1) In November 333 BC, Alexander the Great's army encountered the massive Persian army of Darius III near Issus in Cilicia. 2) Alexander redeployed his forces to concentrate his cavalry on his left wing against the large Persian cavalry. His decisive charge then broke through the Persian lines and threatened Darius himself. 3) With the Persian king fleeing and his army in disarray, Alexander won a decisive victory though he was unable to fully pursue the routed Persians before nightfall.