The Siege of Tyre 332 BC

Summary

In 332 BC, following his victory over Darius, Alexander the Great faced the defiant city of Tyre, a formidable Phoenician stronghold and Persian naval base. Despite initial resistance and a grueling siege, Alexander's ingenuity and persistence led to the construction of a causeway and eventual naval superiority, culminating in a brutal conquest. The fall of Tyre marked a significant achievement for Alexander, showcasing his strategic prowess and setting the stage for his further campaigns.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The Macedonian King Alexander, after defeating Darius at Issus, faced the challenge of taking the formidable stronghold of Tyre in 333 BC.
• 🛑 Alexander was aware that the Persian fleet was a significant threat to his conquest of the Persian Empire's inland, prompting him to secure the Phoenician coastline.
• 🏝️ By January 332 BC, Alexander had gained the allegiance of Arwad, Byblos, and Sidon, with Tyre being his next strategic objective.
• 🏙️ Tyre was a wealthy and influential Phoenician city, serving as a Persian naval base and known for its dye production and thriving economy.
• 🔗 Tyre was divided into 'Old Tyre' and the heavily fortified 'New Tyre', with the latter being an offshore fortress that had withstood sieges in the past.
• 🛡️ The Tyrians were confident in their city's defenses, including thick walls, a powerful navy, and mercenary units, which made the city seem unconquerable.
• 🗣️ Initial diplomatic attempts by Alexander to gain access to New Tyre's temple for a sacrifice were rejected, leading to a refusal to surrender.
• 🔨 Alexander's strategy involved building a causeway from the mainland to New Tyre, despite the lack of a significant naval force.
• 🔥 The Tyrians employed aggressive defense tactics, including setting fire to a ship and using it to attack the Macedonian siege towers and causeway.
• ⚓ Alexander sought naval support from recently conquered cities and other regions, amassing over 200 galleys to gain naval superiority.
• 🏹 With improved tactics and naval power, Alexander intensified the siege, using both land and sea-based catapults to bombard Tyre.
• 🛡️ Despite numerous attempts and counterattacks by the Tyrians, the Macedonians eventually breached the city walls after a long and brutal siege.
• 🏹 After the city's fall, Alexander executed a ruthless revenge, with thousands of Tyrians killed or crucified, and the survivors sold into slavery.
• 🎖️ The siege of Tyre demonstrated Alexander's diplomatic skills, strategic awareness, and persistence, marking a significant achievement in his campaign.

Q & A

What significant event took place near the town of Issus involving Macedonian King Alexander?

Macedonian King Alexander achieved a great victory over Persian King Darius near the town of Issus.

Why was the Phoenician coastline important to Alexander's campaign?

The Phoenician coastline was rich and strategic, and securing it would help neutralize the Persian fleet's threat to the Macedonian conquest of the Persian Empire's inland.

What was the significance of the City of Tyre during the time of Alexander's siege?

The City of Tyre was the wealthiest and most influential Phoenician settlement, known for its rare dye production and thriving economy, and served as an important Persian naval base.

What was the geographical composition of Tyre that Alexander had to contend with during the siege?

Tyre comprised of two parts: the barely defended coastal settlement known as 'Old Tyre' and the heavily fortified island-city 'New Tyre,' situated about 700 meters off the coast.

Why did the Tyrians refuse to surrender to Alexander?

The Tyrians were confident in their city's defenses, which included thick walls, a powerful navy, and mercenary units, and they refused to be subordinate to Alexander's will.

What was Alexander's initial request that the Tyrians denied, leading to the start of the siege?

Alexander requested to make a sacrifice to Heracles in New Tyre's temple, but the Tyrians feared a trap and denied his request, offering the use of the temple in Old Tyre instead.

How did Alexander attempt to besiege the island-city of Tyre, given his limited naval resources?

Alexander used the building material and rubble from destroyed Old Tyre to build a causeway across the channel toward New Tyre, which was connected to the mainland by a natural land bridge.

What was the Tyrians' strategy to counter Alexander's causeway construction?

The Tyrians used an old horse transport ship filled with combustibles, set it on fire, and ran it onto the pier to set the Macedonian siege towers and palisades ablaze.

How did Alexander gain naval superiority to aid in the siege of Tyre?

Alexander acquired fleets from recently conquered Phoenician cities, Ionia, Macedonia, and Cyprus, amassing a fleet of over 200 galleys to overpower the Tyrian navy.

What was the outcome of the siege of Tyre after several months of conflict?

After a long and brutal siege, Alexander's forces breached the city walls, leading to the slaughter of 6,000 Tyrian defenders, with 2,000 more crucified, and the remaining citizens sold into slavery.

What was Alexander's next strategic move after securing the Phoenician coast?

With the Phoenician coast secured, Alexander turned his attention southward to plan his invasion of Africa and challenge the Persian rule over the Nile valley.