CHAPTER 134

 

Between Gordianus and his daughter Diana

52 BC Rome

 

“Where to begin? Well, we shall have to start with Caesar and Pompey. You know who they are.”

 

“Of course. Gaius Julius Caesar is the man [my brother] Meto serves, up in Gaul. The greatest General since Alexander the Great.”

 

I smiled. “So Meto says. Pompey might not agree.”

 

“Pompey cleared the seas of the pirates and conquered the East”

 

I nodded. “And surnamed himself Magnus –‘the Great’, just like Alexander. As I said a moment ago, sometime when two men want the same thing—“

 

“You mean Caesar and Pompey both want to be Alexander the Great?”

 

“Yes, exactly, since you put it like that. And there can’t be two at once. The world is not big enough.”(1)

 

-o-o-o-

 

 

Hephaistion was so sleep that Nikandros had to catch him before he fell from the horse, sliding slowly to one side. The sudden movement woke him up, and the first thing his dark gray eyes found was his brother’s cloak, his face pressed against his side.

 

- This is the second time I have to catch you before you break your neck falling from your horse –said Nikandros, holding him awkwardly by the belt, trying his best to keep riding. It took the General a moment to fully understand where he was and what was happening and then, the only thing he managed to ask, was:

 

- Did I fell asleep? –he straightened himself, taking deep breaths and brushing his hair aside.

 

- Oh, yes you did –Hephaistion felt terribly embarrassed, how could he had fallen asleep? He was the General of the Agema of the Hypaspist, he had to set an example, not to fall asleep on his horse, what would Alexander say? After all the King was always the first one in getting up and the last in going to rest and he, who the King had named his equal in from of the Queen Mother Sisygambis, fell asleep while riding.

 

Just what I need, if Krateros or Eumenes hear about this they will say again that I’m here only because of my looks –thought Hephaistion shaking his head. He turned around to see if someone else had noticed, but everybody was too busy to pay him any attention, and sighed relief.

 

- Thank you –said the General, rubbing his eyes and his brother nodded.

 

It was day now, the sun shining more than warming those lands, but Hephaistion was grateful because the cold air helped him to wake up.

 

But at least now we can see where are we stepping –thought the General, yawning.

 

Soon the order to halt and rest was given and the men fell on the same spot they were standing, too tired to wander around and too hungry to lose time in other things that didn’t involve eating their rations. 

 

XXX

 

Parmelio’s march through the Royal Road was quite different from the difficult task that the King and his men were facing. The old General rode at the front of his men with his most trustful officer at his side, the Iliach Hegelochus son of Hippostratos (2) who was no other that the late Queen Cleopatra Eurydice’s nephew and great nephew of the late Attalos.

 

Which Attalos? The same one who insulted Alexander during his father’s wedding, do you remember? Hegelochus was the son of Cleopatra Eurydice’s brother and so far he had done very good in the army. He had been temporarily admiral of the Macedonian fleet, but at this time he was serving as a cavalry commander in charge of one of the mercenary squadrons. Why was he alive if he was related to Attalos? Well, Macedonia was small, many families were related to each other and Alexander could hardly killed half of the Macedonian nobility, don’t you think?

 

Why was that Parmelio kept that kind of company? He had always liked Attalos, he thought Hegelochus was a good man of 30 years old and, even if he never said it aloud, he didn’t like Alexander and hated his mother, blaming Queen Olympias for his aunt’s suicide, something he had in common with his superior. The old General didn’t like his King much and despised the Queen, he didn’t like Alexander when he was still the Crown Prince and, during this campaign they had argued so much that the little love he could have had for his sovereign was lost now.

 

In Parmelio’s opinion half of the things the King did were wrong and the fact that they had came this far was only thanks to good luck to say the least, and a miracle to say the most. But this was as inevitable as death, after all Parmelio could have been Alexander’s grandfather, and as all grandfathers he thought that the only way to do things was his way, or in the King’s words: the old way. 

 

- We have good weather, General –said Hegelochus, surveying the distance. It was cold, but not as cold as it was on the mountains and the sky was clear, no clouds could be seen. They were marching at a comfortable pace and so far they didn’t encounter any trouble—At this rate we may arrive before the King…General?

 

The Iliarch turned and saw the old General lost deep in thought, not paying the slightest attention to him or to the road.

 

- General? – Hegelochus insisted and Parmelio was startled.

 

- What?…Were you saying something? –asked the old General distracted. The Iliarch smiled, shaking his head.

 

- Is something bothering you, sir?

 

Parmelio took a moment before answering. There were many things bothering him these days, many thoughts buzzing in his head, many worries that it was hard to know where to start. 

