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The Siege of Gaza was a military event in
the Egyptian campaign of Alexander the Great in 332 During the Siege of Gaza,
Alexander succeeded in reaching the walls by utilizing the engines he had
employed against Tyre. After three unsuccessful assaults, the stronghold was
taken by storm.
Batis, the commander of the fortress of Gaza, expected to hold Egypt in
subjection until the Persian Great King Darius III could raise another army and
confront Alexander in a battle from this city. The fortress was located on an
eminence, on the edge of a desert from which the surrounding area could be
easily controlled. It controlled the main road that went from the Persian
province of Syria to Egypt. The city, over 60 feet (18 m) high, was
traditionally employed to control the surrounding area, which even then was a
hotbed of dissent. Batis was aware that Alexander was marching down the coast,
as he had just been victorious at Tyre. He therefore provisioned Gaza for a
long siege. It is likely that he was aware of Alexander's scheme of controlling
the entire Mediterranean coast before moving to Persia proper.
Opponents:
Macedonia and Hellenic League versus Achaemenid Empire
Commanders and leader:
Macedonia - Alexander the Great and Hephaestion
Achaemenid - Batis (POW) Executed
Strength:
Macedonia - 45,000
Achaemenid Empire 15,000
Casualties and losses:
Fewer than the Egyptians
Achaemenid -11,000
Siege:
First stage of the siege. Second stage of the siege.
Upon arriving, Alexander camped near the southern side of the city and deemed
the southern walls as the weakest. Near these weak points, Alexander built the
mounds that were eventually used to enter the city. It is alleged the mounds
were built quickly, despite the engineers' belief they could not be completed
due to the nature of Gaza's fortifications. One day during the siege, the
Gazans made a sortie against enemy siege equipment constructed on site, and
Alexander led his shield bearing guards into counterattack. Alexander's
shoulder was injured in the attempt.
According to Arrian, the rest of the mound was completed shortly after, around
the whole of Gaza. At some undefined period after this, the siege equipment
from Tyre arrived, and was put into use also. It was after this that major
sections of the wall were broken by the Macedonians. After three attempts to
enter the city, the Macedonians finally entered the city. The Gazans fought
bitterly.
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Consequences of the siege"
Batis, a eunuch, refused to surrender to Alexander. When Gaza was taken, the
male population was put to the sword and the women and children were sold into
slavery. According to the Roman historian Quintus Curtius Rufus, Batis was
killed by Alexander in imitation of Achilles' treatment of the fallen Hector. A
rope was forced through Batis's ankles, probably between the ankle bone and the
Achilles tendon, and Batis was dragged alive by chariot beneath the walls of
the city. Alexander, who admired courage in his enemies and might have been
inclined to show mercy to the brave Persian general, was infuriated at Batis's
refusal to kneel and by the enemy commander's haughty silence and contemptuous
manner. As a result of the siege, Alexander was allowed to proceed south into
Egypt securely, without his line of communications being threatened from the
North by Batis from Gaza.
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