hut hearing the next day that Glaucias was upon his march to their relief with a huge army, and despairing, with the forces he had, to reduce the place, because many warlike troops were there in garrison, and many more would come against him, should he attempt to storm it; he therefore changed his resolution, and sent Philotas with a strong body of horse, which served him as a guard, to forage in the enemy's country.

Glaucias having received information of his coming, advanced to meet him, and seizing on the passes through the mountains, endeavoured to obstruct his march, which, when Alexander came to understand, and knowing that the horse would be driven to great straits if the night seized them, he forthwith drew off his targeteers, archers, and Agrians, and about four hundred horse, and hastened to their assistance, leaving the rest to awe the city, lest, if the whole army had decamped, the besieged should have issued forth, and joined with Glaucias. Glaucias no sooner heard of Alexander's approach, than he abandoned his post between the mountains, by which means Philotas anc[ his forces returned safe into their camp. Hitherto both Clitus and Glaucias had entertained a notion that Alexander would be embarrassed among the hills, where they had posted great numbers of their horse, as also several parties of darters and slingers, and other armed sol diers, to annoy him.

They had also resolved that those who were left in the city should sally forth upon them as they drew off. Besides, the road, along which Alexander was obliged to march, was narrow and woody, and so much straitened with a river on one side, and a steep and craggy mountain on the other, that four armed men could hardly walk a-breast. CHAP. VI. Alexander hereupon having ranged his army in such a manner, that the phalanx of foot consisted of one hundred and twenty in depth, and the horse of two hundred on each wing, enjoined silence, that his commands might be the sooner received, and accordingly ordered the armed soldiers to advance first, with their spears erect, and, upon a sign given, to reverse them, and sometimes to direct them towards the right, and then to the left, as occasion required.

He, in the mean time, altered the phalanx, and ranged the wings into various positions ; and thus the whole being new-modelled, and reduced into a cuneus, he rushed upon the enemy, who having long stood amazed to see with what order and expedition every thing was performed, withstood not the first onset, but suddenly quitted their first posts, upon the mountains; whereupon, Alexander having commanded his soldiers to shout, and strike their spears upon their shields, the Taulantii were so exceedingly terrified with the noise, that they retired into the city in disorder. However, he still perceiving a small number of them posted upon a hill, nigh which he was obliged to pass, ordered his body guards, and such of his friends as were about him, to arm themselves and mount their horses, and thus attack the hill ; which when they approached, if the enemy who possessed the pass opposed them, half the number were to have dismounted, and sought among the rest, as foot forces.

But the enemy quitted the hill upon their approach, and fled confusedly through the country. Alexander no sooner made himself master of this post, than calling to him about two thousand of the Agrians and archers, he commanded the targeteers to pass the river, and theMacedonian cohorts to follow them, with orders, that as soon as they had gained the other shore, they should stretch out their shields, that the phalanx might make the greater shew; he himself, from that eminence, all the while observing the enemy's motions. They seeing that part of the army had passed over, wheeled round the mountains, with a design to attack them on the rear; but he, with his forces fronting them, frustrated their design, and the phalanx having now crossed the river, shouted for joy. The enemy hereupon perceiving the whole Macedonian force ready to fall Vol. 2.

No. 8. c upon them, turned their backs and fled. Alexander then straight led his Agrians and archers to the river, and attempted to pass it; but perceiving his rear in danger, he ordered his engines to be placed upon the banks, to play upon the enemy with all sorts of missive weapons, and his archers, who had just then entered the river, to gall them with their arrows as much as they could, out of the water; but Glaucias durst not come within their reach; so that the Macedonians passed over safe, and lost none of their numoer in the river. Three days after ,this, Alexander having notice that Clitus and Glaucias lay carelessly encamped, and had neither appointed a sufficient watch, nor surrounded themselves with a ditch, nor rampart, as helieving that Alexander was retired out of fear, and their army lay stretched out at length, to their disadvantage, he privately, under covert of the night, with his targeteers, archers, and Agrians, and Cœnus's and Perdiccas's troops, passed a river in their way, and or dered the rest of his forces to follow.

But as soon as ever an oppor tunity offered, without waiting for the arrival of the rest, he despatched his archers and Agrians against them, who, rushing upon them un awares, and assaulting the weakest parts of their camp, with the great est fury, they killed some in their sleep, others unarmed, and others endeavouring to fly; so that many were slain, and many prisoners were taken : nor did he cease the pursuit of them till he reached the Taulantian mountains. As many of them as escaped fled away with out their arms Clitus first fled to the nearest city, which having set on sire, he hastened to Glaucias, who was then in the country of the Taulantii. CHAP. VII. — During these transactions, some fugitive Thebans entering the city by night, and stirred up by some of the citizens to endeavour a change of the government, seized Amyntas and Timolaus, prefects of the Cadmean tower, who apprehended no mischief, and having dragged them thence, put them to death.