 

- You can say that –he said after a moment, listening to the hundreds of feet marching behind him the sound of the horses’ hooves and the wheels over the road—I was wondering…what will happen when we capture Darius?

 

Hegelochus chuckled.

 

- What else, sir? We return home as very rich men –but the General didn’t return the smile, and held his gaze, looking very serious. Could he confide in this man? So far Hegelochus hadn’t given any reason to doubt him and Parmelio had learned to trust him as if he were one of his sons; he nodded slowly making up his mind.

 

- Do you really think we are coming back after we capture Darius? –Parmelio’s voice was just a whisper but his voice was strong and clear. It didn’t take Hegelochus long to understand what was the old General thinking and the smile abandoned his face.

 

- You think the King will take us further into Persia? 

 

- Worst. I think… —but Parmelio closed his mouth in the same instant he heard horses approaching from behind.

 

They both turned and found Achilles, riding on Pegasus directly to them with 2 men the King had assigned for his protection.

 

- Joy to you, General! –said the boy with all formality, brushing his hair aside. He had Hephaistion’s hair but not as long as the King liked, just reaching his cheeks. 

 

- Achilles, to what do I owe the honor? –Parmelio forced a smile.

 

He didn’t like the Prince, the same as the Iliarch at his side and others among the most senior officers of the army, those who had fought under King Philip’s order to be more specific. Why? Because Achilles was Hephaistion’s son, if the boy had been Philotas’ son or Cassander’s, for example, then things would have been very different because they belong to the high Macedonian nobility and had old and influential fathers. But still, if Philotas or Cassander had been Achilles’ father, there would have been trouble among the different political factions. But Hephaistion? According to more than one of the veteran officers the only reason of why the General of the Agema was so important, was because of his looks.

 

If Achilles became a King, Hephaistion would be the second most important man in what was becoming a big, powerful and rich empire. Besides, there was another problem; for Parmelio Achilles was another Alexander, another smart, precocious and hot- headed boy with Hephaistion’s looks, to make things even worst. 

 

Of course Parmelio misjudged Achilles, if he had taken 5 minutes to analyze my son he would have known that Achilles wasn’t like Alexander, he wasn’t hot-headed and certainly wasn’t the adventurous type. But, we can say that Parmelio saw what he wanted.

 

- I want to ride with you –answered Achilles, looking more like a young man than like a boy.

 

- Certainly –answered Parmelio and the boy slower Pegasus pace to match the other’s horses.

 

- General, I want to ask you about my grandfather –said the Prince, successfully surprising the old General who was waiting to hear a more childish question coming from those lips—What kind of man was King Philip?

 

This time Parmelio smiled genuinely happy. 

 

- He was a great man, strong and determined –he answered—Do you know how was that King Philip had the idea of reforming the Macedonian army? –Achilles shook his head. 

 

- No.

 

- It was during his time as a hostage in Thebes –said Parmelio, it was more than obvious that he enjoyed talking about this—He met great men there, like Epaminondas, Pelopidas and Pammenes, you have heard those names?

 

- Yes, the three of them were Generals and very prominent men of their time –answered Achilles at once—Pelopidas was especially famous because he defeated a much numerous Spartan force at the battle of Tegyra.

 

- You have been reading Greek history –said Parmelio nodding. He had to admit that the boy was clever but still he didn’t like him—As you know Thebes was a great power with a powerful army and that made King Philip think about the Macedonian army and how to improve it –the old General pointed with his arm behind him—This army wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t because of him. 

 

- Yes, but I think my father has also made improvements to the army –said Achilles.

 

- Yes, I suppose he did –mumbled Parmelio—But you are far too young to understand. I don’t think that even the King truly understands what was Macedonia before King Philip. It was nothing! Nothing! A backwater kingdom –he raised slightly his voice—And thanks to King Philip is that now Alexander can be here today –Hegelochus nodded his agreement. 

 

Achilles listened with all his attention, he already knew some of the things Parmelio told him but he ignored many more. But, what really left the young Prince thinking for a long time was to realize how different was the old General from his fathers and his fathers’ friends. Parmelio reminded him more of Kleitos than Perdikkas, for example, and he also admired the late King Philip, something completely new to the boy. Alexander spoke little about his father and Hephaistion didn’t like to talk about him at all.

 

Achilles was still very young to comprehend what was really going on, but this experiences served him greatly when he was crowned King, he knew then how to treat the Macedonian soldiers and how not to insult the veterans…But you’ll have to wait to know more.    

