Blood-soaked battlefield where Alexander the Great won one of his most incredible victories 2,400 years ago uncovered
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RESEARCHERS in Turkey have identified the long-lost site of the legendary battle where Alexander the Great secured his first monumental victory 2,400 years ago. This ancient battlefield, hidden for over two millennia, marks the beginning of Alexander's audacious campaign to conquer Asia Minor and ultimately reshape the course of history.
![[Researchers have found the location of one of Alexander the Great's biggest battles]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/alleged-imitation-philoxenus-eretria-apelles-959470013.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The Battle of Granicus was a pivotal clash between Alexander’s Macedonian army and the Persian Achaemenid Empire. Located along the Granicus River in northwestern Turkey, this victory set in stone Alexander’s reputation as a brilliant military strategist and fearless leader.
![[The Granikos River in Turkey (pictured) was the site of the Battle of Granicus, where Alexander the Great first defeated the Persians in pursuit of all of Asia Minor]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/granikos-river-site-one-decisive-959469934.jpg?strip=all&w=845)
The triumph allowed him to advance deeper into Persian territory, laying the foundation for an empire that would stretch all the way to India. For over a century, historians speculated about the exact location of this major battle. Now, thanks to a two-decade-long investigation led by Professor Reyhan Korpe, the mystery has finally been unraveled.
![[Alexander the Great in the battle against the Persians at the Granicus painted by Cornelis Troost, 1737]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NINTCHDBPICT000959469933.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Korpe revealed that his team meticulously traced Alexander’s route, piecing together ancient accounts and modern research. This strategic mapping not only pinpointed the battlefield but also identified nearby villages involved in the historic confrontation.
![[For over a century, historians speculated about the exact location of this major battle]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/charles-le-bruns-battle-granicus-959469903.png?strip=all&w=960)
The Battle of Granicus, fought in May 334 BCE, saw approximately 90,000 soldiers clash in a major bloodbath. Alexander’s forces, although outnumbered, showed superior tactics and determination. The Greek mercenaries fighting for Persia were shown no mercy, branded as traitors.
