The Battle of Gal Gamala, also known as the Battle of Arbella, Part 2 of 2.

Last week I described the build-up to the invasion by Alexander the Great against the Persians.

When he inherited the throne of Macedon, Alexander was 20 years old, and only two years later

he was on the verge of launching an army into the heart of what had been the superpower of the known world.

He acted with the impulsiveness of youth, yet proved to be a remarkable leader of men.

In 334 BC, Alexander's army marched into Asia, with approximately 48,000 soldiers and 6,000 cavalry, drawn from Macedon, Thrace, Illyria and various Greek city-states.

This was a good-sized army for such an expedition, any larger may have proved too unwieldy.

The equipment of the Greek soldiers had developed since the Battle of Marathon, whereas the hoplites

have passed wore heavy armour and carried short-thrusting spears, Alexander's troops were lighter

armed and used far longer spears. This had the effect of increasing the offensive capability of the infantry units

by having several rows of spearheads projecting from the front of the formation.

It also increased the maneuverability and the speed at which the troops could move.

This meant that they could march at a far greater rate each day and thus cover more ground.

Alexander also made far greater use of cavalry than the traditional in Greek warfare.

The first major military engagement came in late spring at the Granicus River,

where Alexander met the local Persian forces in the closely fought battle.

The Greek and Macedonian cavalry won the day by charging across the river and up the bank to route the opposing Persians.

Having Alexander leading his troops from the front was an effective but risky strategy.

During the battle, one Persian

warrior came within a split second of cleaving Alexander's head in two with a sword,

but just in time a Macedonian commander saved his king by slicing off the attack's arm.

Their campaign could have ended after it scarcely begun. But after the Greek victory, the Anatolian cities of Sardis, Ephesus and Magnesia

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