alexander

Leadership Process Four: Directing Symbols 127
31: Battle at Granicus
Early in the campaign to invade Persia, everything Alexander
did would have significance beyond the mere event. Probably
with his eye on history, he played to both the Greeks and history.
At the very beginning of the invasion, Alexander encountered
the army of the local satraps who foolishly, it turns
out in hindsight, did not burn the crops ahead of him, but
rather sought to defeat Alexander in battle. He also faced
Greek mercenaries hired by the Persians.
In 334 B.C. Alexander crossed the Hellespont with an
army probably comprised of 30,000 to 40,000 infantrymen
and 4,000 to 5,000 cavalrymen. The first of Alexander’s four
major battles was fought at the River Granicus against the
local satraps and their local contingents, who were soundly
defeated, despite having a superior tactical (i.e., geographic)
position behind a small river. The particulars of this battle
are in slight dispute. Some say the battle was joined in the
late afternoon, coming on the heels of a ten-mile march.
But others, whose narrative makes more common sense,
suggest that Alexander waited until dawn for a surprise attack
on the army, which was camped a mile or two behind
the river. When finally engaged, Alexander’s adversaries
badly organized their troops with the cavalry (i.e., nobility)
in front. In either case, reports agree that Alexander bravely
led from the front, had his horse wounded under him, and
met with the wounded afterward to encourage them to brag
of their exploits and explain their wounds.