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

360 THE ROYAL CAPTIVES.river bulwarks. He had marched over six thousand miles,despite the delays of sieges and the difficulty of establishingnew governments in every section he traversed.And all this,no doubt, with as large trains and as much in the way ofpedimenta as a modern army boasts. Yet he had but begunhis work. The final struggle for the mastery had yet tocome.Darius appeared to have lost the character for strengthwhich he was thought at one time to possess. An excellentruler in peace, he was his own worst enemy in war. He wasito all appearances paralyzed by the loss of his family, sinceIssus, as we remember, in Alexander's hands. These acted,as it were, as hostages for Darius' good behavior. It is notunlikely that Alexander's treatment of them, so noble fromone aspect, was dictated by a motive to keep their value ashostages up to the very highest point, both as regarded Dariusand his own army as well. In case of a serious reverse,these royal persons might prove of incalculable value. Therewas more than one reason why Alexander should keep Darius'family with lus army instead of sending them to some city inthe rear. Their own safety was nowhere so secure as in themidst of the Macedonian soldiery. This the royal captivesknew full weU, and showed in the coming battle. Turnedadrift, where could they go when Darius himself was all buta fugitive ? Moreover, by keeping them near him and givingthem royal state, Alexander was increasing his own importanceand standing in the eyes of all ancient friends andsubjects of the Persian king; and multiplied his power ofdictating terms a hundred-fold. At some period antedatingthe battle of Arbela, Queen Statira, the wife of Darius,sickened and died. It is said by some historians to havebeen in child-birth. It may have been later than such acause would place the sad event, and was perhaps from theim-