BATTLE OF THE GRANICUS. 
511 
Oa the sixth of September, when the letters of the pope’s legate 
were read in the assembly of the cardinals, by which he assured the 
pope that all was transacted by the express will and command of the 
king, it was immediately decreed that the cardinals should march to 
the church of St. Mark, and give thanks to God for so great a blessing 
conferred on the see of Rome ; that on the Monday after, solemn mass 
should be celebrated in the church of Minerva, (at which the pope, 
Gregory XIII. and cardinals were present; and that a jubilee should 
be published, to return thanks to God for the extirpation of the 
enemies of the truth and church, in France. In the evening, the can- 
non of St. Angelo were fired; the whole city was illuminated ; and no 
sign of rejoicing omitted, that was usually made for the greatest 
victories obtained in favour of the Roman church. 
Battle OF THE Graisticus. 
Granicus is a small river near the Hellespont, in Lesser Asia, 
remarkable for the first victory gained by Alexander the great over 
the armies of Darius. — Authors disagree about the number of the 
Persians, though all admit that they were vastly more numerous than 
the Greeks. Justin and Orosius tell us, that the Persian array con- 
sisted of 600,000 foot and 20,000 horse; Arrian makes the foot 
amount to 200,000 ; but Diodorus tells us that they were only 100,000 
foot and 10,000 horse. The Macedonian army did not exceed 30,000 
foot and 5000 horse. The Persian cavalry lined the banks of the 
Granicus, in order to oppose Alexander wherever he should attempt 
a passage; and the foot were posted behind the cavalry on an easy 
ascent. Parmenio would have had Alexander to allow his troops.some 
time to refresh themselves; but he replied, that, after crossing the 
Hellespont, it would be a disgrace to him and his troops to be stopped 
by a rivulet. 
Accordingly a proper place for crossing the river was no sooner 
found, than he commanded a strong detachment of horse to enter ; 
he himself followed with the right wing, which he commanded in 
person, the trumpets in the mean time sounding, and loud shouts of 
joy being heard through the whole army. The Persians, j3n their 
approach, let fly such showers of arrows against this detachment of 
Macedonian horse, as caused some confusion, several of their horses 
being killed or wounded. As they drew near the bank, a most bloody 
engagement ensued ; the Macedonians attempting to land, and the 
Persians pushing them back into the river. Alexander, who observed 
the confusion they were in, took the command of them himself, and, 
landing in spite of ail opposition, obliged the Persian cavalry, after 
an obstinate resistance, to*give ground. 
However, Spithrobates, governor of Ionia, and son-in-law to Darius, 
still maintained his ground, and did all that lay in his power to bring 
them back to the charge. Alexander advanced against him full 
gallop, and both were slightly wounded at the first encounter. Spith- 
robates having thrown his javelin without effect, advanced sword in 
hand to meet his antagonist, who ran him through with his pike as 
he raised his arm to discharge a blow with his scimitar. But Rosaces, 
