Macedonian army

The military force of the ancient kingdom of Macedon, known for combining the sarissa-armed phalanx with cavalry, light infantry, and siege forces.

Macedonian phalanx: A dense infantry formation whose soldiers fought with long sarissas held in overlapping ranks. Its projecting pikes pinned opposing infantry while other Macedonian forces sought the decisive flank.
Philip II of Macedon: King of Macedon from 359 to 336 BCE who expanded and reorganized the kingdom and its armed forces. He built the disciplined, combined-arms force that Alexander later commanded.
Alexander the Great: King of Macedon from 336 to 323 BCE who conquered the Persian Empire and campaigned as far as northwestern India. He led the army through the campaigns that made its combined-arms system famous.
Battle of Issus: A 333 BCE battle in which Alexander's Macedonian-led army defeated Darius III's Persian forces in Cilicia. The confined battlefield tested the army's ability to coordinate its wings against a larger force.
Wars of the Diadochi: A series of conflicts among Alexander's successors over control of his empire after his death in 323 BCE. The wars dispersed Macedonian commanders, troops, and military practices across successor states.
Sarissa: A long pike used by Macedonian phalanx infantry, typically several meters in length. The sarissa gave the phalanx its exceptional reach and required two hands to wield.
Battle of Chaeronea: The 338 BCE battle in which Philip II's Macedonian-led forces defeated Athens and Thebes. The victory demonstrated the effectiveness of the reformed Macedonian army against major Greek states.
Parmenion: A senior Macedonian general who served Philip II and Alexander and commanded major forces in their campaigns. His experience and command helped anchor Alexander's army during its invasion of Persia.
Battle of Gaugamela: A 331 BCE battle in which Alexander defeated Darius III near the city of Gaugamela in northern Mesopotamia. The army overcame prepared terrain and numerical disadvantage through coordinated attacks across the field.
Hellenistic armies: The armies of the kingdoms and states formed in the eastern Mediterranean after Alexander's conquests. These forces inherited Macedonian formations while adapting them to new states and opponents.

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