 

XXX

 

It was the dawn of the third day when Hephaistion saw at the distance the first lights of the Persian camp, after a long, dangerous and hard march they had finally reached their destination. He had to admit than more than once he considered the possibility that their mysterious guide had lied to them and the herdsman was leading the army into a trap, but now he felt relief. There was movement around him, each unit getting ready following their orders: Perdikkas’s taxei, the archers, the Agrianes, the Agema and one squadron of cavalry, would follow the King heading to the pass; while Amyntas, Philotas and Koinos would take the remaining troops down the hills to the river with orders of building a bridge as soon as possible.

 

The General took a deep breath and the cold air fill his lungs waking him up completely after the long night march. They were very near to the first enemy outpost and he could clearly feel the change in the men’s mood around him; they all were alert now and ready for action. He checked his grandfather’s swords hanging on his back, and took off his helmet, brushing his hair back with his fingers. Hephaistion smiled, he could clearly hear his grandfather’s voice scolding him for doing this; he knew it was dangerous but he just couldn’t fight with the damn thing on.

 

It was still dark.

 

Good –thought the General. They had the advantage of a surprise attack, the Persians won’t be expecting an army coming through the mountains, they would be terrified, thinking that demons had emerged from darkness to claim their blood. They had to be fast, make the most of this before word of their presence reached Ariobarzanes. 

 

He heard a distant sound and new that the small group of soldiers on the outpost were finish even before they could defend themselves; several bodies where lying on the ground when his horse reached the place but he could distinguish a considerable number of men running away to the mountains instead of going to their commander and sound the alarm.

 

Better for us –thought the General smiling—This way Ariobarzanes is not going to know about our presence until its too late. 

 

The Macedonian descended through the rocky road, the first rays of light illuminated their path but, the raising sun that was a relief to the Macedonians after their dangerous march under the cover of darkness, was a harbinger of death for the Persians, showing them their enemies approaching.

 

Ariobarzanes came out of his tent, when the heard the first shouts of warning from his terrified men, half a sleep and completely confuse, narrowing his eyes as soon as the sunlight hit his face.

 

- What’s going on? –asked the satrap to the first man the encounter, taking him with force from the neck of his cloths.

 

- S-sir, the-the Macedonians –the man stammered—They are coming.

 

- Coming? –that had no sense at all—Are they attacking the wall?

 

- N-no, sir. They-they are behind us –Ariobarzanes saw the man as if he were nuts and released him, striding to reach a higher place.

 

The Macedonians behind them? That was unlikely, impossible! He had blocked all the possible roads leading to his position, there was no way in which the barbarian King could have taken his troops behind him unless they had fallen from the sky, which was also impossible. But, when Ariobarzanes reached higher ground he was greeted by hundreds of armors shinning under the sun; he felt light-headed, lost, scared.

 

How was that the Macedonian army was behind his own forces? Could it be that a God had helped them to cross to the other side through the shadows? Several questions hit the satrap at the same time, one more unlikely than the last, and for long moments he remained where he was, not knowing what to do until the sound of trumpets woke him up.

 

Ariobarzanes ran, amidst the chaos and confusing until he reached the wall, standing on the same place where, just a few nights before, he had been watching the lights of the Macedonian camp thinking in his perfect plan and his perfect victory over the invader. Now, he saw with horror how Krateros took his men in battle formation to the wall, and then the satrap realized he was trapped: behind him the enemy was slaughtering his men, forcing everyone to retreat against their wall, and on the other side Krateros was approaching.

 

There was no choice, he would have to gather his men in the inner defenses, they couldn’t even ran away, not surrendered like they were. He started to shout orders when he realized that, even his desperate plan was doom to fail, because Alexander had given Ptolemy orders to advance after him, and now the satrap saw 3,000 infantry approaching the inner defenses. Ahura Mazda was punishing his arrogance, Ariobarzanes was sure of that.   

 

Once the trap closed around the Persians this was no longer a battle. The enemy died where they were standing and soon the ground under our feet because a red pool of blood. Ariobarzanes escaped, how? I’m not sure myself but somehow he managed to take a horse and ran away through the mountains with 700 of his most trusted men.

 

And what of the herdsman who guided us here? Well, Alexander rewarded him handsomely; after all he had earned his pay.

 

We had lost enough time already in Alexander’s opinion, and after a brief rest the King ordered to continue the march to Persepolis. I wasn’t very happy with this, I was extremely tired and dying for a bath, but I understood his urgency and said nothing. A messenger from Tiridates reached us before dark, the garrison commander of the sacred city had a letter for my King.

 

- Tiridates promises to surrender the city –said the King to his military staff, all of them standing at one side of the road while the men rested—But he insists that we must hurry or he can’t guarantee that the inhabitants won’t plunder the royal treasury. 

