Reconsiderations on the Political Relations with the Scythians within the Scope of Alexander the Great’s Campaigns in Bactria and Sogdiana Regions

Abstract

After being defeated at the Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC, Darius III received news that Alexander the Great was approaching his palace in Ecbatana with his army. He retreated to the satrapy of Bactria. However, while regrouping his forces and retreating, unrest arose within his ranks, and he was ultimately betrayed and killed by his closest commander, Bessus, and his comrades. Alexander decided to pursue Bessus, the leader of this betrayal, and entered the Bactria region after him in 329 BC. Bessus, not daring to engage in a pitched battle, withdrew his forces beyond the Oxus River and decided to wage guerrilla warfare with the support of local lords from Sogdiana and his Scythian allies further north. However, the local lords, seeing Alexander’s determination and unwilling to let their regions be plundered, betrayed Bessus and handed him over to Alexander. Despite this, a united front, consisting of Bactrians, Sogdians, and Scythians, was established under the leadership of Spitamenes, fearing that they would soon face Alexander's wrath. Alexander faced great difficulty in suppressing these uprisings, which continued until 327 BC. Although the rebellions were largely subdued before the Indian campaign, full dominance and stability in the region were never fully achieved. It appears that the role of the Scythians during these uprisings has not been fully explored in modern studies. This study argues that the Scythians' war tactics and diplomatic maneuvers were a significant factor in preventing Alexander and his army from securing a complete victory.

Keywords

• Alexander
• Scythians
• Bactria
• Sogdiana
• Spitamenes

Büyük İskender’in Baktria ve Sogdiana Bölgelerindeki Seferleri Kapsamında İskitlerle Siyasi İlişkileri Üzerine Değerlendirmeler

Abstract

III. Dareios, MÖ 331 yılında Gaugamela Savaşı’nda yenilgiye uğradıktan sonra Büyük İskender’in ordusuyla Ekbatana’daki sarayına yaklaştığı haberini almış ve Baktria satraplığına geri çekilmiştir. Yeniden toparlanarak karşı koyma sürecinde ordusu içinde huzursuzluklar belirmiş ve en yakın komutanı Bessos ve yanındakilerin ihanetine uğrayarak öldürülmüştür. İskender bu ihanetin baş lideri Bessos’un da peşinden gitmeye karar vermiştir. Ordusuyla MÖ 329 yılında Baktria Bölgesi’ne girmiştir. Bessos, meydan savaşı yapmaya cesaret edemeyerek Oxos Nehri’nin ötesine çekilmiş, Sogdiana yerel beyleri ve daha kuzeydeki İskitli müttefiklerinin de desteği ile gerilla savaşı yürütmeye karar vermiştir. İskender’in kararlılığını gören ve kendi bölgelerini de talan etmesini istemeyen yerel beyler Bessos’a da ihanet etmişler ve onu İskender’e teslim etmişlerdir. Buna rağmen sıranın kendilerine de geleceğini düşündüklerinden Spitamenes liderliğinde Baktrialı, Sogdialı ve İskitlerden oluşan ortak bir ayaklanma cephesi kurulmuştur. İskender, MÖ 327 yılına kadar devam eden ayaklanmaları bastırmada büyük zorluklarla karşılaşmış, her ne kadar India Seferi öncesinde önemli ölçüde etkisiz hale getirilseler de bölgede tam anlamıyla bir hakimiyet ve istikrar sağlanamamıştır. Şimdiye kadar yapılan günümüzdeki modern çalışmalarda İskitlerin bu ayaklanmalar esnasında oynadıkları rolün detaylı bir şekilde açıklanmadığı görülmektedir. Bu çalışmada İskitlerin savaş taktikleri ve bazı önemli diplomatik manevralarıyla İskender ve ordusunun tam bir zafer elde edememesinde önemli bir etken olduğu görüşü savunulmaktadır.

Keywords

• İskender
• İskitler
• Baktria
• Sogdiana
• Spitamenes

Supporting Institution

MUĞLA SITKI KOÇMAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ

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