BD-Basiliensis

campaigns of Alexander

série:	Alexandre le Grand
éditeur:	Penguin
auteur:	Arrian
classement:	biblio2A
année:	1971
format:	broché
état:	TBE
valeur:	6 €
critère:	**
remarques:	English book 1/ the life of Arrian - Flavius Arrianus Xenophon, born in Nicomedia (Bithynia) about 90 AD, he was in the imperial service as a consulship (129 AD) and died in Athens after writing many studies such as - circumnnavigation of the Black Sea (periplus ponti euxini) - campaigns of Alexander (Anabasis Alexandri) - Indica (a study about India and an account of Nearchos' voyage - events after Alexander (narrative of the first two years) - a Parthian history (Trajan's campaigns) - history of Bithynia 2/ campaigns of Alexander - Arrian's masterpiece together with other writers such as - the Sicilian Greek Diodorus - the Latin Quintus Curtius - Plutarch and Pompeius Trogus Arrian's book is mostly based on Ptolemy (for the military subject) and from Aristobulus (for the geographical subject), who seemed both to Arrian the more reliable sources note: Arrian set out to produce the best and most reliable account of Alexander's expeditions avoiding the exaggerations of his predecessors and correcting their errors 3/ Alexander's army - the infantry "the Foot Companions" organized in 6 battalions (taxeis = one phalanx) which were armed with a pike or sarissa (13-14 feet long, 4 up to 5 m) which required both hands to wield it - the right flank of the phalanx was guarded by the Royal Battalion (hypaspists), the phalanx of Macedonia was at that time highly manoeuvrable - the cavalry (the Royal Companions) divided in 8 squadrons (ilai), the Royal squadron was Alexander's bodyguard - the army consisted also of the scouts (prodromoï) Book One - Alexander's biography as narrated by Arrian mentions especially the military events, not much is mentioned about the social and economical aspect but his narration is technically well done giving many details about the military operations - explanation by Arrian why he has chosen Ptolemy and Aristobulus as the most trustworthy sources - Alexander born on 20.7.356 BC - war against the Triballians, the Agrianes, the Getae and the Thracians, Alexander reaches the Danube - war against the Taulantians (Glaucias their king) - destruction of Thebes caused by the murder of Timolaus, leading partisan of Macedon - start with the Asia's campaign with 30'000 infantry men and 5000 cavalry men - battle of Granicus, Alexander at Sardis, Ephesus and Miletus establish democratic governments (Persia had supported oligarchies) - siege of Halicarnassus which had been fortified by Memnon (a good description of the siege) >> p. 90 the story of the king Mausolus - treachery of Alexander Lysandris Book Two - death of Memnon which was a real loss for Persia, sickness of Alexander at Tarsus - battle of Issus, Alexander's movement to the right caused the Persian left to retreat, thus enabling Alexander's right wing to swing left towards the centre forcing back by outflanking the Greek mercenaries and cutting them to pieces while the left wing of Alexander's army succeeded to hold out against the Persian cavalry - siege of Tyr (again a good description) - siege of Gaza Book Three - expedition to Egypt, visit to the oasis of Siwah, foundation of Alexandria - battle of Gaugamela (literally grazing place for camels) >> a very good description of the development of the military operations (masterly executed by Alexander) - occupation of Babylon, Susa, Persepolis and finally of Ecbatana where the treasure assembled was the greatest of all (180'000 talents = env. 1 milliards de nos francs, 1 talent = 6000 drachmes, un soldat grec était payé en moyenne 1 drachme par jour, = env. 1 de nos francs) - burning of the temple of Persepolis, death of Darius, execution of Bessus, Philotas and Parmenio Book Four - war with the Asian Scythians and against Spitamenes - dispute with Cleitos (which is remarkably described) - preparation of the campaign to India after which Alexander would be master of all Asia and first consideration to start an expedition towards the Black Sea region with the assistance of the European Scythians and their king Pharasmanes - dispute with Callisthenes >> p. 227 and 369 mention of the Amazon women - siege of the Rock of Sogdiana - siege of the Rock of Chorienes (king Oxyartes, mariage with his daughter Roxane, mostly for political reasons - siege of the Rock of Aornos Book Five - arrival at the Hydaspes (the present Punjab, land of the five rivers) - battle with Porus (326 BC) - first mutiny of the Macedonian soldiers >> p. 294/295 the speech of Alexander to his soldiers and Coenus' reply (if motivation fails, there is no success) >> p. 297 there is one thing above all others: a successful man should know when it is time to stop >> p. 298 finally Alexander gave way to his soldiers' wish to stop and return home, but it would not be an easy way back, this was in fact Alexander's only defeat - preparation for the voyage down-river to the Indian Ocean Book Six - voyage on the Indus towards the Ocean (at that time it was believed that the Indus and the Nile were somehow connected), - fight against the war-like Mallians and their king Oxydracae during which Alexander got his first almost fatal wound - arrival at Pattala, march through the Gedrosian desert (= modern Makran) and success of Nearcho's sea expedition >> p. 343 after the crossing of the desert, seven personal guards of Alexander remained: Leonnatus, Hephaestion, Lysimachus, Aristonus, Perdiccas, Ptolemy and Peitho Book Seven - meeting of Alexander with the Indian sages (story of Calanus), Alexander always expressed his approval for the sage comments he received from the "sage" men but in fact his conduct was mostly the exact opposite of what he then professed to admire, he was the slave of his ambition >> p. 353 the three wives of Alexander: Barsine of Bactria, Stateira daughter of Darius and Roxane, the Sogdian princess >> p. 356 the Epigoni (the inheritors)= young Persian fellows trained on Macedonian lines >> p. 359-366 new mutiny at Opis and the famous speech of Alexander (page 361) >> p. 370 mention of the Amazon women >> p. 372 the grief about Hephaestion's death - page 393 death of Alexander (10.6.323 BC) as a brave and adventurous man, a keen intellect, strict in the observance of this religious duties but hungry for fame, he had however the nobility of heart to be sorry for his mistakes (and not just unscrupulous) >> p. 377 the glory of Alexander to remain before he would have been overtaken by the ill fortune >> p. 387 Seleucos was in actual fact, the greatest king among Alexander's successors Bibliography (among many others) - Cambridge Ancient History (volume six) - histoire grecque (Glotz+Cohen) - Alexander the Great, by Wilcken, Tarn and Badian (in classical world) - Alexander der Grosse (Ingenium und Macht) by Schachermeyr - the death of Alexander by Bosworth >> a good book mostly based on actual facts and military events (therefore abit boring for certain passages) but Arrian should have made a true and neutral report of the events referring to Alexander's life and campaigns
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