Then in a set speech, they instigated the people to a revolt from Alexander, and under the old and specious pretence of liberty, persuaded them to attempt to throw off the Macedonian yoke, confidently affirming that Alexander was dead in Illyria. Such a report had indeed been spread abroad, and gained some credit, because he had been long absent, and no news had come from him. Wherefore it happened in this, as in most other cases, where no certain intelligence could be had, every one contrived and believed what pleased him best. Alexander being acquainted with this commotion, thought it was not to be slighted, as well be cause he had a long time suspected the fidelity of the Athenians, as that he deemed the Theban audacity a matter of no small consequence jf the Lacedæmonians, who were already averse to him, and others of the Peloponnesians and Ætolians, equally desirous of novelty, should join themselves to the revolted Thcbans.

Having therefore passed by Eoidæa, and Elymiotis, and the rocky country of Stympæa Paryæa with his army, on the seventh day he arrived at Pellene, a city of Thessaly, and marching thence, on the sixth day after, entered Bceotia; and so little did the Thebans dream of his approach, that he was at Onehestus, with his whole army, before they received the news of his passing the straits. And even then, the authors of the sedition affirmed, that that must be an army newly raised in Macedonia, by Antipater, and that Alexander was dead. Nay, when some as serted that Alexander was at hand, in person, thev still persisted in their obstinacy, and said it must be another Alexander, the son of Areopus. However, he moved from Onehestus, and approached the temple of Iolaus the next day, where he made a halt, that the Thebans, repenting their rashness, might have time to send ambassadors to him.

But so far were they from shewing any signs of remorse, that a party of horse and light-armed foot suddenly issued out of the city, and assaulting their out-guards, slew some of the Macedonians with their darts. Alexander hereupon ordered a party of his light-armed men and archers against them, who in a short time drove them back, though they were ready to have entered the camp. The next day he advanced with his army towards the gate which leads to Elutheræ and Attica, yet still he forbore to assault the walls, and therefore pitched his tents near the Cadmean tower, that he might be at hand to assist the Macedonians tn garrison there; for the Thebans had surrounded that tower with a double wall, as well to hinder their receiving succours from abroad, as to prevent their excursions, and keep them from joining with their enemies.

However, Alexander, who had much rather have made up the matter peaceably, than have had the citizens drawn into their ruin, lay still in his camp near the Cadmean tower. In the mean time, some of the citizens, who had the welfare of the state at heart, proposed to go out to Alexander, and entreat his pardon for this revolt of the multitude. But, on the other hand, the exiles, and authors of the sedition, despairing of mercy for themselves, as also some of the Bœotian nobility, used all imaginable arguments to incite the populace to war. However, all this did not provoke Alexander to lay close siege to the city. CHAP. VIII However, Ptolemy tells us, that Perdiccas, captain of an advanced guard, who, with his forces, was posted not far from the town wall, gave the first attack upon the wall, without waiting for Alexander's orders, and making a breach, rushed suddenly forwards upon the Theban garrison.

He was seconded by Amyntas the son of Andromenes, another captain, who no sooner saw him enter the city, arrian' s history of 12 than he followed with his forces. Alexander now perceiving a necessity of fighting, to prevent his friends being surrounded and cut off, changed his former resolution, and led on the rest of the troops the same way, commanding the Agrians and archers to enter by the breach, but the targeteers and others to remain without. Perdiccas pushing forward to win the inner wall, was struck with a dart, and borne away into the camp grievously wounded; neither did he recover his strength for a long time. However, the troops which entered with him, assisted by the archers, pursued the enemy as far as the street leading to the temple of Hercules, where the citizens, recovering themselves from their fright, and reassuming their courage, raised a shout, which striking a fear among the pursuers, they beat them back, and put them to flight.

There Eurybotas, captain of the Cretan archers, fell, with about seventy of his men; the rest escaping to the Macedonian brigades of horse and targeteers, which were posted without the walls. Alexander, beholding the flight of his soldiers, and the confused and disorderly pursuit of the Thebans, fell upon them afresh with a choice body, and drove them back into the city ; and so great was their fear and terror in their flight, that they neglected to shut their gates, and so the conquerors entered with the conquered; for that part of the walls, by reason of the numerous guards elsewhere, was without defence. When they came to the Cadmean tower, the garrison of that fort rushed suddenly forth, and joining with the Macedonians, made a great slaughter of the Thebans, as far as Amphion 's temple.

Other parties pursued them into the forum. A few of the citizens made a stand near the temple of Amphion ; but perceiving their case desperate, and that Alexander with his troops pressed hard upon them, as also that their horse were dispersed about the country, resolved to consult their own safety. And now the Macedonians themselves were not more implacable than the Phocæans, Platæans, and the rest of the Bœotians; for though the citizens made no further resistance, they were slain without mercy; and now neither private houses nor temples were regarded, nor sex nor age spared in that general destruction. CHAP. IX — The ruin of so great a city so suddenly brought about, and so contrary to the expectation of the victors as well as the vanquished, struck no small terror into all the other states of Greece ■ for the Athenian overthrow in Sicily, though, in regard to the number of the slain, it brought no less calamity to the city, yet, because the army was routed far from home, and that it was composed rather of auxiliaries than natives, and because their city itself stood untouched and afterwards defended itself gallantly against the Lacedæmonians and their confederates, who vigorously assaulted-it, was less dreadful to the Athenians themselves, and less surprising to the rest of the Grecian states.