nube； and thence marched against the Illyrians and Taulantians； whom he speedily reduced to obedience。
During Alexander's absence on these expeditions no tidings were heard of him for a considerable time； and a report of his death was industriously spread in Southern Greece。 The Thebans rose and besieged the Macedonian garrison in the Cadmea； at the same time inviting other states to declare their independence。 Demosthenes was active in aiding the movement。 He persuaded the Athenians to furnish the Thebans with subsidies and to assure them of their support and alliance。 But the rapidity of Alexander again crushed the insurrection in the bud。 Before the Thebans discovered that the report of his death was false he had already arrived at Onchestus in Boeotia。 Alexander was willing to afford them an opportunity for repentance； and marched slowly to the foot of the Cadmea。 But the leaders of the insurrection； believing themselves irretrievably compromised； replied with taunts to Alexander's proposals for peace； and excited the people to the most desperate resistance。 An engagement was prematurely brought on by one of the generals of Alexander； in which some of the Macedonian troops were put to the rout； but Alexander； coming up with the phalanx； whilst the Thebans were in the disorder of pursuit； drove them back in turn and entered the gates along with them； when a fearful massacre ensued committed principally by the Thracians in Alexander's service。 Six thousand Thebans are said to have been slain； and thirty thousand were made prisoners。 The doom of the conquered city was referred to the allies； who decreed her destruction。 The grounds of the verdict bear the impress of a tyrannical hypocrisy。 They rested on the conduct of the Thebans during the Persian war； on their treatment of Plataea； and on their enmity to Athens。 The inhabitants were sold as slaves； and all the houses； except that of Pindar； were levelled with the ground。 The Cadmea was preserved to be occupied by a Macedonian garrison。 Thebes seems to have been thus harshly treated as an example to the rest of Greece； for towards the other states； which were now eager to make their excuses and submission； Alexander showed much forbearance and lenity。 The conduct of the Athenians exhibits them deeply sunk in degradation。 When they heard of the chastisement indicted upon Thebes； they immediately voted； on the motion of Demosthenes； that ambassadors should be sent to congratulate Alexander on his safe return from his northern expeditions； and on his recent success。 Alexander in reply wrote a letter； demanding that eight or ten of the leading Athenian orators should be delivered up to him。 At the head of the list was Demosthenes。 In this dilemma； Phocion； who did not wish to speak upon such a question； was loudly called upon by the people for his opinion； when he rose and said that the persons whom Alexander demanded had brought the state into such a miserable plight that they deserved to be surrendered； and that for his own part he should be very happy to die for the commonwealth。 At the same time he advised them to try the effect of intercession with Alexander； and it was at last only by his own personal application to that monarch with whom he was a great favourite； that the orators were spared。 According to another account； however； the wrath of Alexander was appeased by the orator Demades； who received from the Athenians a reward of five talents for his services。 It was at this time that Alexander is said to have sent a present of 100 talents to Phocion。 But Phocion asked the persons who brought the money〃Why he should be selected for such a bounty？〃 〃Because；〃 they replied； 〃Alexander considers you the only just and honest man。〃 〃Then；〃 said Phocion； 〃let him suffer me to be what I seem； and to retain that character。〃 And when the envoys went to his house and beheld the frugality with which he lived； they perceived that the man who refused such a gift was wealthier than he who offered it。
Having thus put the affairs of Greece on a satisfactory footing； Alexander marched for the Hellespont in the spring of B。C。 334； leaving Antipater regent of Macedonia in his absence； with a force of 12；000 foot and 1500 horse。 Alexander's own army consisted of only about 50；000 foot and 5000 horse。 Of the infantry about 12；000 were Macedonians； and these composed the pith of the celebrated Macedonian phalanx。 Such was the force with which he proposed to attack the immense but ill…cemented empire of Persia； which； like the empires of Turkey or Austria in modern times； consisted of various nations and races with different religions and manners； and speaking different languages； the only bond of union being the dominant military power of the ruling nation； which itself formed only a small numerical portion of the empire。 The remote provinces； like those of Asia Minor； were administered by satraps and military governors who enjoyed an almost independent authority。 Before Alexander departed he distributed most of the crown property among his friends； and when Perdiccas asked him what he had reserved for himself he replied； 〃My hopes。〃
