Granicus, Battle of The

(334 &BC;) First victory won by Alexander the Great in his invasion of the Persian empire. Against heavy odds at the Granicus River, Alexander's army defeated the Persians under Darius III, who fled.

Alexander himself charged the Persian generals, killing two of Darius' relatives and almost losing his own life. The Macedonians reportedly lost only 115 men. The victory gave western Asia Minor to Alexander, and most cities hastened to open their gates.