Editing 330 BC (section)

==== Macedonian Empire ====
* [[January 20]] &ndash; [[Alexander the Great]] defeats the [[Achaemenid Empire|Persians]], led by satrap [[Ariobarzanes, Satrap of Persis|Ariobarzanes]], at the [[Persian Gates]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bloedow |first1=Edmund F. |last2=Loube |first2=Heather M. |date=1997-02-01 |title=Alexander the Great "Under Fire" at Persepolis |url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1524/klio.1997.79.2.341/html |journal=Klio |language=de |volume=79 |issue=2 |pages=341–353 |doi=10.1524/klio.1997.79.2.341 |issn=2192-7669|url-access=subscription }}</ref> In this battle, Ariobarzan, supported by only 700 [[Immortals (Achaemenid Empire)|Persian Immortals]], holds the vast Macedonian army of 17,000 men at bay for 30 days. At the end, his troops are surrounded by Alexander's army, because of a Persian shepherd, who leads it around the Persian defenses. However, instead of surrendering, Ariobarzan and his 700 Immortals fight to the last man. Some historians consider him to be the [[Leonidas I|Leonidas]] of Persia.
* [[January 30]] &ndash; After gaining the Pass of the Persian Gates, Alexander enters [[Persepolis]]. There he ceremonially burns down the palace of [[Xerxes I]], as a symbol that the Panhellenic war of revenge is at an end.
* Before continuing his pursuit of [[Darius III]], who has retreated into [[Bactria]], Alexander assembles all the Persian treasure and entrusts it to [[Harpalus]], who is to hold it at [[Ecbatana]] as chief treasurer. [[Parmenion]] is also left behind in [[Medes|Media]] to manage communications between Alexander and the rest of his rapidly growing lands.
* Alexander appoints [[Atropates]] as the satrap of [[Medes|Media]] while [[Mithrenes]] is appointed by Alexander as satrap of [[Armenia]].
* Crossing the [[Elburz Mountains]] to the [[Caspian Sea]], Alexander seizes Zadracarta in [[Hyrcania]] and receives the submission of a group of satraps and Persian notables, some of whom he confirms in their offices. He then travels westward and defeats the Mardi, a [[mountain people]] who inhabit the Elburz Mountains. He also accepts the surrender of Darius' Greek mercenaries.
* In [[Aria (satrapy)|Aria]], Alexander's army defeats the satrap [[Satibarzanes]], who initially offers to submit, only to later revolt.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bosworth |first=A. B. |date=1983 |title=A Missing year in the history of Alexander the Great |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-hellenic-studies/article/abs/missing-year-in-the-history-of-alexander-the-great/906F1936E4261E6DC7560205206E417F |journal=The Journal of Hellenic Studies |language=en |volume=101 |pages=17–39 |doi=10.2307/629841 |jstor=629841 |issn=2041-4099|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Alexander then founds the town of [[Alexandria in Ariana|Alexandria of the Arians]] (modern [[Herat]]).
* At Phrada, in [[Drangiana]], [[Philotas]], [[Parmenion]]'s son and commander of the elite Macedonian [[companion cavalry]], is implicated in an alleged plot against Alexander's life. He is condemned by the army, and executed. A secret message is sent by Alexander to Cleander, Parmenion's second in command, who obediently kills Parmenion at [[Ecbatana]] in Media for fear that he will rise up in revolt at the news of his son's death. All of Parmenion's adherents are now eliminated and men close to Alexander are promoted.