WI : Darius didn't fled at Gaugamela, end up fighting Alexander in melee

Dolan

Banned
As you know, Darius III Coddomanus / Artashata was notorious for fleeing from Alexander not only once but twice, at Issus and at Gaugamela, and he did flee rather prematurely on both occasions, directly led to both of his defeats.

Sure, he was already middle-aged at his late 40's, and might not have a good prospect if he did end up fighting younger, and probably more vicious Alexander in hand-to-hand. Yet the record from his youth did tell us that he has repeatedly distinguished himself in combat, even winning in some champion vs champion combat against the Cadusii and Dahae tribes. That means he must have some experience fighting someone up close at least in his youth.

During the Battle of Issus, the flight of Darius is arguably much more "justified" to say so, Alexander, knowing his cavalry can't make a breakthrough the Persian line across the river, decided to dismount and led the charge of Hypaspists, Dismounted Companions, and Agrianians on foot, taking the Persians who tried to cross the river by surprise, routing them, and left Darius basically exposed with only a few bodyguards on top of his chariot. Sure, if he tried to stand and fight, the combination of muddy ground and he was caught in a very chaotic melee in cramped position (that would force him to dismount if he wants to fight up close) will mean that the fight is definitely not in his favor.

However, the same did not hold true at Gaugamela. Alexander did his flanking maneuver and cut through the gap at the Persian line, but according to most sources, it was said that while the Macedonian wedge smashed the Persian Levy, the Immortals and Greek Mercenaries actually held up and managed to tie up the Macedonian Pikemen at bay. Yet when Alexander apparently recognize Darius and started to charge directly towards the Persian King of Kings, Darius lost his nerve and run without even attempting to personally fight, being the first to turn and flee, and seeing Darius fled, the Greek Mercenaries and the Immortals end up panicking and after some time, also fleeing themselves...

Now, let's say in an alternate universe, Darius has an epiphany in private about how he fled from Alexander once and remembering his own fights at his youth, resolve that when Alexander tried to personally hunt him again, he will stand and fight instead of fleeing like a coward.

Of course, the result is likely worse for the Persians if Darius ends up prematurely impaled by Alexander's lance at the first charge... So... That scenario is not included.

So the scenario is Darius stood his ground and fight, managed to give a good account of himself as he tied Alexander in personal, man-to-man combat.

The results may vary;;; So what is likely to happen after :

A) Darius managed to hold himself long enough that his Immortals managed to inflict heavy casualties on Macedonian soldiers. Yet at the end of the fight, Alexander gets an opening and he managed to personally kill Darius. Yes, the Persians is likely to still end up routed and defeated, but Macedonian army would not be in shape to immediately push toward Persian hinterlands due to larger numbers of casualties inflicted.

B) Darius did the same thing with scenario A, but when Alexander gets an opening, he managed to clobber Darius with the handle of his Kopis and basically Darius is taken as a live hostage.

C) Darius managed to tie Alexander in protracted hand-to-hand combat that, after a lengthy fight, end up in a mutual kill. Whose side will break first or if it end up technically a draw, depends on your interpretation.

D) D is for Darius winning, so Darius not only managed to tie Alexander in protracted melee but also get an opening and he used it well to stab the young upjumped Macedonian at the neck or another fatal strike. Darius managed to wipe off his shame at Issus by personally killing Alexander this time.

E) Darius managed to tie Alexander in protracted melee, and he managed to draw his experience to turn the tide on Alexander, get an opening, yet managed to somehow clobber Alexander unconscious this time. Alexander ends up taken as a live hostage and his Macedonians either routing or surrendered to the Persians.

What do you think about those scenarios, and what is the consequences of either one of these happened ITTL?
 

Dolan

Banned
Alright, maybe in scenario A and B is too predictable.
A) would end largely as IOTL, but with Alexander end up recruiting even more Persians to fill his army, maybe caused divergence since with possibility of disloyalty, Alexander would be more inclined to hunker down and consolidate his gain first instead of moving to India, but he will eventually got there, I think.
B) would be just like A, with even more leverage on Alexander's side, by keeping Darius alive, and maybe put him as his own underling, he might end up with even more Persians for his Indian campaign.

... C, D, and E however, is practically ending Alexander's adventure right there at Gaugamela. C and D would be definitive end for Alexander, but depending on Darius' mood, and the fact that Alexander did treat his family with honor, maybe Darius will release Alexander after the later swore fealty to Darius?
 
Alright, maybe in scenario A and B is too predictable.
A) would end largely as IOTL, but with Alexander end up recruiting even more Persians to fill his army, maybe caused divergence since with possibility of disloyalty, Alexander would be more inclined to hunker down and consolidate his gain first instead of moving to India, but he will eventually got there, I think.
B) would be just like A, with even more leverage on Alexander's side, by keeping Darius alive, and maybe put him as his own underling, he might end up with even more Persians for his Indian campaign.

... C, D, and E however, is practically ending Alexander's adventure right there at Gaugamela. C and D would be definitive end for Alexander, but depending on Darius' mood, and the fact that Alexander did treat his family with honor, maybe Darius will release Alexander after the later swore fealty to Darius?

Alexander had destroyed Persepolis Inspite of fact that the city had surrendered without a fight. The chances that Darius allows Alexander to live after that are rather low. Especially considering that without Alexander his army will most definitely collapse which means Daruis has little incentive to allow him to survive.
 
Alexander had destroyed Persepolis Inspite of fact that the city had surrendered without a fight. The chances that Darius allows Alexander to live after that are rather low. Especially considering that without Alexander his army will most definitely collapse which means Daruis has little incentive to allow him to survive.
Alexander didn't reach Persepolis until after Darius was dead...
 

Dolan

Banned
Alexander didn't reach Persepolis until after Darius was dead...
Yeah, that was right, I checked again and Persepolis was after Battle of the Persian Gate, and thus, after Gaugamela.

Anyway, Alexander sack of Persepolis have two hypothetical cause. The first theory said that Alexander sacked Persepolis as a ceremonial revenge against Persian sack of Athens and a lot of other cities in Greece fifty years earlier...

The second theory is Alexander just got very drunk and want to watch a big fireworks.
 

Dolan

Banned
Anyway, if Darius ends up killing Alexander in personal, man-to-man combat, how would his reputation be?

There are a lot of rebelling Satraps in the Empire at this point, so... Will this victory being enough to regain his prestige?
 
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