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

UPRISING OF SOGDIANA. 467and desiring nothing of their neighbors. With these embassies,on their return, Alexander sent Companions, with instructions,ostensibly to convey his friendly gTcetings, but reallyto observe the country, its topography, riches, strength andmilitary conditions. To supplement these friendly advances,Alexander determined to found a city near the Jaxartes, as abase for future expeditions against the Scythians, should thisbe desirable, as a bulwark against their incursions, andbecause the city, he thought, would naturally grow to be animportant one on account of the thickly-settled country, andhis own royal patronage. This city, probably modern Khojend,though indeed its locality is in dispute, still remains totestify to Alexander's good judgment in selecting its location.Alexander seems to have entertained different notions as tothe best methods of governing this trans-Caucasian country,from what he had so far practiced with his Asiatic conquests.He had conceived the idea of giving this people a largershare in its own government, and thus attaching it the morefirmly to his interests. For this purpose he called the Sogdianianstogether to a conference to decide upon the bestinterests of the country ; but instead of conciliating them,this well-intentioned step and the planning of a fortified citygave rise to the suspicion that Alexander proposed to gathertogether all their chiefs, and by assassinating them, at oneblow to deprive the country of its leaders as a first means ofreducing it to servitude. With this idea they revolted, instigated,no doubt, by Bessus' treacherous associates, seizedupon the Macedonian garrisons in the seven towns abovenamed, and slew the soldiers.They then shut themselves upin these towns, all of which were fairly well fortified. Simultaneouslywith this occurred a revolt of Spitamenes in Maracanda,and several uprisings in Bactria, all apparently havingthe same suspicion at the root, or at all events community of