 

- We can’t lose time then –said Perdikkas, already counting his share of the Persian treasury and hearing the jingle of coins.

 

- It could be trap –said Kleitos, always suspicious.

 

- For you everything is a trap –Ptolemy mocked him.

 

- Oh, really? Do I have to remind you that this shit has happened before? –said the hipparch in a bad mood—First it happened at Miletus. Hegesistratus sent a letter proposing peace to Alexander but the son of a bad mother changed his mind at the end. At Myndus they assured the King that they would surrender the town to him on the condition that he arrive by night, but when we arrived, the garrison showed no sign that they were willing to surrender (3) At Damascus…

 

- That’s enough –Alexander interrupted him without raising his voice—You are right, Kleitos, this can be a trap, but I doubt it. Sooner or later Tiridates would hear about Ariobarzanes defeat, if he hasn’t already, I doubt he has enough men to defend the city or the strength to do so –he looked again at the letter—I think he is telling the truth –Hephaistion nodded, he too thought that– I’ll take with me the hetairoi cavalry to reach Persepolis as soon as possible, the infantry will follow at their own pace.

 

The taxiarchs nodded their agreement and everybody ran to obey. The King made the cavalry advance as if they were chasing the Great King again, there were no more enemies between him and Persepolis only time was against him and he was determined to beat it. They rode without rest, and more than one hetairoi thought their beloved horses would drop death as soon as they reach the gates of the sacred city.

 

The guides assured the King that they were very close to the city when they were met by a group of men on the road.

 

It was very shocking sight. What we encounter on our way to Persepolis was a group of Greeks, middle age and old men dressed in rags and all of them horrible mutilated. I confessed that I felt a knot in my stomach, I had seen mutilated corpses before but not living men, and certainly not like this, many were missing ears and noses, others lacked hands or feet…Why am I smiling? It’s because I found amusing that there was a time when such things impressed me…

 

One of the things I feared the most when I was a mortal was to be mutilated. I never feared death, but I was terrified by the prospect of losing a limb. I could hardly look at them while they acclaimed my King as their savior; I had to admit, I felt ashamed of my behavior, but thanks to my luck, nobody noticed me, all my companions were in shock watching these men.

 

- What’s your name? –asked Alexander to man who had approached him first.

 

- Demophlos, sire –said the man, it was hard to calculate his age, but Hephaistion best guess was from 48 to 55. He was lacking his nose, a cloth was wrapped around the wound, and that made it a little hard to understand his words.

 

- Demophlos, I admire your courage and what I offer to you and your companions is to send you all back home –said the King and the group of Greeks started to talk among themselves.  

 

- Sire –said Demophlos again, when the rumors ceased—We thank you, but we don’t want to go back –those words took Alexander aback—We fought against the Great King Artaxerxes Ochus and he punished us for that –he pointed at his missing nose—But, even with our limitations, we have learned crafts and we lived in peace. If we go back to Greece, we’ll be social pariahs, sire, here we are among equals.

 

Alexander nodded.

 

- I applaud your choice, Demophlos –said the King—Then, I shall provide you all with the necessary to establish yourselves as farmers, and your community would be tax-exempt in perpetuity.

 

Again the group broke in excited and happy whispers and more than one, starting with Demophlos, cried.

 

- Thank you, sire…Thank you –said the man with drowned voice.

 

Alexander hardly spoke during the rest of the march, he was clearly impressed by what he had seen, witnessing first hand the Persian cruelty and that made him recall the time when Darius had mutilated his wounded just before the battle of Issus. He was angry, very angry and Hephaistion feared that he could do something rash.

 

Finally, on the last day of the month now known as January the Macedonians reached Persepolis. Before them stood the most sacred city of the whole empire, the burial place of the Achaemenid Kings, their treasury, the very heart of the Empire. In other circumstances Hephaistion would have been fascinated by the impressive sight of the city, it’s several and impressive entrances, by what this place represented...but he couldn’t, not watching that expression on his King’s face.

 

Tiridates kept his word and surrendered the city, he had heard about Ariobarzanes defeat and just as the King had said, he hadn’t enough men to defend the city or the strength to resist a siege. However, it didn’t pass unnoticed for Alexander that Persepolis didn’t receive him as Babylon or Susa, all the inhabitants were locked inside their houses when he entered, there wasn’t a procession, no gifts, no exotic animals, not chanting priests; the Magi didn’t came, the nobles and notables of the city remained in their houses and just the soldiers and guards accompanied their commander, Tiridates, and escorted the Macedonian King to the royal palace.

