51-2 
battle OE BLENHEIM. 
brother to Spithrobates, at the same time gave Alexander snch a furi- 
ous blow on the head with his battle-axe, that he beat off his plume 
and slightly wounded hmi through the helmet. As he was ready to 
repeat the blow, Clitus, with one stroke of his scimitar, cut off Rosa- 
ces’ head, and thus, in all probability, saved the life of his sovereign. 
The Macedonians then, animated by the example of their king, attack- 
ed the Persians with new vigour, who soon after betook themselves 
to flight Alexander immediately charged the enemy’s foot with all 
his forces, who had now passed the river. The Persians, disheart- 
ened at the defeat of their cavalry, made no great resistance. The 
Greek mercenaries retired in good order to a neighbouring hill, whence 
they sent deputies to Alexander, desiring leave to march off unmo- 
lested. But he, instead of coming to a parley with them, rushed 
furiously into the middle of this small body ; where his horse was 
killed under him, and he was in great danger of being cut to pieces. 
The Greeks defended themselves with incredible vaTour for a long- 
time, but were at last almost entirely cut off. In this battle the Per- 
sians are said to have lost 20,000 foot and 25,00 horse, and the 
Macedonians only 65 foot and 60 horse. 
Battle of Blenheim. 
Blenheim is a village of Germany, and is memorable for the famous 
liattle fought there in 1704, in which the French and Bavarians were 
defeated by the English and their allies under prince Eugene and the 
duke of Marlborough. The French army amounted to 60,000 vete- 
rans, who had shared in the conquests of their grand monarque, and 
were now commanded by two generals, the most distinguished at that 
time in France, — marshal Tallard and the duke of" Bavaria. The 
former had established his reputation by many victories. He was 
active and penetrating, but his ardour often rose to impetuosity ; and 
he was so short-sighted as to be incapable of seeing objects at a very 
small distance. The duke of Bavaria was equally experienced in 
the field, and had stronger motives for activity. His country was 
ravaged before his eyes, and nothing remained of his possessions but 
the army which he commanded. The allied army, commanded by 
Eugene and Marlborough, amounted to above 52,000 troops, that 
had long been familiar with victory, and had seen the French, the 
Turks, and the Russians fly before them. 
Both armies, after many marches and counter-marches, approached 
each other. The French were posted on a hill near Hochstet; their 
right covered by the Danube and Blenheim, their left by the village 
of Lutzengen, and their front by a rivulet, the banks of which were 
steep and the bottom marshy. The right wing of the French was 
commanded by marshal Tallard, their left by the duke of Bavaria, 
and under him general Marsin, an experienced Frenchman. Their po- 
sition being advantageous, they were willing to await the enemy rather 
than offer battle. On the other hand, Marlborough and Eugene were 
stimulated to engage them at all events, in consequence of an inter- 
cepted letter from Villeroy, intimating that he was preparing to cut 
off all communication between the Rhine and the allied army. The 
