The Legend of Philip the Great

Philip had a thoroughly Greek education, and was probably aware of the ideas of Herodotus. He set himself first to extend and organize his own realm and to remodel his army. The master move in most of his battles and in the battles of his son Alexander was a cavalry charge. At Caronia, Alexander, who was then only 18 years old, had been in command of the cavalry. In 334 BC, for two years were needed to establish and confirm his position in Macedonian Greece. But he crossed into Asia, defeated a not very much bigger Persian army at the Battle of the Granicus, and captured a number of cities in Asia Minor.