River Centrites (401 BC)

After the battle of Cunaxa, the Ten Thousand chose Cheirisophus and Xenophon as leaders. Xenophon led an organized retreat through Carducia and Armenia toward the Black Sea, constantly harassed first by Persian armies and then by local tribes. Using part …

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618

After the battle of Cunaxa, the Ten Thousand chose Cheirisophus and Xenophon as leaders. Xenophon led an organized retreat through Carducia and Armenia toward the Black Sea, constantly harassed first by Persian armies and then by local tribes. Using part of his men, Xenophon created a small cavalry force and a body of archers to meet the tactics of the enemy. He reported the whole expedition in his Anabasis. Approaching the River Centrites, Xenophon found that the satrap of Armenia had occupied the far bank. The situation was desperate, but the next morning a better ford higher up the river was found, and to it the Spartans marched. The Carducians followed closely in pursuit. Cheirisophus began to cross, while Xenophon, made a feint to move back to the lower ford. The Armenians responded to the feint, which allowed Cheirisophus to gain a foothold on the other shore. Xenophon retraced his steps and made preparations to follow. The Carducians, saw their opportunity and began to attack the Greeks before they could cross. When most of the troops were over, Xenophon turned and charged the Carducians and they were dispersed. Then, before they could recover, he retired quickly to the river and crossed. Six thousand Greeks reached Trapezus, on the Black Sea. A few years later, Alexander would read the Anabasis and follow Xenophon’s advice: Persia belongs to the man who has the courage to attack it...

Baghdad, Iraq

The Battle of Cunaxa was fought in 401 BC between Cyrus the Younger and his elder brother Arsaces, who had inherited the Persian throne as Artaxerxes II in 404 BC. The great battle of the revolt of Cyrus took place 70 km north of Babylon, at Cunaxa, on the left bank of the Euphrates. The main source is Xenophon, a Greek soldier who participated in the fighting.

Wikipedia: Battle of Cunaxa

Armenian

Spartan

The Spartan Hegemony