MILITARY LEADER OF THE DAY: QUEEN TOMRIS OF THE MASSAGETAE.

By Eric G. L. Pinzelli,
October 22, 2018

Tomris’ kingdom was located in the area to the east of the Caspian Sea, in parts of modern-day Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, western Uzbekistan, and southern Kazakhstan.
Many scholars have suggested that the Massagetae were related to the Getae of ancient Eastern Europe. Some authors, have proposed relating the Massagetae to the Gutians of 2000 BC Mesopotamia, and/or a people known in ancient China as the "Da Yuezhi" or "Great Yuezhi" who founded the Kushan Empire in South Asia.
The Massagetae were related to the Scythians in their dress and mode of living; they fought on horseback and on foot. Most people remember Queen Tomris for her role in the defense against an attack by Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid Empire (600/ 576 – 530 BC). In 530 BC, she may have killed one of the most famous Persians in history.
In order to acquire her realm, Cyrus first sent an offer of marriage to their queen, a proposal she rejected. He then commenced his attempt to take Massagetae territory by force. Queen Tomris' warriors won the day and according to Herodotus: "Tomris filled a skin with human blood, and sought for Cyrus' body among the Persian dead; when she found it, she put his head into the skin, and spoke these words of insult to the dead man: "Though I live and conquer thee, thou hast undone me, overcoming my son by guile; but even as I threatened, so will I do, and give thee thy fill of blood." - Herodotus, The History, Vol. 1.
Ctesias, in his Persica, has the longest account, which says Cyrus met his death while putting down resistance from the Derbices infantry, aided by other Scythian archers and cavalry, plus Indians and their elephants. According to him, this event took place northeast of the headwaters of the Syr Darya.

Art by Kanat Zharas.

MILITARY LEADER OF THE DAY: MEMNON OF RHODES, ALEXANDER THE GREAT'S TOUGHEST ADVERSARY.

By Eric G. L. Pinzelli,
May 17, 2019.

Memnon (380 - 333) was a Rhodian commander in the service of the Achaemenid Empire. Related to the Persian aristocracy by the marriage of his sister to the satrap Artabazus II, together with his brother Mentor he served the Persian Empire for most of his life and was Alexander's most capable adversary.
Exiled for a few years at the court of Philip II of Macedon, he got convinced of Philip's intentions to invade Persia and re-entered the Persian service with a clear understanding of Macedonia's military capabilities.
When the Macedonians attacked in 336 the vanguard was commanded by Parmenion and Attalus. They proved to be no match for Memnon, who defeated Parmenion at Magnesia and was able to isolate him in the northwest of modern Turkey.
Following the assassination of Philip, Alexander joined his generals. From now on, the Macedonians were in numbers superior to the Persians. Memnon, appointed supreme commander, managed to keep the Persian naval base Halicarnassus for a long time and was able to evacuate the town without unacceptable losses.
He then started using the empires naval superiority against Alexander and opened negotiations with Sparta in order to take the war to mainland Greece. He began a campaign to capture the Aegean islands using the Persian fleet and led a direct assault on Macedonia, while Alexander was resting at Phaselis. Memnon managed to capture the island of Chios and most of Lesbos. Demosthenes, after hearing of Memnon's successes, began to prepare Athens for a revolt against Alexander, along with other Greek cities, while Sparta began to prepare for war. By a stroke of fortune for Alexander, Memnon died during the siege of Mytilene. No other could bring Alexander to a halt and disrupt his plans.
Memnon's wife Barsine eventually became the mistress of Alexander; in 327, they had a son named Heracles.
Art by Joan Francesco Oliveras Pallerols.