Alexander the Great in Sittakene and the Reorganization of his Army (331 B.C.)

Abstract

Following the subjugation of Babylonia, Alexander’s next major target was Susa, one of the Achaemenid metropolises on the plains of Khuzestan, located at the gateway to the Iranian Plateau. Iran was a separate theatre of war with huge mountains, deserts and long, vulnerable communication routes. The new conditions and challenges of the planned campaign in Iran required the creation of a deeply modified armed force. Alexander urgently needed new missile troops, light infantry javelineers, and a stronger cavalry. He also had to reorganize the army to better coordinate his actions, and flexibly divide and combine strike units. To achieve these goals, Alexander decided to introduce military reforms in Sittakene, located between Babylonia and Susiana.