331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela.

Historical Events on this Day in History

Alexander began his battle against the Persians in 334 BC. At the time the Macedonian leader was twenty-two years old. At his death eleven years later, Alexander ruled the major empire of the ancient world. His victory at the war of Gaugamela on the Persian plains was a important conquest that insured the defeat of his Persian rival King Darius III.


Darius was ready for battle having selected this spot to meet his enemy. After his defeat at Issus two years previously, Darius made sure that this battleground favored his soldiers and its tactics - mainly the use of his feared scythe-wheeled chariots. The ground here was flat, perfect for chariots. Darius made it even flatter by ordering the territory plowed and leveled. All was ready and on October 1, 331 BC the Persian army of probably 200,000 (ancient texts exaggerate the number up to 1 million) faced off against Alexander's 35,000. The Macedonian leader directly sized up the Persian's tactical advantage and countered by ordering his cavalry to shift to the right hopeful to move his enemy away from its flat field. Darius took the bait ordering his troops to follow. Soon the Persians found themselves on rough, rock-strewn landscape. Seeing the thinning Persian line, Alexander led the charge that crashed through to the Persian rear. As at the battle of Issus, Darius fled, leaving the field and win to Alexander.