In the Spring of 335 BC Alexander undertook a mission so dangerous he only survived due to his extraordinary skill as a general.
The place was Illyria, north-west of Macedon. Specifically, Pellium, a city on or near the Eordaïcus river. Alexander had gone there in pursuit of Cleitus, king of the Dardanians. The battle would be personal for him as Cleitus’ father, Bardylis, had killed Alexander’s uncle, Perdiccas I, in 359.
Upon his arrival at Pellium, Alexander made plans to assault it the next day. Before he could do so, however, Cleitus sprang a trap. He had hidden men in the hills surrounding the plain in front of the city. If Alexander attacked it, they would attack him.
If Alexander knew of the threat behind him, he did not let it get in the way of his objective. Thus, when he advanced on Pellium, Cleitus’ men came down from the hills to attack his rear. When they did so, Alexander turned round and fought back. Or tried to. Once he engaged the Dardanians, they - either out of fear or probably because their objective was simply to protect the city - fled.
On the following day, Cleitus’ ally, Glaucias, king of the Taulantians, arrived on the scene. Alexander now realised he was in trouble. Individually, both Cleitus and Glaucias could be beaten. Together – no, they had too many men.
Alexander needed to withdraw. But how? Surely, the two kings would attack him in the rear if he did so. And also, the only way out of the plain was on a narrow path underneath the shadow of a mountain range, currently being held by Glaucias’ men.
Had Alexander dithered or panicked, he could easily have been killed. Instead, he remained calm, and used his understanding of psychological warfare to save his and his men’s lives.
First of all, Alexander lined his phalanx up in the plain. 120 rows of men. Then, in absolute silence, took them through a serious of manoeuvres that ended with the Macedonian war cry as they advanced on Glaucias’ men in the hills.
The tribesmen were overawed to the point of terror by the skill of the Macedonian troops and then their ear splitting war cry. They fled rather than fight.
After that, Alexander easily dislodged the small number of enemy holding the mountain range. He led his men out of the plain, keeping a close eye on Cleitus’ and Glaucias’ men behind them, rushing them with cavalry or opening fire if they got too close.
𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐮𝐦
Arrian 𝐈.𝟔.𝟏-𝟒
image: Realm of History
The Second Achilles 
Alexander was smart, there’s no doubt about that. But he wasn’t the innovator of psychological warfare. He learned that from his father, as he did most things, and what he learned from reading Xenophon. We all know he knew his Homer and the Iliad. He is still fascinating, however, and that’s why we continue to be intrigued by him.
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