In the Path of Conquest by Waldemar Heckel

Author:Waldemar Heckel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2020-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

11

The War in Central Asia

bessus’ usurpation and the stiffening of resistance in Central Asia gave new urgency to the Macedonian cause. Failure to challenge the usurper could only be interpreted as recognition of regime change, and Darius’ death would thus represent no more than the end of another chapter in the history of an empire that had weathered many storms. Now, more than ever, the task needed to be brought quickly to its desired conclusion, with the Conqueror securely, and without rival, on the Achaemenid throne.1

But despite the need for prompt and sustained military action, Alexander did his best to confirm his conquests through negotiation and displays of reconciliation.2 Many of Darius’ officials made their peace with the Conqueror, hoping to retain old positions of power or gain new ones. And indeed, the Macedonian king showed clemency, placing a cautious faith in the Persian aristocracy. Over a three-year period, he appointed a string of barbarian rulers, though not all repaid his trust with loyalty.3 What motivated those who continued to resist deserves closer attention. Unfortunately, we know too little about Persian factions or family groupings to judge the actions—whether these involved cooperation or rivalry—of these individuals. What is clear is that those who remained belligerent were the ones into whose territories the Macedonian army was now advancing. Their troops had been in the field since they were levied for the confrontation at Gaugamela, and their political structures were still intact. In short, they still had something to fight for and the means with which to do so. Some of them—Satibarzanes, Nabarzanes, Autophradates (and there were doubtless other hyparchs of lesser rank)—made little more than token surrender.

The defenders were now concentrated on the northeastern edge of the empire, beyond the Iranian plateau. Strabo describes the country that lay ahead of Alexander:

Beyond them [the Hyrcanians] is the tribe of the Parthians, then that of the Margianians and the Arians, and after that comes the desert which, as one travels east toward the River Ochus, the River Sarnius separates from Hyrcania. The name of the mountain that stretches from Armenia to this point (or just short of it) is Parachoathras. From the Hyrcanian Sea to the Arians the distance is some six thousand stades, and Bactriana, Sogdiana, and, finally, the nomadic Scythians come next.

The Macedonians called all the mountains that stretch in a row from the Arians the Caucasus. (Strabo 11.8.1 C510-511)

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