Diodorus, Bibliotheca XVII
17 Alexander advanced with his army to the Hellespont and
transported it from Europe to Asia. He personally sailed with sixty
fighting ships to the Troad, where he flung his spear from the ship
and fixed it in the ground, and then leapt ashore himself the first of
the Macedonians, signifying that he received Asia from the gods as
a spear-won prize. He visited the tombs of the heroes Achilles,
Ajax, and the rest and honoured them with offerings and other
appropriate marks of respect, and then proceeded to make an
accurate count of his accompanying forces.
There were found to be, of infantry, twelve thousand Macedonians,
seven thousand allies, and five thousand mercenaries, all of whom
were under the command of Parmenion. Odrysians, Triballians, and
Illyrians accompanied him to the number of seven thousand; and of
archers and the so‑called Agrianians one thousand, making up a
total of thirty-two thousand foot soldiers. Of cavalry there were
eighteen hundred Macedonians, commanded by Philotas son of
Parmenion; eighteen hundred Thessalians, commanded by Callas
son of Harpalus; six hundred from the rest of Greece under the
command of Erigyius; and nine hundred Thracian and Paeonian
scouts with Cassander in command, making a total of forty-five
hundred cavalry. These were the men who crossed with Alexander
to Asia. The soldiers who were left behind in Europe under the
command of Antipater numbered twelve thousand foot and
fifteen hundred horses.
As the king began his march out of the Troad and came to the
Plutarch, Life of Alexander
14 Moreover, when Alexander set out upon his expedition [against
Persia], it appears that there were many signs from heaven, and,
among them, the image of Orpheus at Leibethra (it was made of
cypress-wood) sweated profusely at about that time. Most people
feared the sign, but Aristander bade Alexander be of good cheer,
assured that he was to perform deeds worthy of song and story,
which would cost poets and musicians much toil and sweat to
celebrate.
15 As to the number of his forces, those who put it at the smallest
figure mention thirty thousand foot and four thousand horse;
those who put it at the highest, forty-three thousand foot and
five thousand horse.To provision these forces, Aristobulus says he
had not more than seventy talents; Duris speaks of maintenance for
only thirty days; and Onesicritus says he owed two hundred talents
besides. But although he set out with such meager and narrow
resources, he would not set foot upon his ship until he had enquired
into the circumstances of his companions and allotted to one a
farm, to another a village, and to another the revenue from some
hamlet or harbor. And when at last nearly all of the crown property
had been expended or allotted, Perdiccas said to him: "But for
thyself, O king, what art thou leaving?" And when the king
answered, "My hopes," "In these, then," said Perdiccas, "we also
will share who make the expedition with thee." Then he declined the
possessions which had been allotted to him, and some of the other
friends of Alexander did likewise. But upon those who wanted and
would accept his favors Alexander bestowed them readily, and most
of what he possessed in Macedonia was used up in these
distributions. Such was the ardor and such the equipment with
which he crossed the Hellespont.
Then, going up to Ilium, he sacrificed to Athena and poured
sanctuary of Athena, the sacrificant named Alexander noticed in
front of the temple a statue of Ariobarzanes, a former satrap of
Phrygia, lying fallen on the ground, together with some other
favorable omens that occurred. He came to the king and affirmed
that he would be victor in a great cavalry battle and especially if he
happened to fight within the confines of Phrygia; he added that the
king with his own hands would slay in battle a distinguished general
of the enemy. Such, he said, were the portents the gods disclosed
to him, and particularly Athena who would help him in his success.
libations to the heroes. Furthermore, the gravestone of Achilles he
anointed with oil, ran a race by it with his companions, naked, as is
the custom, and then crowned it with garlands, pronouncing the
hero happy in having, while he lived, a faithful friend, and after
death, a great herald of his fame. As he was going about and
viewing the sights of the city, someone asked him if he wished to
see the lyre of Paris. "For that lyre," said Alexander, "I care very
little; but I would gladly see that of Achilles, to which he used to sing
the glorious deeds of brave men."

