The Issus Reverse Trap

[Nicator]

Hello All,
After going through all of my available sources on Issus, and finally finding Engels interesting viewpoint, I noticed he portrays the reverse march to take place in 5 days (intentionally to delay and draw the Persians out, as well as to force an engagement at midday to limit a routed Persian host the opportunity to reconnoitre and turn the tide back on Alexander), not 2, and more interestingly, has the Macedonians posting a double winged trap on the Persians at the Pinarus. Thus, Alexander (and Parmenion) turned the perfect strategic trap of Darius into an reverse front tactical trap for Darius.
later Nicator

[maciek]

Well I never thought about it like this... Arrian writes 9if I remember correctly) that Alexander desired the fight very much and that he wanted to catch Darius in those narrow passages. So it looks that he was as fast as he could because he was affraid that if Darius will notice that all Alex's army is ahead of him he can withdraw to better position.Regards
Maciek

[Nicator]

Alexander on their left, Parmenion on their right, the sea in front, and the mountains behind. No room to maneuver, and no route of escape! The Macedonians found opportunity and exploited it to the fullest. The delay also served to weaken Persian morale by causing them to sit and wait...indeed to feel with dread the impending doom. It also served to starve the Persians a bit, as their large numbers couldn't be maintained for long in such a small area. Arrian is intentionally vague according to Engels because Ptolemy felt that it was bad to show the Macedones as fearful of being trapped. It was really excellent strategic planning on Alexander and Parmenion's part to make them wait and force the engagement in the narrow defiles. later Nicator

[maciek]

Well I think Persians were very self-confident (before the battle only of course)and nothing could change their morale. They didn't understand how good opponent they have. I suppose only greek mercenaries felt that it can be disaster for Great's King army but even they believed in large masses of persian soldiers and them as a hart of this army. If Alex in fact sowered his army - I think it could be only from another reason You showed: that they had Persians in better terrain to attack. But is in any of sources some note about the delaying of Alex's march?? Or this are only calculations of mr. Engels??Regards
Maciek

[Nicator]

" But is in any of sources some note about the delaying of Alex's march?? Or this are only calculations of mr. Engels??"I don't have Curtius, but Engels indicates that Curtius' account has Parmenion urging Alexander to delay at Cilicia to draw Darius forward... "...into the narrow passes where they would be at a disadvantge. No doubt he also pointed out the difficulty the Macedonians would have in deploying against the Persians if they wre forced through the narrow passes of Beilan, Bahce, or Hasanbeyli. However, the consensus was thta the Macedonians had delayed long enough and it was now time to march against Darius."this was before he realized Darius already moved and took his rear stations out. From here it was a 5 day march back to Issus to confront him (according to Curtius and some calculation of Engels). Engels provides a somewhat vague footnote later which also indicates Curtius..."Alexander's strategy may also indicate the high position of Parmenio in the king's councils, since he supported these tactics (C.3-7, 8-9), and perhaps even planned them himself."then in later footnotes..."Although Alexander delayed in Cilicia for excellent strategic reasons, many of the contemporaries for whom Ptolemy and Aristobulus wrote thought otherwise..."

[Nicator]

...correction, it was a rough 2 day march from Myriandrus back to the Pinarus where Darius waited...the 5 days accounted for the march from Mallus around Issus and down to Myriandrus, then back to the Pinarus (roughly half-way between Issus and Myriandrus. I had to study the maps a bit to figure out what he was talking about. ATG and Parmenion held a war council at Issus and then proceeded southwards to Myriandrus...apparently, still oblivious to the Persians location and movements. later Nicator