Batis

Batis (also Baitis, Betis and also Babemesis ; died 332 BC) was the governor of the city of Gaza in the Achaemenid Empire, and commander of its military forces, and an opponent of Alexander the Great during his eastern campaigns.

He was brutally executed following his capture by Alexander's Macedonian forces following their lengthy siege on Gaza throughout which Batis held and defended the city that connected the only road between the then satrapy of Egypt and the rest of the empire, thus blocking Alexander from entering that province.

Background Gaza was a wealthy fortified port city located on a high tell, with special tax exempt status and a certain degree of autonomy, on the fringes of the Persian satrapy of Eber-Nari at the time of Achaemenid rule over much of Syria and Palestine. who also formed the bulk of the city's fighting force, along with a Persian garrison, both of which were under Batis' command.

Batis is described in some contemporary sources as a eunuch, though the only original source for this description is Arrian, who otherwise provides scant biographical detail.

The siege The city's granary and water supplies were fully stocked by Batis and its walled fortifications and imposing position atop a steep mound bestowed confidence that it could withstand siege and not be breached; Reports on how long before a few of Alexander's soldiers managed to scale the walls vary from a couple of months to several; in order to overcome Gaza's defenses Alexander oversaw a massive engineering campaign, with digging works undertaken beneath the foundations supporting the city's walls, while also constructing a berm up to a height of 250 feet and a width of 1,200 feet. He gives no figure for the number of Macedonian dead, noting only that it was "not bloodless" for them too.

Capture, death and aftermath Even after defeat, Batis refused to submit to the Macedonians or to acknowledge Alexander as the new King of Asia, which enraged Alexander. Rufus reproduced a variation of this version, attaching the piercing of Batis's Achilles tendon with how Hector had been treated by Alexander's hero Achilles, while noting that Hector had already been dead at the time of his dragging.

Dionysius of Halicarnassus provides a sparser description, saying only that Batis was tied alive to the back of chariot which was driven full speed, not around the city, killing him. He quoted Hegesias' derogatory and sensational description of events to criticize it, taking issue with his description of Batis' appearance and demeanor, which had characterized him as black and obese, resembling "a Babylonian animal". He himself was also twice wounded by Batis' forces during their defense of the besieged city. The exceptional refusal of Batis and Gaza (and Tyre) to capitulate to Alexander while all others in the "Syrian and Palestinian hinterland" surrendered without a fight is attributed variously by historians to their rich ancient history, cosmopolitan culture, and "high political consciousness".

"Dead men tell no tales, and the defeated have no voice," wrote Waldemar Heckel while reflecting on the lack of knowledge of the precise details of Batis' life, and his perspective on the battle that cost him his life. Yet, Batis' valiant stand against Alexander is still recalled, investigated and pondered by historians and philosopher more than two millennia later. The perception of Alexander himself marked by his treatment of this worthy adversary who never wavered in his defense of his city, nor loyalty to his King.