Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

DARIUS AND PERSIA. 223the Rhodian.Mentor had afterwards become commander-inchiefof the entire Hellespontine region, and had placed underhim Memnon, who was hisbrother, and Artabazus, hisbrother-in-law.But Mentor was now dead, and the work haddevolved on Memnon. The Persian royal line of Ochus hadbeen poisoned wholesale by the eunuch Bagoas, and Darius Codomanusofthe line of Artaxerxes Mnemon had been placedupon the tlirone. On the death of Philip, Darius, who cameinto power about this time, imagined the youthful Alexander tobe unequal to the invasion of Asia, and became careless of defense,deeming a distribution ofmoney among the anti-Macedoniansof Greece a sufficient means of keeping him at home.Memnon was better informed, and advised the king wiselybut he was not listened to. Darius possessed qualities which,under lessunfavorable auspices, might have made him a successful,as he was a wise and just king.Nothing short of theoverwhelming career ofsuch a man as Alexander, whose onwardcourse seemed to be irresistible, can explain the hebetudeand inaction into which Darius now fell.The kingdom of Persia was a disjointedmass, whose severalparts were under dissatisfied satraps having no longer abinding tie to the ruling sovereign. They were, on the contrary,by no means disinclined to welcome any new conqueror.Though nominally one empire, it was really a host of minorkingdoms, with little or no interdependence.No doubt Alexanderwas as well acquainted with the political and geographicalstatus of western Persia as he was with all which was thenknown of the art of war. The mutual jealousies and constantbickerings, almost rising to a condition of warfare, betweenneighboring satraps, opened the door to easy siiccess for Alexanderif he but took advantage of the situation. This he wasprepared to do.His army was not only passionately attachedto its young commander, but was eager for the spoils of the