A Brief History
Between January and July 332 BC, Alexander the Great of Macedon, perhaps the greatest general in the history of warfare, besieged the Phoenician island city of Tyre, a jewel in the war between the Macedonians and the Persian Empire. Located in what is now Lebanon, Tyre had defensive walls right up to the sea, making a forced landing almost impossible, especially on the landward side (East) where the wall soared 200 feet above the sea.
Digging Deeper
Alexander tried to negotiate a surrender of the city, to no avail, and settled in for a long blockade and siege instead. Meanwhile, when Alexander had finally defeated the Persian fleet threatening his operation he was ready for the final assault.
Located about a thousand meters from the mainland (at that time), Tyre was accessible by an underwater ridge of land only about 2 meters beneath the surface. Alexander used this submerged bridge to build up a causeway that allowed his troops and siege weapons access to the island city and assault the fortified city of 40,000 people.
The defenders of Tyre did not sit idly by while this causeway was being built, and attacked the engineers with their small navy and with their own artillery (catapults and the like). Alexander’s men found construction increasingly difficult as they neared the walls, especially as the natural land bridge became deeper near the island. The solution was to build 2 enormous siege towers, perhaps 50 meters tall, higher and larger than any previously built. These towers were armored with animal hides against arrows and fielded siege weapons that could rain boulders and giant bolts down on attacking ships and on the city walls. In a stroke of defensive genius, the generals of Azemilcus, the King of Tyre, devised a huge fire ship loaded with oils and combustibles and sailed it right onto the causeway, burning down Alexander’s great towers. Tyrian sailors then swarmed the causeway and destroyed whatever Macedonian equipment they could find.
Luckily for Alexander, victories in other locations in the Mediterranean against his Persian foe had resulted in the capture and changed allegiance of a considerable fleet of ships to complement the Macedonian ships he had been able to amass, a total of 223 ships, giving him decisive command of the sea around Tyre. Alexander attempted to have ram equipped ships breach the walls, but Tyre had cleverly placed stone blocks underwater preventing the near approach of these ships. Alexander countered with cranes mounted on ships to remove the stones blocking his attack, and the Tyrians counterattacked these ships, though unsuccessfully. The Macedonians were finally able to breach the walls and assault the city, with Alexander declaring sanctuary for all who would enter the temple and remain there. About 6000 Tyrian troops were killed in battle, and another 2000 crucified by the victors, irate at having to wage a long siege and losing 400 Macedonian lives. The 30,000 people that sought sanctuary were sold into slavery, and this included King Azemilcus. It seems the Tyrians had executed some Macedonians they had captured in full view of Alexander during the siege, resulting in the harsh treatment of the city.
Of course, with all things pertaining to Alexander the Great, accounts of his exploits are from many decades after the events took place, and accuracy of these accounts is questionable. Another account of the breaking of the siege has the Tyrians leaving the city to fight the Macedonians, and Alexander seizing the opportunity to invade the defenseless city instead of coming to the aid of those Macedonians being pursued by the Tyrians. Which account is true, and how much of it is true, is actually unknown, and will remain so unless a more contemporary account is ever discovered.
Question for students (and subscribers) to ponder: Is Alexander the Great the greatest general in history?
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Cranmer, Kerry W. Tyre: The Invincible. Word & Spirit Publishing, LLC, 2023.
Kern, Paul Bentley. Ancient Siege Warfare. Indiana University Press, 1999.
Nossov, Konstantin S. Ancient And Medieval Siege Weapons: A Fully Illustrated Guide To Siege Weapons And Tactics. Lyons Pr, 2005.
