Sogdian Rock
The Sogdian Rock, also known as Rock of Ariamazes, was a high and steep sides sloping rock massif in the eastern part of the Persian province of Sogdiana, where there was a hard to reach because of their position impregnable fortress as applicable. Alexander the Great was this rock castle during his campaign in Asia - probably in 327 BC - but are taking.
Dating
The dating of the conquest of the Sogdian Rock by Alexander the Great is uncertain. According to the historian Arrian Alexander reliable they took place in the spring of 327 BC, after which succeeded the Macedon king, another, similarly strong mountain fortress, that of Sisimithres (or Chorienes ), also to beat. According to Quintus Curtius Rufus and Diodorus, however, Alexander was able to gain possession of located on the Sogdian rock castle in the spring of 328 BC. Most classical historians, as well as Alexander Demandt, follow the chronology of Arrian, which is therefore used as a basis in the following.
Prehistory
Since the end of Alexander the Great 328 BC Sogdiana still not fully been able to subdue, he decided to spend the winter with his troops in the Persian satrapy located in the center of this city Nautaka. After beating Alexander dangerous opponent Spitamenes by Koinos the Sogdian Bactrian resistance was essentially broken, and the Macedonian conqueror had now even particularly two previously independent lords, Ariamazes ( also referred to as Arimazes or Ariomazes ) and Sisimithres (from Arrian Chorienes called ), wrestle.
Siege
In the spring of 327 BC, Alexander moved with his army of Nautaka from the southeast in the direction of the Sogdian rock on which many Sogdians had sought refuge. Also, the Sogdian or Bactrian nobleman Oxyartes, had sent his wife and daughters, including Roxane in the local castle, where they should be safe from the Macedonians. This seemed the natural fortress actually almost invincible and the Sogdians had prepared by accumulation of large stocks of food on a long siege, which was also hampered by deep snow. Therefore, Alexander wished initially a peaceful settlement and offered for voluntary surrender of the defenders of free deduction for the escapees on the rocks. But the enemy leaders scoffed only that he would need men with wings to take the castle.
This mockery irritated Alexander. He wanted to climb up the rock the castle through voluntary, experienced climbers and created this high for such a risky venture prospect of rewards; he who would reach the first summit, should even get the huge amount of twelve talents of silver. There were 300 men ready, who - professionally equipped - at night zoom dared to A climb up a very steep rock wall that had occurred the garrison for monitoring too dangerous. Climbers hit in the frozen snow or rock columns iron tent pegs and strong ropes attached to it, where they dangled his way up. As you climb plunged 30 men to death, their bodies could not be recovered. The remaining finally arrived at sunrise on the summit and signaled this to the troops in the plane. Alexander now repeated his demand to surrender, the enemy guards brought a herald with the remark that they had sent the men with wings on the summit. The surprised garrison of the fort saw the enemies above him. She believed that the entire Macedonian army had occupied the mountain top and surrendered.
Follow
After the Vulgate tradition, Alexander is made 30,000 prisoners and let them have crucified Ariamazes and its relatives, while Arrian no reports of such atrocities and Ariamazes not mentioned at all. Anyway, fell along with many of the other in the rock castle escapees also Roxane in the hand of Alexander, who fell in love the beautiful woman, she treated well and shortly thereafter became the lawful wife. With this marriage he also put a political message to the Persians. With Roxane's father Oxyartes, who had not found the Sogdian Rock, the Macedonians from King reconciled soon. Oxyartes also moved the castle lord Sisimithres to surrender his fortress to Alexander. After brief further military actions Sogdiana Alexander could be regarded as pacified and returned to Bactria, where he began to prepare his train to India.