Gaugamela
War: Alexander & Macedonian Conquests
Other name(s): Arbela


Date: 1 Oct 331 b.c.
Location: Al Mawsil, Iraq
Outcome: Macedonian victory over the Persians Decisive battle

Principal
Commanders: Macedonian: Alexander III
: Darius III

Overview: About 47,000 Macedonians led by Alexander defeated 120,000 Persians led by Darius.
Fought October 31, 331 B. C., between 47,000 Macedonians under Alexander the Great, and the Persian army, three or four times as numerous, under Darius Codomannus. Alexander, who led the Macedonian right wing, forced a passage between the Persian left and centre, and attacked the centre on the flank. After a stubborn resistance, and though meanwhile the Macedonian left had been hard pressed, the Persians gave way, and Darius taking to flight, the whole army fled in confusion, and was routed with enormous loss, especially at the passage of the Lycas, which barred their retreat. This victory made Alexander master of Asia.