 

That didn’t serve to improve the King’s mood. The tension in the palace was suffocating, Tiridates was scared, the King angry and Hephaistion worried. The one who should have received Alexander was Ariobarzanes, the one who should have handed him the treasury was Ariobarzanes and the one who should have been in Tiridates’ place, once again, was Ariobarzanes, just like Mazaeus and Abulites had done. But instead, the satrap had defied him, attacked him at the Persian Gates and inflicted him a humiliating defeat.    

 

Alexander had defeated a Persian Great King but Persia wasn’t willing to surrender.

 

It took a day for Parmelio and Krateros to join the King, arriving almost at the same time, and all the officers headed immediately to the royal palace. Achilles ran to the King as soon as he saw him, standing in a magnificent room, but stopped when he saw his adoptive father’s expression. It was clear for all that Alexander was in a bad mood but they didn’t understand why, after all Tiridates had surrendered, was he fearing an attack inside Persepolis? It was unlikely. They reached the King with hundreds of questions buzzing inside their heads and they heard the last thing they would have expected.

 

- Alexander, you can’t possibly be serious –said Parmelio, as impressed as the rest. Perdikkas, Meleager, Krateros and Kleitos couldn’t decide if they should be glad or concerned with the news, Achilles saw the King as if he didn’t know him and Hephaistion clenched his jaw, he knew something like this was going to happen.  

 

- Why not? –Alexander was in a terrible mood and his voice chilled their blood.

 

- You said it yourself at the beginning of the campaign –said the old General, his voice firm—That we shouldn’t destroy what is now ours, and you want to give the men permission to sack the city.

 

- The Persians don’t want to recognize me as their legitimate Great King. Fine! They will pay the consequences then –said the King, holding the old General’s gaze and forcing him to turn his face.

 

- You can’t do that –they all turned when Achilles spoke. He had never spoken at a military meeting, he had never before contradicted the King in public, but even if he was only 7 years old he understood, probably better than all of them, how important was Persepolis thanks to his friendship with Cyrus and his professor Bahman, and he couldn’t stay in silence—Persepolis is a sacred city, you can’t sack it, it would a terrible offence to the Persians. 

 

- I don’t care if its their sacred city –said Alexander, he was angry and he had never talked to Achilles like that, which took the boy aback and scared him a little. Hephaistion clenched his fists following the conversation with attention—They had a choice, and the chose to defy me.

 

- They surrendered the city –Achilles insisted—You should do the same as you did in Babylon and Susa. 

 

- Now you are telling me what to do? I suppose you know more about running a military campaign than me –the tone of his voice was hurtful, he was being cruel with the boy but Alexander was beyond fury. When he was this angry, the best thing to do was to close your mouth and wait until he had calmed down a little, but Achilles had done the worst: contradict him and tell him what he had to do.

 

The Prince blushed, he felt his ears burning in embarrassment and he looked at his feet, shaking slightly and making an effort to control the urge to cry, he would not cry in front of the King and his officers.

 

- You have your orders –Alexander continued—The men have a day to do as they like in the city and are authorized to kill all adult males they encounter. The palace and its surroundings would be spared.

 

Parmelio was the first one to leave, shaking his head with Hegelochus behind him. Hephaistion waited until the last man had left, and went to his son’s side; he took him gently by the shoulder and walked away with him.

 

- Phai, where are you going? We have things to do–said the King without looking at him, and the General stopped, turning slowly to look at him. 

 

- Dismas can escort you, sire –the cold tone in his beloved’s voice took him aback, he turned and saw that Hephaistion was furious.

 

- What’s wrong?

 

- What’s wrong? –the General couldn’t believe that he was actually asking that, he closed the distance between them, leaving Achilles near the door, and kept his voice leveled but firm—You didn’t have to humiliate Aki.

 

Alexander snorted.

 

- We’ll talk later, there is no time now –he said, walking to where his page was standing, holding a second door opened for him.

 

- I’m not going with you –the King stopped—If you don’t have time for your heir that’s your problem, but I’m going with my son.

 

He wasn’t looking at Alexander’s face but he knew he was furious; his shoulders were too tense. The King kept walking and left and Hephaistion had to take a deep breath trying to calm himself. 

 

- Daddy? –Achilles walked at his side—What is going to happen now? 

 

- I don’t know, but I’m sure its nothing good –said the General.

 

XXX

(1) Steven Saylor. A Murder on the Appian Way, p 40 and 41

(2) According to Dr. Heckle Hegelochus was accused of conspiring with Parmelio against Alexander at Egypt, and he died at Gaugamela with the rank of Iliarch, though I don’t exactly what who did he commanded. Well, I have other plans for him so he will live a little more ;)

(3) Pierre Briant. From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire, p 847