Siege of Tyre I. A. Objectives of The Study: Have An In-Depth Analysis in Presenting The Strategic

Cadet Burgos KN
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Siege of Tyre
I. A. Objectives of the study: Have an in-depth analysis in presenting the strategic,
operational and tactical components in the siege. The study also analyzes the
fundamental principles of wars used and its insights and values involved that have lasted
throughout time.
II. B. Subject:
 After defeating King Darius lll on the Battle of Issus, King Alexander, the Great
marched on with this army into Phoenicia to conquer.
 The Persian Navy operating on the Mediterranean Sea still posed a serious
threat to the Macedonian Empire so King Alexander decided to capture the
Phoenician coastline.
 Coastal cities such as Byblus and Sidon surrendered and offered their allegiance
to the king, except for the city of Tyre.
lll. Narratives
 Tyre is located 12 miles (19 km) north of the modern border with Israel and 25
miles (40 km) south of Sidon. The city of Tyre is famous for its dye and is
one of the most wealthiest and influential Phoenecian settlement. The city of
Tyre is composed of 2 pieces, the old Tyre which was located in the mainland
and the New Tyre which is located in a heavily fortified island, 700m off the
coast.
 The siege of Tyre happened between January to July 332 BCE.

 King Alexander wished to make a sacrifice to the god Heracles in his temple in
Tyre but the Tyrians rejected his offers as the they recognize it as a ploy to
conquer the city. The Tyrian’s refusal is equivalent to a declaration of war.
 In the Siege of Tyre, Alexander ordered his men to build a bridge to the city.
The creation of the landbridge was halted when the Tyrian Navy attacked and
caused the engineers to retreat. However, this did not falter Alexander’s plan
and made the bridge wider and with more siege weapons. He also asked for
ships from his empire and through his newfound navy, he kept on the siege on
the walls of Tyre. After sometime, the wall was breached and Alexander
ordered his finest troops to lead the charge, and the city was then besieged.
 The siege of Tyre was orchestrated by King Alexander during his campaigns
against the Persian Empire.
B.
The main purpose of the Alexander is to conquer the city while the Tyrians
objective was to defend the city from Alexander.
The city of Tyre is a strategic place for both sides navy. In strategic level,
Alexander wanted to conquer all of Persian Empire. He did this first by defeating Darius
in the Battle of Issus. In operational level, he conquered the Phoenician coastal cities to
have control of the Mediterranean Sea. His tactical objective is to conquer the city of
Tyre which was the only one to decline to surrender.
Both sides were confident of their armies. Tyre being able to withstand a 13
year siege against Nebuchadnezzar. Tyre composed of 15,000 men of military age, 80
triremes and 35,000 other civilians. Alexander’s forces composed of 30,000 infantry and
200 triremes. Alexander has an advantage on technology that time. He was able to order
his engineers to build siege machines against the walls of Tyre.
C.
King Alexander sought to conquer the Phoenician cities to prevent the Persian Navy
from having refuge. He also did not want any rear threats to his empire when he march
onto Egypt. Alexander convened his council of war and explained to them the
importance of conquering Tyre. Tyre is a Persian Navy stronghold and could not be left
out. Alexander also sent heralds to Tyre demanding their surrender, but the Macedonians
were killed and their bodies were thrown into the sea. Tyre was quite confident of their
cities’ defense and formidable navy, they have also resisted Nebuchadnezzar’s 13 year
siege on the city. When negotiations failed, Alexander then began his operations.
Alexander being formidable king and a lot of miliary background and experience,
ordered his engineers to build a landbridge or a mole across the channel towards the city
using the rocks, timbers and rubble from the old city of Tyre. Alexander built 2 siege
towers but it was burned by the Tyrian navy during their defensive action. The Tyrians
hurled a transport ship filled with combustible material and ignited the 2 towers.
King Alexander mustered his forces as he realized that naval prowess is needed
in the siege. He received ships from Macedon, Phoenecian cities and 120 ships from the
King of Cyprus. Realizing that the Macedonians have greater naval power, the Tyrians
countered it by attacking the fleet that is guarding the Sidon harbor. The attack was
successful and 2 Cyprian ships was sunk. Alexander was also fast to react and attacked
personally with his troops. He was successful in defeating the Tyrian fleet.
The final assault happened when a small breach was made in the southern
defenses, using battering rams for pounding. Diversionary attacks were also made to
divert the defender’s attention, meanwhile the southern forces of Greeks commanded by
Alexander himself began to breach the city. The Greeks finest troops were the first one to
charge onto the city and the commander was killed in action. The assault was a success
and Tyre was conquered with many of its defenders killed and its population sold into
slavery. Only those who took refuge in temples were spared.
The mole created by Alexander remained intact to this day and has widened
over the centuries.
lll. Critical Inquiry
Tyre was a well defended and fortified island. It has withstood attacks from the
Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar. Tyre was besieged many times in history, but only
Alexander the Great was able to conquer the city considering the technology they have was
less advanced. Persistence was also very evident in why Alexander managed to conquer the
city. The siege took place in many months and the creation of the bridge was somehow
impossible. There were successful defensive actions of the Tyrians and the hopes of
conquering it were low. The morale of troops of Alexander was lying low but he was still
able to persist. The Tyrians were quite confident with their defenses. The outcome of the
battle would have been changed or prolonged if the Tyrians were able to get help from the
Cathageans.
In viewing both the forces, the Tyrians were overconfident and had no help, whereas
Alexander on the other hand had a vast army and had help from his conqured colonies. The
Tyrian forces were composed of 15,000 men of military age, 80 triremes and 35,000 other
civilians. Failure of planning were also important on why Tyre failed. Their attacks may be
successful but it was not followed up by a follow up plan. Their courses of action were only
made for a single objective. On the other hand, the Macedonians were far more larger, with
the leadership of Alexander the Great, composing of 30,000 infantry and 200 triremes. Both
forces morale and welfare of troops were well but Alexander was better in making his troops
morale high. His command and control was also excellent. His strategy was also simple, to
create a mole into the city. He used the rubble from the old Tyre to make the bridge, and
realizing naval power, he sought help from his colonies. He was successful in conquering the
city since the military doctrines he used was organized. The Siege of Tyre is mostly studied
since it has many implications and understanding the battle can build knowledge to a leader.
III. Lessons Learned

