Siege of Cyropolis: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|329 BCE siege}} |
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{{Primary sources|date=July 2024}} |
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{{one source|date=December 2018}} |
{{one source|date=December 2018}} |
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{{Infobox military conflict |
{{Infobox military conflict |
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| image= Historical Museum of Sughd Region 09.jpg |
| image = Historical Museum of Sughd Region 09.jpg |
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| image_size = 300 |
| image_size = 300 |
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|caption= |
| caption = |
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|coordinates={{coord|40.283333|69.633333|display=inline,title}} |
| coordinates = {{coord|40.283333|69.633333|display=inline,title}} |
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| map_type = West Asia |
| map_type = West Asia |
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| map_relief = |
| map_relief = |
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| map_size = |
| map_size = 300 |
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| map_marksize = |
| map_marksize = |
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| map_caption = Location of the Siege of Cyropolis |
| map_caption = Location of the Siege of Cyropolis |
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| map_label = Cyropolis |
| map_label = Cyropolis |
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|conflict=Siege of Cyropolis |
| conflict = Siege of Cyropolis |
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|partof=the [[Wars of Alexander the Great]] |
| partof = the [[Wars of Alexander the Great]] |
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|date=329 BC |
| date = 329 BC |
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|place=[[Cyropolis]], [[Sogdiana]] (present-day [[Tajikistan]]) |
| place = [[Cyropolis]], [[Sogdiana]] (present-day [[Tajikistan]]) |
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|result= |
| result = [[Ancient Macedonians|Macedonian]] victory |
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|territory=Cyropolis captured by Macedon |
| territory = Cyropolis captured by Macedon |
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|combatant1= |
| combatant1 = '''[[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonia]]'''<br>[[League of Corinth]] |
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|combatant2=[[Sogdiana]] |
| combatant2 = '''[[Sogdiana]]''' |
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|commander1= |
| commander1 = [[Alexander the Great]]{{WIA}}<br/>[[Craterus]]{{WIA}} |
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|commander2=Unknown |
| commander2 = Unknown |
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|strength1=10,000 |
| strength1 = 10,000 |
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|strength2=15,000 |
| strength2 = 15,000 |
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|casualties1= |
| casualties1 = Light–Moderate |
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|casualties2=8,000 |
| casualties2 = 8,000 killed |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Campaigns of Alexander the Great}} |
{{Campaigns of Alexander the Great}} |
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| label6 = Gaza |
| label6 = Gaza |
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| mark-coord6 = {{coord|31.52|34.45}} |
| mark-coord6 = {{coord|31.52|34.45}} |
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| mark-title6 = [[Siege of Gaza]] October 332 BC |
| mark-title6 = [[Siege of Gaza (332 BCE)|Siege of Gaza]] October 332 BC |
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| mark-description6 = [[Gaza City]] |
| mark-description6 = [[Gaza City]] |
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| label-pos6 = right |
| label-pos6 = right |
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Latest revision as of 12:27, 4 October 2024
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| This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (December 2018) |
| Siege of Cyropolis | |||||||||
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| Part of the Wars of Alexander the Great | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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Macedonia League of Corinth | Sogdiana | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Alexander the Great (WIA) Craterus (WIA) | Unknown | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 10,000 | 15,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Light–Moderate | 8,000 killed | ||||||||
  Cyropolis Location of the Siege of Cyropolis | |||||||||
820miles
Cyropolis was the largest of seven towns in the region that Alexander the Great targeted for conquest in 329 BC. His goal was the conquest of Sogdiana. Alexander first sent Craterus to Cyropolis, the largest of the Sogdian towns holding out against Alexander's forces. Craterus' instructions were to "take up a position close to the town, surround it with a ditch and stockade, and then assemble such siege engines as might suit his purpose....". The idea was to keep the inhabitants focused on their own defences and to prevent them from sending assistance out to the other towns.
Starting from Gazza, Alexander went on to conquer the other surrounding towns. Five of the seven towns were taken in two days. Many of the inhabitants were killed. Alexander then arrived at Cyropolis, which was the best fortified of the towns and had the largest population. It also had reputedly the best fighters of the region. Alexander battered Cyropolis' defences with the siege engines. While the bombardment went on, Alexander ordered certain of his troops to sneak through a dried-up water course that went under the town's wall. Alexander also joined this mission and once inside his troops opened the town's gate to admit his attacking force. Once the natives saw that the town was taken, they fell violently upon the attackers. Alexander received a violent blow from a stone that landed upon his head and neck. Craterus was wounded by an arrow, but the defenders were driven off. Arrian puts the defender's force at about 15,000 fighting men and claims that 8,000 of them were killed in the first phase of the operation. The rest apparently sought refuge inside the town's central fortress, but surrendered after one day for lack of water.[1]
Accounts of how the battle went differ among authors. Arrian cites Ptolemy as saying Cyropolis surrendered, and Arrian also states that according to Aristobulus the place was stormed and the town's inhabitants were massacred. Arrian also cites Ptolemy saying that he distributed the men among the army and ordered that they should be kept guarded in chains until he should depart from the country, so that none of those who had affected the revolt should be left behind.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Arrian (1971). The Campaigns of Alexander. London: Penguin Books. p. 204. ISBN 0-14-044253-7.