Why was Alexander the Great so successful as a military leader?

Why Was Alexander the Great Successful? Alexander’s success lay in his military genius, knowing how to use his cavalry and troops precisely at key moments in battle. It seemed he was close to defeat several times but could use the situation to his advantage by luring his enemies into a deeper trap.

Is a phalanx effective?

One of the most effective and enduring military formations in ancient warfare was that of the Greek phalanx. The phalanx formation was a close-rank, dense grouping of warriors armed with long spears and interlocking shields.

How did the Romans defeat phalanx?

The phalanx relies on an unbroken front to be effective. The Romans, usually with their pilae or javelins, managed to open holes in the front of the phalanx, into which individual Roman soldiers could move, because they operated on a more flexible formation.

Did Alexander the Great use the phalanx in battle?

Neither Philip nor Alexander actually used the phalanx as their arm of choice, but instead used it to hold the enemy in place while their heavy cavalry broke through their ranks. The Macedonian cavalry fought in wedge formation and was almost always stationed on the far right.

How did the Macedonian phalanx fight?

The Macedonian cavalry fought in wedge formation and was almost always stationed on the far right. The hypaspists, elite infantrymen who served as the king’s bodyguard, were stationed on the immediate right of the phalanx wielding hoplite sized spears and shields.

How did Philip the great change the phalanx?

Philip also increased the amount of training required for the infantry and introduced regulations on military behaviour. During Alexander’s campaign, the phalanx remained more or less the same, with the notable difference being more non-Macedonian soldiers among the ranks.

What weapons did Alexander the Great use in the Battle of Thera?

From there, Alexander thought of creating an experimental phalanx. Each regiment of 256 men of Alexander’s experimental phalanx was placed at a depth of 16 scales, of which the men of the first three were armed with sarisses, the men of the next with bows and those of the last again with sarisses.