To meet the invader, the great Persian king in Asia Minor there was an army, not much larger than Alexander's army, gathered under the command of the satraps of the western provinces near the town green. Under their authority was also a detachment of Greek mercenaries - soldiers - professionals, but they were far more serious threat to the army of the Macedonian king, rather than the other forces of the Persians. Connection with Macedonia, that is, from its base, Alexander could be implemented only through a narrow place the Hellespont, and he is moving away from it risked being completely cut off from their rear, their reserves. For the Persian commanders would have been a reasonable strategy of luring the Greek army with him into the depths of the country, while avoiding direct confrontation for the time being, as urged by the commander of the Greek mercenaries rodosets Memnon. Granik. Code of honor of the Persian nobility, or the casual opponent, did not allow the Persians to adopt this strategy, and Alexander found them waiting for him the army at the river Granicus. It was basically a battle horse, in which a common code of honor made the Macedonians and Persians to engage melee, and at the end of the day the remnants of the Persian army fled, leaving open the invader great roads of Asia Minor. Now Alexander able to carry out the first part belonging to him as commander in chief Greeks plan to release the Greek cities of Asia Minor, which for so long has publicly demanded enthusiasts pan-Hellenism: Alexander moved to the old Lydian capital, Sardis, the Persian governor's residence on this side of Taurus, and a strong city surrendered without a fight. After that, all the Greek cities of Ionia and Eolii fell friendly Persian Government oligarchs and tyrants and established democratic order under the supervision of the detachment commander of the Macedonian king. Only where the city was defended garrisons, in the service of Persia, and staffed mainly by Greek mercenaries, the Liberator could expect the likelihood of resistance. In fact, from Ephesus, the garrison fled, only learned of the defeat at the Granicus, though, had to lay siege to Miletus. The Persian fleet tried in vain to remove the siege of the city, and Millet could not long resist the army storming the Macedonians. Only at Halicarnassus, Alexander first met with stiff resistance, where Memnon with the satrap of Caria collected all the ground forces still remaining in Persia in the west. The onset of winter, Alexander conquered the city, but two of his fortified citadel long withstand the siege.
Meanwhile, the Macedonian king made clear that he did not come here just to take revenge on the Persians, not just to lead a punitive war, and to become the king of Persia. In the conquered provinces, he appointed a Macedonian governors, and Caria returned the power of Princess Ada, a local dynasty, which took him as a son. In the winter, while Parmenion, his deputy in-chief, moved to the central plateau, dominating the province Phrygia, Alexander walked along the coast, where he surrendered Lycians and swore allegiance to the Greek cities of the coastal Pamphylia. Mountains in the heart of the continent was home to the warlike tribes, which the Persian authorities have not been able to subjugate. For their achievements by Alexander did not have time, but he stormed some of their strongholds to keep them under control and went across their territory, and then turned to the north of Pamphylia in the interior of the continent.
In the spring of 333 BC he passed the coastal road to Perga, passing the cliffs of the mountains Climax by timely change of wind. The fall in sea level during this transition, resulting in Alexander and was able to go this route, has been interpreted by flatterers of Alexander, including the historian Callisthenes as a sign of divine grace. Passing through Perge, he came to the Proud, the Phrygian city, where permitted famous problem of the Gordian knot, which could be unleashed only in the future ruler of Asia, Alexander splitting his sword. Here, it hit him the news of the death of Memnon, a talented military commander and the commander of the Persian fleet. Alexander immediately benefited from the news, leaving the Proud, quickly moved on Ankiru, and thence south through Cappadocia and the Cilician Gates. In Cilicia during his delayed fever. Meanwhile, Darius, with his huge army approached the eastern side of the mountains Aman. Exploration on both sides made a mistake, and Alexander had pitched his camp when he learned that Darius is on his rear lanes in Issa. Turning immediately to meet Darius, Alexander found his army stretched along the river Pinar. Here, Alexander won a decisive victory. The Persians were defeated, Darius fled, leaving his family in the hands of Alexander.
