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When all this was over, Alexander visited the cities of Persis, capturing some by storm and winning over others by his own fair dealing.1 Then he set out after Dareius. [2] The Persian king had planned to bring together the armed forces of Bactria and the other satrapies, but Alexander was too quick for him. Dareius directed his flight toward the city of Bactra with thirty thousand Persians2 and Greek mercenaries, but in the course of this retirement he was seized and murdered by Bessus, the satrap of Bactria. [3] Just after his death, Alexander rode up in hot pursuit with his cavalry, and, finding him dead, gave him a royal funeral. [4] Some, however, have written that Alexander found him still breathing and commiserated with him on his disasters. Dareius urged him to avenge his death, and Alexander, agreeing, set out after Bessus, but the satrap had a long start and got away into Bactria, so Alexander suspended the chase and returned.3

That was the situation in Asia. [5]

In Europe the Lacedaemonians were forced by their defeat in a decisive battle to make overtures to Antipater.4 He referred his reply to the council of the Hellenic League.5 When the delegates came together in Corinth, there was a long discussion on both sides, and they decided to pass the issue on without a decision to Alexander. [6] Antipater took as hostages fifty of the most notable of the Spartiates, and the Lacedaemonians sent envoys6 to Asia asking forgiveness for their mistakes.

1 Curtius 5.6.11-19 reports what must have been a substantial campaign. It is ignored by Arrian.

2 The same figure in Curtius 5.8.3.

3 Diodorus does scant justice to the dramatic story of Dareius's flight, overtaking, and death; cp. Curtius 5.8-13; Justin 11.15; Plut. Alexander 42.3-43.3; Arrian. 3.19.22. The standard version in all is that Dareius was still living when discovered, but died before Alexander saw him. Plutarch, on the other hand, has Alexander covering Dareius with his own cloak (Plut. De Fortuna aut Virtute Alexandri 1.11.332f).

4 Continued from chaps. 48.1 and 62.6-63.4.

5 Curtius 6.1.19 suggests that this was due to Antipater's fear of Alexander.

6 Curtius 6.1.20. This delegation is to be distinguished from the Spartan envoys to Dareius whom Alexander arrested (Curtius 6.5.7; Arrian. 3.24.4).

Diodorus Siculus. Diodorus of Sicily in Twelve Volumes with an English Translation by C. H. Oldfather. Vol. 4-8. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1989.

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  • Cross-references to this page (1):
  • Cross-references in notes from this page (9):
    • Plutarch, Alexander, 42.3
    • Plutarch, De Alexandri magni fortuna aut virtute, 1
    • Arrian, Anabasis, 3.24.4
    • Curtius, Historiarum Alexandri Magni, 5.6.11
    • Curtius, Historiarum Alexandri Magni, 5.8
    • Curtius, Historiarum Alexandri Magni, 5.8.3
    • Curtius, Historiarum Alexandri Magni, 6.1.19
    • Curtius, Historiarum Alexandri Magni, 6.1.20
    • Curtius, Historiarum Alexandri Magni, 6.5.7
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