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Alexander spent the night before the Battle of Arbela in consultation with the diviner Aristander, and in sacrificing to the god Fear. Thus prayed Alexander as his gaze rested upon the moving plain gleaming with a million torchlights where Darius, prepared for a night attack, was reviewing his forces. And well might Alexander so pray. After the sacrifice to the god Fear, as Plutarch gravely assures us, Alexander seemed jubilant in spirit, and returning to his tent, made ready to take his rest. Parmenio, his oldest and ablest general, sought him there and suggested that a night attack be made, urging that their army would grow faint at heart could they see as in broad daylight the countless hosts arrayed against them. In conclusion Parmenio respectfully said, “And if I were Alexander I would attack the Persians tonight.” To this Alexander ironically replied “And so would I if I were Parmenio.” On further remonstrance being made, Alexander curtly replied, “I will not steal a victory.” At this Parmenio withdrew and Alexander lay down to rest.

A profound and most refreshing sleep came to Alexander. Morning dawned and it seemed proper to rouse the men to breakfast and to preparation for battle, but Alexander still slept. But at last, time not giving them leave to wait any longer, Parmenio went to his bedside and called him twice or thrice by his name, till he waked him, and then asked how it was possible, when he was to fight the most important battle of all, he could sleep so soundly as if he were already victorious. “And are we not so, indeed,” replied Alexander smiling, “since we are at last relieved from the trouble of wandering in pursuit of Darius thro’ a wide and wasted country, hoping in vain, that he would fight us?” Alexander’s full front battle line was not so long as Darius’ centre. And this so seemingly fatal arrangement yet turned out to be most favourable for Alexander. For instead of attacking the Persian centre where Darius commanded in person and where the ground in front had been smoothed and prepared for the rush of the three hundred scythe-chariots, Alexander attacked vigourously the left wing driving them in front of and towards the centre. The onslaught of the Macedonian phalanx was irresistible and the Persian army, dominated by the god Fear, was in panic rout before Darius could get his unwieldy forces full into action or send forth the chariots upon which he so much relied. Alexander pursued the fleeing enemy until urged back by messengers from Parmenio saying his wing was surrounded by the Persians. Alexander reluctantly returned and full victory for the Macedonian army was soon proclaimed upon the field.

Darius, seeing that he was unable either to advance or to turn back, hastily leaped from his seat and seizing a riderless mare, he galloped as best he could over the bodies of the dying and the dead and thus escaped from the battlefield. The break in the friendship between Alexander and his ablest general, Parmenio, began with the Battle of Arbela. Was there jealousy, cruel as the grave, in the heart of the older man as he saw success after success crown the brow of the young commander? Granicus, Issus, Arbela – Europe, Asia, Africa, the world – had gone down successively under the Conqueror.

(adapted from: Battles of Destiny by I. Shepperson)

Jacques Courtois, The Battle of the Arbelles, 17th century.

Oil on canvas, 188 × 328 cm.

Musée national des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon, Versailles.

Battle of Heraclea, 17th century.

Book illustration.