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g out to them that the prize of victory would not be a mere province； but the dominion of all Asia。 Yet so great was the tranquillity with which he contemplated the result； that at daybreak on the following morning； when the officers came to receive his final instructions； they found him in a deep slumber。 His army； which consisted only of 40；000 foot and 7000 horse； was drawn up in the order which he usually observed； namely； with the phalanx in the centre in six divisions； and the Macedonian cavalry on the right； where Alexander himself took his station。 The Persians； fearful of being surprised； had stood under arms the whole night； so that the morning found them exhausted and dispirited。 Some of them； however； fought with considerable bravery； but when Alexander had succeeded in breaking their line by an impetuous charge； Darius mounted a fleet horse and took to flight； as at Issus； though the fortune of the day was yet far from having been decided。 At length； however； the rout became general。 Whilst daylight lasted Alexander pursued the flying enemy as far as the banks of the Lycus； or Greater Zab； where thousands of the Persians perished in the attempt to pass the river。 After resting his men a few hours Alexander continued the pursuit at midnight in the hope of overtaking Darius at Arbela。 The Persian monarch； however； had continued his flight without stopping； but the whole of the royal baggage and treasure was captured。
Finding any further pursuit of Darius hopeless； Alexander now directed his march towards Babylon。 At a little distance from the city the greater part of the population came out to meet him； headed by their priests and magistrates； tendering their submission and bearing with them magnificent presents。 Alexander then made his triumphant entry into Babylon； riding in a chariot at the head of his army。 The streets were strewed with flowers； incense smoked on either hand on silver altars； and the priests celebrated his entry with hymns。 Nor was this a mere display of a compulsory obedience。 Under the Persian sway the Chaldaean religion had been oppressed and persecuted； the temple of Belus had been destroyed and still lay in ruins； and both priests and people consequently rejoiced at the downfall of a dynasty from which they had suffered so much wrong。 Alexander observed here the same politic conduct which he had adopted in Egypt。 He caused the ruined temples to be restored； and proposed to offer personally； but under the direction of the priests； a sacrifice to Belus。 Alexander contemplated making Babylon the capital of his future empire。 His army was rewarded with a large donative from the Persian treasury； and after being allowed to indulge for some time in the luxury of Babylon； was again put in motion； towards the middle of November； for Susa。 It was there that the Persian treasures were chiefly accumulated； and Alexander had despatched one of his generals to take possession of the city immediately after the battle of Arbela。 It was surrendered without a blow by the satrap Abulites。 The treasure found there amounted to 40；000 talents in gold and silver bullion； and 9000 in gold Darics。 But among all these riches the interest of the Greeks must have been excited in a lively manner by the discovery of the spoils carried off from Greece by Xerxes。 Among them were the bronze statues of Harmodius and Aristogiton； which Alexander now sent back to Athens； and which were long afterwards preserved in the Ceramicus。
At Susa Alexander received reinforcements of about 15；000 men from Greece。 He then directed his march south…eastwards towards Persepolis。 His road lay through the mountainous territory of the Uxians； who refused him a passage unless he paid the usual tribute which they were in the habit of extorting even from the Persian kings。 But Alexander routed them with great slaughter。 He then advanced rapidly to Persepolis； whose magnificent ruins still attest its ancient splendour。 It was the real capital of the Persian kings； though they generally resided at Susa during the winter； and at Ecbatana in summer。 The treasure found there exceeded that both of Babylon and Susa； and is said to have amounted to 120；000 talents or nearly 30；000；000l。 sterling。 It was here that Alexander is related to have committed an act of senseless folly； by firing with his own hand the ancient and magnificent palace of the Persian kings； of which the most charitable version is that he committed the act when heated with wine at the instigation of Thais； an Athenian courtezan。 By some writers； however； the story is altogether disbelieved； and the real destruction of Persepolis referred to the Mahommedan epoch。 Whilst at Persepolis； Alexander visited the tomb of Cyrus； the founder of the Persian monarchy； which was situated at a little distance； at a city called Pasargadae。
Thus in between three and four years after crossing the Hellespont Alexander had established himself on the Persian throne。 But Darius was not yet in his power。 After the battle of Arbela that monarch had fled to Ecbatana。 It was not till about four months after the battle of Arbela； and consequently early in 330； that Alexander quitted Persepolis to resume the pursuit of Darius。 On approaching Ecbatana he learned that the Persian monarch had already fled with the little army which still adhered to him。 Alexander； with his main body； then pursued Darius through Media by forced marches and reached Rhagae； a distance of three hundred miles from Ecbatana； in eleven days。 Such was the rapidity of the march that many men and horses died of fatigue。 At Rhagae he heard that Darius had already passed the defile called the 〃Caspian Gates；〃 leading into the Bactrian provinces； and； as that pass was fifty miles distant； urgent pursuit was evidently useless。 He therefore allowed his troops five days' rest； and then resumed his march。 Soon after passing the Gates he learned that Darius had been seized and loaded with chains by his own satrap Bessus； who entertained the design of establishing himself in Bactria as an independent sovereign。 This intelligence stimulated Alexander to make still further haste with part of his cavalry and a chosen body of foot。 On the fourth day he succeeded in overtaking the fugitives with his cavalry； having been obliged to leave the infantry behind； with directions to follow more at leisure。 The enemy； who did not know his real strength； were struck with consternation at his appearance； and fled precipitately。 Bessus and his adherents now endeavoured to persuade Darius to fly with them； and provided a fleet horse for that purpose。 But the Persian monarch； who had already experienced the generosity of Alexander in the treatment of his captive family； preferred to fall into his hands； whereupon the conspirators mortally wounded him in the chariot in which they kept him confined； and then took to flight。 Darius expired before Alexander could come up； who threw his own cloak over the body。 He then ordered him to be magnificently buried in the tomb of his ancestors； and provided for the fitting education of his children。
The next three years were employed by Alexander in subduing Hyrcania； Drangiana； Bactria； and Sogdiana； and the other northern provinces of the Persian empire。 In these distant regions he founded several cities； one of which in Aria； called after him （Alexandria Ariorum）； is still； under the name of HERAT； one of the chief cities in central Asia。 Alexander's stay in Prophthasia； the capital of Drangiana； was signalized by a supposed conspiracy against his life； formed by Philotas； the son of Parmenio。 Alexander had long entertained suspicions of Philotas。 But the immediate subject of accusation against him was that he had not revealed a conspiracy which was reported to be forming against Alexander's life； and which he had deemed too contemptible to notice。 He was consequently suspected of being implicated in it； and on being put to the torture he not only confessed his own guilt in his agonies； but also implicated his father。 Philotas was executed； and an order was sent to Ecbatana； where Parmenio then was； directing that veteran general to be put to death。 A letter； purporting to be