18 Alexander welcomed the prediction of the seer and made a

splendid sacrifice to Athena, dedicating his own armour to the
goddess. Then, taking the finest of the panoplies deposited in the
temple, he put it on and used it in his first battle. And this he did in
fact decide through his own personal fighting ability and won a
resounding victory. But this did not take place till a few days later.

Meanwhile, the Persian satraps and generals had not acted in time
to prevent the crossing of the Macedonians, but they mustered their
forces and took counsel how to oppose Alexander. Memnon, the
Rhodian, famed for his military competence, advocated a policy of
not fighting a pitched battle, but of stripping the countryside and
through the shortage of supplies preventing the Macedonians from
advancing further, while at the same time they sent naval and land
forces across to Macedonia and transferred the impact of war to
Europe. This was the best counsel, as after-events made clear, but,
for all that, Memnon failed to win over the other commanders, since
his advice seemed beneath the dignity of the Persians. So they
decided to fight it out, and summoning forces from every quarter
and heavily outnumbering the Macedonians, they advanced in the
direction of Hellespontine Phrygia. They pitched camp by the river 16 Meanwhile the generals of Dareius had assembled a large force
Granicus, using the bed of the river as a line of defense. and set it in array at the crossing of the river Granicus, so that it was
practically necessary to fight, as it were at the gates of Asia, for
19 When Alexander learned of the concentration of the Persian entrance and dominion there. But most of the Macedonian officers
forces, he advanced rapidly and encamped opposite the enemy, so were afraid of the depth of the river, and of the roughness and
that the Granicus flowed between the encampments. The Persians, unevenness of the farther banks, up which they would have to climb
resting on high ground, made no move, intending to fall upon the
foes as he crossed the river, for they supposed they could easily
carry the day when the Macedonian phalanx was divided. But
Alexander at dawn boldly brought his army across the river and
deployed in good order before they could stop him. In return, they
posted their mass of horsemen all along the front of the
Macedonians since they had decided to press the battle with these.
Memnon of Rhodes and satrap Arsamenes held the left wing each
with his own cavalry; Arsites was stationed next with the horsemen
from Paphlagonia; then came Spithrobates satrap of Ionia at the
head of the Hyrcanian cavalry. The right wing was held by a
thousand Medes and two thousand horses with Rheomithres as
well as Bactrians of like number. Other national contingents
occupied the center, numerous and picked for their valor. In all, the
cavalry amounted to more than ten thousand. The Persian foot
soldiers were not fewer than one hundred thousand, but they
were posted behind the line and did not advance since the cavalry
was thought to be sufficient to crush the Macedonians.
As the horses of each side joined battle spiritedly, the command of
Parmenion gallantly met the attack of the troops posted opposite
them; and Alexander, who had the finest of the riders on the right
wing with him, personally led the attack upon the Persians and
closing with them, began to inflict substantial losses upon them.
20 But the Persians resisted bravely and opposed their spirit to the
Macedonian valour, as Fortune brought together in one and the
same place the finest fighters to dispute the victory. The satrap of
Ionia Spithrobates, a Persian by birth and son-in‑law of King
Dareius, a man of superior courage, hurled himself at the
Macedonian lines with a large body of cavalry, and with an array of
forty companions, all Royal Relatives of outstanding valour, pressed
hard on the opposite line and in a fierce attack slew some of his
opponents and wounded others. As the force of this attack seemed
dangerous, Alexander turned his horse toward the satrap and rode
at him.
while fighting. Some, too, thought they ought to observe carefully
the customary practice in regard to the month (in the month of
Daesius the kings of Macedonia were not wont to take the field with
an army). This objection Alexander removed by bidding them call
the month a second Artemisius; and when Parmenio, on the ground
that it was too late in the day, objected to their risking the passage,
he declared that the Hellespont would blush for shame, if, after
having crossed that strait, he should be afraid of the Granicus, and
plunged into the stream with thirteen troops of horsemen. And since
he was charging against hostile missiles and precipitous positions
covered with infantry and cavalry, and through a stream that swept
men off their feet and surged about them, he seemed to be acting
like a frenzied and foolish commander rather than a wise one.
However, he persisted in his attempt to cross, gained the opposite
banks with difficulty and much ado, though they were moist and
slippery with mud, and was at once compelled to fight pell-mell and
engage his assailants man by man, before his troops who were
crossing could form into any order. For the enemy pressed upon
them with loud shouts, and matching horse with horse, plied their
lances, and their swords when their lances were shattered. Many
rushed upon Alexander, for he was conspicuous by his buckler and
by his helmet's crest, on either side of which was fixed a plume of
wonderful size and whiteness. But although a javelin pierced the
joint of his breastplate, he was not wounded; and when Rhoesaces
and Spithridates, two Persian commanders, made at him together,
he avoided the one, and smote Rhoesaces, who wore a
breastplate, with his spear; and when this weapon snapped in two
with the blow, he took to his sword. 9 Then, while he was thus
engaged with Rhoesaces, Spithridates rode up from one side,
raised himself up on his horse, and with all his might came down
with a barbarian battle-axe upon Alexander's head. Alexander's
crest was broken off, together with one of its plumes, and his helmet
could barely and with difficulty resist the blow, so that the edge of
the battle-axe touched the topmost hair of his head. But while
Spithridates was raising his arm again for another stroke, Cleitus,
 "Black Cleitus," got the start of him and ran him through the body
To the Persian, it seemed as if this opportunity for a single combat with his spear. At the same time Rhoesaces also fell, smitten by
was god-given. He hoped that by his individual gallantry Asia might Alexander's sword.
be relieved of its terrible menace, the renowned daring of Alexander
arrested by his own hands, and the glory of the Persians saved
from disgrace. He hurled his javelin first at Alexander with so mighty
an impulse and so powerful a cast that he pierced Alexander's
shield and drove through the breastplate. The king shook off the
weapon as it dangled by his arm, then applying spurs to his horse
and employing the favoring momentum of his charge drove his
lance squarely into the satrap's chest. At this, adjacent ranks in both
armies cried out at the superlative display of prowess. The point,
however, snapped off against the breastplate and the broken shaft
recoiled, and the Persian drew his sword and drove at Alexander;
but the king recovered his grip upon his lance in time to thrust at the
man's face and drive the blow home. The Persian fell, but just at
this moment, Rhosaces, his brother, galloping up brought his sword
down on Alexander's head with such a fearsome blow that it split his
helmet and inflicted a slight scalp wound. As Rhosaces aimed
another blow at the same break, Cleitus, surnamed the Black,
dashed up on his horse and cut off the Persian's arm.

