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DIVIDE AND CONQUER

For a Macedonian to kill a Persian would lead to heightened hostility. The best solution would be to have a Persian kill a Persian. But this would be wishful thinking, I thought.

The second best alternative would be for him to report to me. His life would be spared and he would retain some powers, like I had managed to do with Pharaohs in Egypt.

His offers never offered me this, and as a result, I knew that his fate was sealed, one way or another.

Third time is the charm

My third and final crushing victory over Darius took place in 331 BC. In October, Darius and his men marched on a wide plain along the Royal Road in Guagamela in modern day Iraq. As he commanded his army from his chariot, Darius – who always failed to delegate more power to his army – was out-maneuvered.

In the ensuing battle, I massacred his men. Darius escaped, again.

As we played hide and go seek, I traveled from city to city, never forgetting to think globally, but act locally.

At one stop, I even consulted with the local priests in order to educate myself about the proper worship method as not to offend the God Marduk. I sacrificed some animals for added goodwill.

The gesture worked. Cyrus would have been proud.

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