Darius III abandoned the Battle of Issus primarily because he fled out of fear during the conflict.
Ancient Greek historical sources, such as Diodorus Siculus's Library of History and Justin's Epitoma Historiarum Philippicarum, consistently recount that Darius's decision to leave the battlefield was driven by his personal apprehension rather than a strategic maneuver. This occurred despite his army's formidable size and their advantageous defensive position.
Key aspects contributing to his abandonment included:
- Personal Fear: Greek historians directly attribute his flight to panic amidst the intense fighting.
- Tactical Context: Although he commanded a significantly larger force in a defensive setup, the narrow terrain at Issus likely negated some of his numerical superiority against Alexander's well-disciplined Macedonian forces. His flight, therefore, was not a result of being completely overwhelmed but a personal decision despite remaining advantages.
- Precedent for Flight: This act of abandoning his troops was not an isolated incident. Darius also fled from the Battle of Gaugamela two years later under similar circumstances, where he again commanded a superior force in a defensive stance. This repeated pattern reinforces the historical perspective of his fear-driven withdrawals.
These actions significantly contributed to the decisive victories of Alexander the Great against the Persian Empire.