21 The Relatives now pressed in a solid body about the two fallen
men; at first they rained their javelins on Alexander, and then
closing went all out to slay the king. But exposed as he was to many
and fierce attacks he nevertheless was not overborne by the
numbers of the foe. Though he took two blows on the breastplate,
one on the helmet, and three on the shield which he had brought
from the temple of Athena, he still did not give in, but borne up by
an exaltation of spirit surmounted every danger. 3 After this, several
of the other noble Persians fighting against him fell, of whom the
most illustrious were Atizyes and Pharnaces, brother of Dareius's
queen, and also Mithrobuzanes who commanded the
Cappadocians.
Now that many of their commanders had been slain and all the
Persian squadrons were worsted by the Macedonians, those facing
Alexander were put to flight first, and then the others also. Thus the
king by common consent won the palm for bravery and was
regarded as the chief author of the victory, and next to him the
Thessalian cavalry won a great reputation for valor because of the
skillful handling of their squadrons and their unmatched fighting
quality. After the rout of the cavalry, the foot soldiers engaged one
another in a contest that was soon ended. For the Persians,
dismayed by the route of the cavalry and shaken in spirit, were
quick to flee. The total of the Persian infantry killed was more
than ten thousand; of the cavalry not less than two thousand;
and there were taken alive upwards of twenty thousand. After
the battle the king gave magnificent obsequies to the dead, for he
thought it important by this sort of honor to create in his men greater
enthusiasm to face the hazards of battle.
While Alexander's cavalry were making such a dangerous and
furious fight, the Macedonian phalanx crossed the river and the
infantry forces on both sides engaged. The enemy, however, did not
resist vigorously, nor for a long time, but fled in a rout, all except the
Greek mercenaries. These made a stand at a certain eminence,
and asked that Alexander should promise them quarter. But he,
influenced by anger more than by reason, charged foremost upon
them and lost his horse, which was smitten through the ribs with a
sword (it was not Bucephalas, but another); and most of the
Macedonians who were slain or wounded fought or fell there, since
they came to close quarters with men who knew how to fight and
were desperate.
Of the Barbarians, we are told, twenty thousand footmen fell, and
twenty-five hundred horsemen. But on Alexander's side,
Aristobulus says there were thirty-four dead in all, of whom nine
were footmen. Of these, then, Alexander ordered statues to be set
up in bronze, and Lysippus wrought them. Moreover, desiring to
make the Greeks partners in his victory, he sent to the Athenians in
particular three hundred of the captured shields, and upon the rest
of the spoils in general he ordered a most ambitious inscription to
be wrought: "Alexander the son of Philip and all the Greeks except
the Lacedaemonians from the Barbarians who dwell in Asia." But
the drinking vessels and the purple robes and whatever things of
this nature he took from the Persians, all these, except a few, he
sent to his mother.
17 This contest at once made a great change in the situation to
Alexander's advantage, so that he received the submission even of
Sardis, the bulwark of the barbarian dominion on the sea-coast, and
added the rest of the country to his conquests.
Arrian Diodorus Plutarch

