Map Description

Historical Map of the Pinarus Valley (Pinarus River).

The Battle of Issus, November 333 BC — Movements to the Battlefield


Illustrating

:: Macedonian Army ::

• Initial split: Parmenion took camp at Alexandretta (today's Iskenderun), Alexander approached from the west
• Alexander joined forces with Parmenion
• Upon learning of Darius's position at Issus (Issos), they marched back north along the coast
• Army spent the night at Pillar of Yunus (Pillar of Jonas)
• At dawn, began moving towards the Persian army, which took defensive position at Pinarus River

:: Persian Army ::

• Initially at Sochoi plain
• The Persians learned that there was only a part of the Macedonian army on the other side of the mountains, and that Alexander and his troops were still far away to the west. Thus, they marched north through a mountain pass (Amanian Gate), then reached the Mediterranean coast and captured Issos.
• At Issos, the Persians realized that Alexander and his men had already passed through, thus figuring that the Macedonians were in retreat. So, the Persians took after them...
• ... until they learned that the entire Macedonian army was now directly coming towards them. Now they moved to the Pinarus River and set defensive position along river's northern bank.

The armies ended up approximately 20 miles apart the night before battle, with the final engagement occurring on November 6 or 7, 333 BC near the Pinaros River.

Credits

Courtesy of the United States Military Academy Department of History.

Related Links

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