Tristan Hughes

Yes.

Not so much with the Persians, but we'll get to that in time, won't we?

So when he invades, when he crosses the Hellespont, Adrian, do we have a rough idea?

I always think in my mind it's around 40,000 troops he has, largely infantry.

I guess that's about right.

I mean, quite frankly, for the time, it is a pretty diverse army, as you say, as well.

You know, the pike phalanx heavy infantry, the hoplites of the Greeks, the light infantry of like the Agrianians, a particular tribe, Thracian tribe, I believe.

And then, you know, you've got the cavalry contingent as well.

So they're very different.

Lots of these different elements to Alexander's army, which all have their own qualities and will help Alexander in time.

So that's what he crosses into Asia with.

There's that famous story of him throwing his spear into the beach in northwest Anatolia and then saying, I'm claiming this as my spear-won land.

So kind of hearkening to the future of him conquering the whole of the Persian Empire.

And I guess it's quite fitting that his first place of visit, whilst the Persians are starting to react,

is Troy.

Which, of course, must have been another big feat.

Getting 40,000 troops and then beasts and then all the servants.

And the siege machinery, because this is another big part of Alexander's army.

He has got up-to-date siege machinery because his dad, Philip, has been very big on getting torsion catapults and all of that.

That's modern stuff for them.