Memorable clash at Mount Haemus

Once his succession to the throne was secured and he had taken care of his father’s funeral, all Alexander wanted was to start his Asian campaign. But having learned that the Triballi and the Thracians were on the warpath he had no other option than to change his plans.

In spring 335 BC, he marched to Mount Orbelus, crossed the Nestos River to reach Mount Haemus, apparently ten days after he had left from Philippi.

Mount Haemus is the modern Balkan Mountain Range which is a 700 km-long spine running east-west through Bulgaria. It is here that the Thracians awaited the Macedonians, holding the major thoroughfare from Philippopolis to the north. This pass is better known by its modern appellation, the Shipka Pass situated at an elevation of 1150 meters. Few people in Bulgaria are aware of Alexander’s daring confrontation but rather remember the pass for the more recent battle they fought with the help of the Russians against the Ottoman Empire in 1877-78. In the 20^th century, an ugly monument was erected on this spot to commemorate the liberation of Bulgaria. The Bulgarian-Orthodox Church with its gold-covered onion shaped steeples is a far nicer marker to remember the soldiers who died for their country. 

Alexander’s encounter with the determined Thracians was one of his masterminded confrontations. A large enemy force was awaiting him at the top of the narrows. The Thracians had hauled wagons up the pass with the intention to let them thunder down on the advancing Macedonians as soon as they were within reach. Alexander assessed the situation immediately and issued orders to the phalanx to open up their ranks to let the wagons run through. In places where there was not enough space for the soldiers to step aside, they were instructed to lie down on the ground and lock their shields above their head. As a result, the Thracian wagons hardly caused any damage as they bolted downhill. 

Imagine how that went down with the troops this early in Alexander’s generalship! It is notable that the army obeyed his orders to the letter, showing that they trusted their new king and commander – a matter of detail, but a very important one! In the end, 1,500 Thracians were killed; the women and children were sent to Macedonia to be sold as slaves.

This episode is so characteristic for Alexander and even more telling when you consider what happens a few years later when he is confronting the Persian King Darius at the Battlefield of Gaugamela. Facing the Scythian chariots with the one meter long blades extending on each side able to mow away the enemy, he gave his troops the exact same order to let the carts run through the ranks with optimal result. Just remember that the very idea was born only one year into his kingship here in these Balkan forests.