Alexander’s spear breaks, receives another Spithridates leads cavalry wedge, Alexander In the midst of battle, the joint of Alexander’s
from Demaratus meets him breastplate is pierced with javelin

Mithridates leads cavalry wedge, Alexander Spithridates pierces Alexander’s shield and Spithridates and Rhoesaces charge towards
meets him breastplate with javelin Alexander

Alexander strikes Mithridates in face with Alexander removes javelin and stabs Alexander stabs Rhoesaces through the
spear Spithridates through the chest with lance chest with spear

Rhoesaces strikes Alexander on head with Impact causes Alexander’s lance point to Impact causes Alexander’s spear to break,
scimitar, damages helmet break uses sword instead

Alexander stabs Rhoesaces through the Spithridates charges Alexander with sword Spithridates strikes Alexander on head with
chest with spear, kills him battle-axe

Spithridates raises scimitar against Alexander strikes Spithridates in face with Spithridates raises battle-axe against
Alexander from the back broken shaft Alexander’s head again

Cleitus cuts Spithridates’ arm off Rhoesaces strikes Alexander on head with Cleitus stabs Spithridates with spear
sword, damages helmet and wounds scalp

Rhoesaces raises sword against Alexander kills Rhoesaces with sword

Alexander’s head again

Cleitus cuts Rhoesaces’ arm off

- Involvement of Spithridates and Rhoesaces is certain

- Mithridates leads cavalry wedge?
- Mithridates struck in face with spear/lance
- Breaks Alexander’s weapon, probably replaced
- Rhoesaces strikes Alexander on the head, killed
- Spithridates is killed by Cleitus

- Either Mithridates or Spithridates leads cavalry wedge, and are struck in the face
- During combat with either Spithridates or Rhoesaces, Alexander’s weapon breaks
Mithridates has to be the one to lead the cavalry, however leads the cavalry is the one to be struck in the face (Arrian, Diodorus)
Cleitus, in this battle and at his death, is attested as having killed Spithridates, therefore Alexander cannot have killed him