Alexander followed the king in swift pursuit; it seemed impossible that he could escape. But Parmenio, who was commanding the left wing, was almost overpowered by the enemy. He sent a messenger to overtake Alexander, and beg him for help.
The king reluctantly gave up his pursuit of Darius, and rode back with his companions to give his general the help he had entreated. But by the time he reached the left wing his aid was no longer needed. Parmenio had wrested victory from the foe.
So the king again set out in pursuit of Darius, but all that he captured was the chariot, the shield and the bow of the coward king.
CHAPTER XCVIII
ALEXANDER BURNS PERSEPOLIS
The battle of Gaugamela in 331 B.C. decided the fate of the Persian empire. Darius was no longer the great king, for Alexander took the title as well as the dominions of his foe.
At Babylon, to which city Alexander now marched, the gates were thrown open to welcome him, the people coming out to meet the conqueror, led by their priests.
Alexander received them kindly, and bade the Babylonians not be afraid still to worship their own national god.
Here, in this great city, the king dreamed that he would set up his throne. Babylon should be the capital of his new empire.
Not far from Babylon was the city of Susa, where the Persian kings usually spent the winter months. Susa also surrendered to the great king without a blow being struck.