Fought on 1 October 331 BC near Gaugamela in what is now Iraqi Kurdistan, the Battle of Gaugamela was the second and final pitched battle between Alexander the Great and the Persian king Darius III. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Alexander's combined-arms tactics broke the Persian center and sent Darius fleeing the field. The victory delivered Babylon and the Persian heartland to Alexander and is regarded as the decisive blow to the Achaemenid Empire.
Facts
LocationProbably Tel Gomel, near Erbil in modern Iraqi Kurdistan, north of Mount Alfaf. 1 OutcomeMacedonian victory. Alexander gained Babylon, half of Persia and all other parts of Mesopotamia, and was afterward regarded as King of all Asia. 1 Cross-Tradition Connections
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Battle of Gaugamela
Wikipedialead paragraphQuote, lead paragraph
took place in 331 BC between the forces of the Army of Macedon
1. Wikipedia: Battle of Gaugamela
Wikipediainfobox, Date fieldQuote, infobox, Date field
1 October 331 BC
1. Wikipedia: Battle of Gaugamela
Wikipediainfobox, Location fieldQuote, infobox, Location field
Probably Tel Gomel (Gaugamela) near Erbil, modern Iraqi Kurdistan, north of Mount Alfaf
1. Wikipedia: Battle of Gaugamela
Wikipediainfobox/leadQuote, infobox/lead
Macedonian victory...Alexander gaining Babylon, half of Persia and all other parts of Mesopotamia
1. Wikipedia: Battle of Gaugamela
Wikipedialead/infobox, alternate nameQuote, lead/infobox, alternate name
Also called the Battle of Arbela
1. Wikipedia: Battle of Gaugamela
Wikipedialead section, pronunciation glossQuote, lead section, pronunciation gloss
/ˌɡɔːɡəˈmiːlə/ GAW-gə-MEE-lə
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Battle of Gaugamela also called the Battle of Arbela?
It is named for nearby Arbela (modern Erbil), the closest major city to the battlefield.
Ancient and modern sources alike give Gaugamela a second name, the Battle of Arbela, after Arbela (modern Erbil), the nearest major city to the battlefield, even though the fighting itself took place well north of the city at a site now identified as Tel Gomel.
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
The atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.