A march of sixteen days brought Alexander to Sestos； where a large fleet and a number of transports had been collected for the embarkation of his army。 He steered with his own hand the vessel in which he sailed towards the very spot where the Achaeans were said to have landed when proceeding to the Trojan war。 He was； as we have said； a great admirer of Homer； a copy of whose works he always carried with him； and on landing on the Asiatic coast he made it his first business to visit the plain of Troy。 He then proceeded to Sigeum； where he crowned with a garland the pillar said to mark the tumulus of his mythical ancestor Achilles； and； according to custom； ran round it naked with his friends。
Alexander then marched northwards along the coast of the Propontis。 The satraps of Lydia and Ionia； together with other Persian generals； were encamped on the river Granicus； with a force of 20；000 Greek mercenaries； and about an equal number of native cavalry； with which they prepared to dispute the passage of the river。 A Rhodian； named Memnon； had the chief command。 The veteran general Parmenio advised Alexander to delay the attack till the following morning； to which he replied； that it would be a bad omen at the beginning of his expedition； if； after passing the Hellespont； he should be stopped by a paltry stream。 Thereupon he directed his cavalry to cross the river； and followed himself at the head of the phalanx。 The passage； however； was by no means easy。 The stream was in many parts so deep as to be hardly fordable； and the opposite bank was steep and rugged。 The cavalry had great difficulty in maintaining their ground till Alexander came up to their relief。 He immediately charged into the thickest of the fray； and exposed himself so much that his life was often in imminent danger； and on one occasion was saved only by the interposition of his friend Clitus。 Having routed the Persians； he next attacked the Greek mercenaries； 2000 of whom were made prisoners； and the rest nearly all cut to pieces； In this engagement he killed two Persian officers with his own hand。
Alexander now marched southwards towards Sardis； which surrendered before he came within sight of its walls。 Having left a garrison in that city； he arrived after a four days' march before Ephesus； which likewise capitulated on his approach。 Magnesia； Tralles； and Miletus next fell into his hands； the last after a short siege。 Halicarnassus made more resistance。 It was obliged to be regularly approached； but at length Memnon； finding it no longer tenable； set fire to it in the night； and crossed over to Cos。 Alexander caused it to be razed to the ground； and pursued his march along the southern coast of Asia Minor； with the view of seizing those towns which might afford shelter to a Persian fleet。 The winter was now approaching； and Alexander sent a considerable part of his army under Parmenio into winter… quarters at Sardis。 He also sent back to Macedonia such officers and soldiers as had been recently married； on condition that they should return in the spring with what reinforcements they could raise； and with the same view he despatched an officer to recruit in the Peloponnesus。 Meanwhile he himself with a chosen body proceeded along the coasts of Lycia and Pamphylia； having instructed Parmenio to rejoin him in Phrygia in the spring； with the main body。 After he had crossed the Xanthus most of the Lycian towns tendered their submission。 On the borders of Lycia and Pamphylia； Mount Climax； a branch of the Taurus range； runs abruptly into the sea； leaving only a narrow passage at its foot； which is frequently overflowed。 This was the case at the time of Alexander's approach。 He therefore sent his main body by a long and difficult road across the mountains to Perge； but he himself who loved danger for its own sake； proceeded with a chosen band along the shore； wading through water that was breast…high for nearly a whole day。 Then forcing his way northwards through the barbarous tribes which inhabited the mountains of Pisidia； he encamped in the neighbourhood of Gordium in Phrygia。 Here he was rejoined by Parmenio and by the new levies from Greece。 Gordium had been the capital of the early Phrygian kings； and in it was preserved with superstitious veneration the chariot or waggon in which the celebrated Midas； the son of Gordius； together with his parents； had entered the town； and in conformity with an oracle had been elevated to the monarchy。 An ancient prophecy promised the sovereignty of Asia to him who should untie the knot of bark which fastened the yoke of the waggon to the pole。 Alexander repaired to the Acropolis； where the waggon was preserved； to attempt this adventure。 Whether he undid the knot by drawing out a peg； or cut it through with his sword； is a matter of doubt； but that he had fulfilled the prediction was placed beyond dispute that very night by a great storm of thunder and lightning。
In the spring of 333 Alexander pursued his march eastwards； and on arriving at Ancyra received the submission of the Paphlagonians。 He then