asia minor |
After Greece was under firm Macedonian control, Alexander advanced to Asia minor. As Alexander's ship approached Asia minor, he threw his spear onto the ground. Then, he got off his ship, pulled the spear up from the ground where it was stuck, and declared Asia minor to be won by the Macedonian spear. In the Battle of Granicus, Alexander had an army of 25,000 Macedonians, 7,600 Greeks, and 7,000 Thracians and Illyrians which faced the army of King Darius III which had a force of 40,000 Persians and 20,000 Greeks which banded with the Persians after the loss at Chaeronea. Alexander the Great decimated King Darius III and his forces. After the battle, 2,000 Greeks were sent to forced labor in Macedonia and the rest were killed. After the Battle of Granicus, Alexander led the army south across the Asia minor. Ironically, the Greek coastal cities gave the greatest resistance against the Macedonians instead of the Persians. Although many men died during long and difficult sieges of Greek cities, Alexander remained victorious and turned northward to Central Asia Minor to the city of Gordium. Gordium was a home of the famous so-called Gordian Knot. Alexander knew the legend that said that the man who could untie the ancient knot was destined to rule the entire world. To that date nobody had succeeded in raveling the knot. But the young Macedonian king simply slashed it with his sword and unraveling its ends.