The siege of Tyre ended in the month of Hekatombaion, during the archonship of
Niketosat Athens. Because of this seven month effort, Alexander accomplished something
that tookBabylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II thirteen years to accomplish. In addition,
Alexander secured possession of the eastern capital of the Phoenician trade empire, captured
the Phoenician contingent of the Persian navy, dealt a devastating
blow to the Persian navy’s ability to port its ships, and cleared the way for a southward
advance to Egypt without the risk of a Persian takeover of Greece. Militarily, this siege
highlighted rapid advances in technology made possible by the expert Phoenician engineers
and the lessons learned by the Macedonians from Philip’s conquest of Greece several years
earlier. For the military historian, the siege tactics andtechnology employed at Tyre
foreshadow Roman siege warfare as employed at Masada (73-74AD). In addition to the
military significance of the siege of Tyre, historians also can observe a “coming of age” in
Alexander. Because this was no quick and decisive pitched battle, Alexander had plenty of
time to brood over his failures and capitalize on his successes at Tyre. This siege no doubt
tested his patience. In fact, Curtius wrote that Alexander had decided to abandon the siege as
it dragged on so that he could head to Egypt sooner. Alexander reckoned, however, that a
failure to capture the city would be a disgraceful missed opportunity and might tarnish his
ever-improving reputation. The thought of having already swept through such a large part of
Asia induced him to strengthen his resolve and continue the attack.
In addition, it is at about this time that Darius sent envoys to Alexander offering
10,000 talents, all the territory from the Euphrates to the Aegean, and the hand of one of his
daughters in marriage. Parmenion, Alexander’s most senior general and a close tie to the “old
days” when Philip ruled Macedonia,thought it was a good deal. If he were Alexander, he
would accept it. In reply, Alexander famously replied “if he were Parmenion, he would do
likewise, but since he was Alexander, he would answer Darius as he did in fact answer
him.” The answer was“no deal.”Alexander appears, with his comment to Parmenion and his
brilliant tactics at Tyre, to leave the shadow of Philip behind and establish himself as
powerful new brand of Macedonian king. He had already shown his expert capabilities in set
battles at the Granicus River and at Issus, but Tyre showed he could also master a lengthy
siege and a naval operation. Now, there likely remained little doubting his mind that he could
conquer any obstacle and any opponent.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Tyre_(332_BC)
https://www.worldhistory.org/article/107/alexanders-siege-of-tyre-332-bce/
https://www.britannica.com/place/Tyre
http://www.theartofbattle.com/siege-of-tyre-332-bc/

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Cadet Burgos KN

 The siege of Tyre happened between January to July 332 BCE.

III. Lessons Learned

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