Battle of the Uxian Defile (December 331 BC)
Alexander’s route took him through the land of the Uxians, an independent people, and those that lived in the highlands levied a fee in animals or goods for anyone, including Persians, who wanted safe passage through their land. When they informed Alexander that if he wanted to pass through to Persepolis he must pay the toll, Alexander told them to wait for him at the pass. He sent Craterus (c.370-321 BC) with a strong detachment up into the heights above this defile. Before dawn Alexander attacked several still-sleeping villages. He then attacked the pass. Its defenders lost their nerve and fled into the mountains, where Craterus and his men annihilated them.
Battle of the Persian Gates (20 January 330 BC)
At the Persian Gates, Ariobarzanes put troops on the heights, built a wall across the pass and encamped to the rear. Alexander arrived and marched along the gully. As he neared the wall, boulders and arrows began to rain down from the sides of the gorge. The Macedonians suffered heavy casualties and had to withdraw. Leaving a force under Craterus at the entrance to the gorge, Alexander took the rest of his men in a wide detour over the mountain to outflank the pass. They arrived in position just before dawn. Horns were sounded signalling to Craterus to advance through the gully. Alexander split his force again and sent Philotas (d.330 BC) son of Parmenion to attack the enemy on the heights, while he himself charged into the enemy camp. Only a handful of Persians escaped, the rest were killed where they stood. Ariobarzanes was killed either now or soon afterwards. This fourth major Macedonian victory ended effective Persian resistance.
On 30 January, Alexander received the surrender of Persepolis from Tiridates, the treasurer commanding the citadel, together with 120,000 talents of gold as well as treasure. Although the city surrendered without a fight it was still looted and many Persians were killed or committed suicide.
Tiridates retained his former position, Nicarchides was put in command of a garrison of three thousand Macedonian soldiers, the baggage was left under the charge of Parmenion and Craterus, while Alexander with one thousand horsemen and light-armed infantry set off into inner Persia. He conquered or received into submission various towns and villages; the greatest resistance being offered by the warlike tribe called the Mardi. After thirty days he returned to Persepolis, having established his mastery of Persis.
Alexander stayed in Persepolis for four months. During this time he visited Pasargadae, northeast of Persepolis, to pay his respects at the tomb of Cyrus the Great. Before leaving Persepolis he burnt down the royal palace, his apparent motive being to break the spirit of resistance among the Persians by destroying the original centres of Achaemenid power.
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