Alexander's Campaign > Siege of Miletus
Siege of Miletus
Background
Siege of Miletus
Part of the Persian Campaign
Capture of Miletus - Andre Castaigne (1889-99)
Date: 334 BC
Coordinates: 37°31′49″N 27°16′42″E
+ See More
| Combatants | |
|---|---|
 Kingdom of Macedon | Achaemenid Empire |
| Hellenic League | Miletus |
| Commanders | |
| Alexander the Great | Hegesistratus |
| Hepaestion | |
| Nicanor | |
| Military Forces | |
| 160 Ships | 400 Ships |
| 300 Milesians | |
| Casualties | |
| Light | Heavy |
Aftermath: Macedonian victory
Territorial Changes: Alexander gains Ionia
Next Battle: Siege of Halicarnassus
Previous Battle: Battle of the Granicus
The Siege of Miletus was one of the battles during the Persian Campaign of Alexander III the Great. It was one of his first early victories over the Achaemenid Empire and allowed the Macedonians to control over half of Ionia in Asia Minor (Anatolia). The city of Miletus was a city in the Greek kingdom of Caria and was previously a vassal state of the Achaemenid Empire.
Following the Battle of the Granicus, Alexanders forces had gained great momentum and began easily moving through Asia Minor. They would not have many problems along the way, however there were some hold outs of Persian forces and kingdoms still allied with the empire that Alexander would be forced to contend with. One of the major Persian vassal kingdoms was Caria which was known to have supported Persian many times in the past against Greece especially during the Greco-Persian Wars. One of the first targets after entering Asia was the city of Miletus.
The city was captured after a minor siege by the son of Parmenion named Nicanor in 334 BCE. The civilization of Caria was a minor naval power and allowed Alexander to begin acquiring the resources needed to take on the larger Persian Empire. Alexander would move on from here to the Siege of Halicarnassus which saw the capture of the capital of Caria known as Halicarnassus.
Alexander's Campaign
Balkan Campaign
+ Balkan Battles
Persian Campaign
+ Persian Battles
- Battle of the Granicus (334 BC)
- Siege of Miletus (334 BC)
- Siege of Halicarnassus (334 BC)
- Battle of Issus (333 BC)
- Siege of Tyre (332 BC)
- Siege of Gaza (332 BC)
- Battle of Guagamela (331 BC)
- Battle of the Uxian Defile (331 BC)
- Battle of the Persian Gate (330 BC)
- Siege of Cyropolis (329 BC)
- Battle of Jaxartes (329 BC)
- Battle of Gabai (328 BC)
- Siege of Sogdian Rock (327 BC)
Indian Campaign
+ Indian Campaign Battles
Sources
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources
Abbott, J. (1848). Alexander the Great. New York & London: Harper & Brothers
