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

436 ORIENTAL DRESS.of the necessity of doing the like, and the trains were summarilybrought down to the old Macedonian standard.It is said to have been here that the king first assumedOriental attire, probably in part only. We shall see whatthis change of costume led to. It is not to be supposed that,as captain, Alexander ever wore anything but his Macedonianarmor and cloak. His white plumes had too often led thevan to be now discarded for the luxurious habiliments ofMedian monarch. It was as sovereign alone that he wasinduced to adopt the manners and costume of the East.Alexander had recently learned from some Persians whohad come over to him, that Bessus had assumed the rank ofking of Asia, adopted the royal robes and tiara, and hadchanged his name or title to Artaxerxes. Many of the Persianshad escaped into Bactria, and the Bactrian divisionswere with him. This last act roused Alexander to the utmostdegree. He determined that the murderer of Darius shouldkeep not even his own kingdom, and made ready to marchagainst Bessus without further delay. For this purpose heput an end to the festivities at Zadracarta, in which he hadperhaps been overindulging, and prepared for the march.The king took under his personal command about twentythousand foot and three thousand horse — consisting of hypaspists,phalanx, Macedonian cavalry, Agrianians and archers.With this force he set out by way of Aria for Bactriana, hisimmediate objective. Satibarzanes had tendered his submissionin Susia (modern Tus) ; and though he was one of Darius'murderers, Alexander saw fit to continue him in chargeof his satrapy, associating with him Anaxippus, a Companion,and sixty horse acontists, which he was ordered so to stationas to prevent depredations by the Macedonian army inits march through Aria, as well as show a semblance of authority.This Alexander thought woidd suffice to neutralizethe