Battle of Gaugamela

The Battle of Gaugamela (331 BC) was the decisive clash in which Alexander the Great defeated the Persian king Darius III, breaking the power of the Achaemenid Empire.

Key Takeaways

• Alexander defeated a much larger Persian army through superior tactics.
• The victory effectively ended the Achaemenid Persian Empire.
• It opened the heart of the Persian realm to Macedonian rule.

Location: Gaugamela, near modern Mosul, Iraq

At Gaugamela in 331 BC, Alexander the Great faced Darius III on ground the Persians had chosen and leveled for their chariots. Outnumbered, Alexander used a daring oblique advance to open a gap in the Persian line and drove straight toward the king.

Darius fled, and with him fled the cohesion of the Persian army. Gaugamela shattered Achaemenid power and made Alexander the ruler of the largest empire the world had yet seen.

Outcome

Decisive Macedonian victory; collapse of Achaemenid resistance.

Significance

Sealed Alexander's conquest of the Persian Empire and made him master of the Near East.

Key Figures

Alexander the Great

96

Military Leader · 356 BC – 323 BC

Alexander the Great was the king of Macedon who built one of the largest empires in history by his early thirties, spreading Greek culture across three continents.

• Conquest of Persia
• The Hellenistic Age

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the Battle of Gaugamela important?

It was the decisive victory that broke Persian resistance and gave Alexander the Great control of the Achaemenid Empire.