The new situation offered advantages and disadvantages for both sides: the Persians cut off the return route for the Greeks and were able to put them to battle at will. Alexander, on the other hand, did not need to worry about being circumvented because the mountains provided sufficient protection against a pincer maneuver. In addition, the Persian supremacy on the narrow coastal strip between mountains and golf could not develop properly.
The armies were separated by the river Pinaros, and both commanders planned to decide the battle with their cavalry. Darius had set up his cavalry on his right, the lake-facing side, where she could move well in the achen terrain. He occupied the mountain ridge to the left with light and agile foot troops, while the heavily armed infantrymen were in the middle of his lineup. Darius himself positioned himself in a chariot behind the center.
Alexander's original lineup had also provided for a heavily armed phalanx in the center, but the Macedonian had stationed his cavalry both on the sea and on the mountain side. Seeing that the main attack with the Persian cavalry would hit his left wing, he moved part of the cavalry from the right to the left side. Although this last-minute maneuver strengthened the Macedon's defensive power, Alexander's attacking force on the mountainside was significantly weakened.
Alexander realized that speed and toughness was his best chance of success. On the mountain side, he opened the battle with his cavalry and was actually able to repel the light Persian troops. As Alexander stormed forward, the foot troops clashed and ran. Neither Persian nor Macedonian could break the opposing lines. On Alexander left left flank, the situation was meanwhile critical. His local cavalry could not resist the Persian onslaught and had to retire. There was a serious risk that the opponent would get in his back and rolled up the lines from behind. If he wanted to win the battle, he had to bring about the decision in no time.
As before, in the Battle of the Granikos, Alexander chose the risk: he sat at the head of his cavalry, left, and headed straight for Darius' chariot, easily recognizable in the fray. It was a pure suicide enterprise: the Great King was protected by the elite of his men, including the satraps of Phrygia and Egypt, but also by his own brother Oxyathres. But the surprise coup succeeded. The king's bodyguard was cut down, and the horrified Darius rushed to flee. This broke down the Persian resistance. While Darius riding a horse into the mountains oh, the Macedonians plundered the Persian camp.
