What she expected there exceeded her wildest expectations: not only had the Persian war chest fallen into Alexander's hands, but so had the royal family that Darius had traditionally accompanied. 2600 talents (one talent equals about 27 kilograms of silver) fell into the hands of the winner. An unbelievable fortune, considering that when Alexander took power he had a treasury of just 40 talents. He had even had to borrow 800 talents for the campaign to Persia.
Had the luckier won in Issus, or was the victory due to Alexander's contempt for death? The two armies that met at Issos were about equal. The Macedonian phalanx had grown for the Persian infantry, which incidentally consisted largely of Greek mercenaries, but could gain no advantage. In the cavalry, the right wing of the Persians could prevail against the Macedonians, while Alexander's right wing of the army asserted itself against the troops of Darius.
Ultimately, strategic skill and personal courage were the decisive factors. While Darius clung to his order of battle, Alexander reacted exquisitely. He adapted his lineup to the circumstances in order to respond to the intentions of his opponent. And Darius was "merely" army commander. Alexander was army commander and fighter. Did he want a duel with the Great King from the beginning? It is clear that he fell into the center of the action, disregarding any personal danger, while Darius sought his salvation in flight.
Alexander's charisma and his willingness to put himself at the head of his men, to show them what he wanted them to do, was an unmistakable moment of motivation that kept men moving on and on. Even if Alexander's success did not mean the demise of the Persian Empire, the victory had a signal effect. Alexander's previous conquests were sustainably confirmed. The Persian allies on the Greek mainland again changed sides and rallied behind Alexander. And the winner himself realized that there were undreamt-of possibilities in the East. Beyond the Euphrates and Tigris was a world that seemed to be just waiting to be conquered by him.
For Darius, the defeat was more than a disgrace. She weakened his position in the Reich and his bargaining position with Alexander, who had the Great King's family as a pawn. But the victory also seeded the seed for Alexander's demise. Never before had the Greeks experienced the wealth Persia had to offer. Alexander in particular alienated himself more and more from his men, adopting Persian customs and manners.
