Conquest of Persia

A seemingly hopeless quest for glory turns into a life-and-death struggle for empire.

The Oracle at Delphi dubbed him Invincible Alexander. He does his best to live up to Pythia's prophesy, much to the chagrin of his bitter adversary - the powerful and ruthless Emperor Darius III of Persia. As recounted by Ptolemaios, Alexander's long-time bodyguard and friend, Alexander careens from hopeless battle to desperate siege, somehow managing to emerge victorious each time.

Accompanied by the beautiful and independent-minded Barsine, Alexander the Great leads his troops into Egypt and is crowned Pharaoh. Yet, he's plagued by doubt. He decides to cross the Sahara, escorted only by his personal bodyguard, in search of divine sanction.

Hearing himself proclaimed a demigod, Alexander returns, more determined than ever to fulfill his destiny. With each military victory, his appetite for further conquest grows. His next objective is the throne of the Persian Empire itself. The only obstacle in his way is the current occupant of that throne.

In the meantime, Darius has not been standing idly by. Exploiting the almost limitless resources of Persia, he builds his greatest fighting machine yet. An epic showdown is inevitable. The victor can look forward to the carnal and sybaritic pleasures of Babylon, the treasures of Susa, the palaces of Persepolis, and the endless riches of the Persian Empire.

The two armies clash in the momentous Battle of Gaugamela. The outcome marks a turning point in world history. But you have to read this third installment of the Ptolemaios Saga to find out who won, how, and what came next.