Greeks always fought outnumbered?

[Darth_Roach]

Considering that this did not happen until the army was almost to Babylon, I think my point is made.

1. The Greeks were just one flank of the army;
2. The first time Artaxerxes checked the march, he stopped it - this point still stands. He probably couldn't go west because the Egyptians were making forays into Palestine as well - by marching west he would expose his supply lines to the other rebels who were in contact with Kuruš.

The fact that the Greeks could not induce any of the available Persians to capitolize on the tactical victory at Cunaxa tells us nothing about the ability to move hoplites long distances.

What? No, seriously, what on earth... Tactical victory? Most of the rebel army (specifically the part that was under feudal obligation to fight, not mere mercenaries) was routed and forced to surrender, the rebel camp was taken and looted, and the "victorious" right was unable to force any kind of engagement. The usurper was dead and the cause was lost on the spot. Where is the victory again?

As for being stopped it its tracks, Xenophon seems to have not believed so:

Xenophon was heavily involved, so I wouldn't take his opinion without a pinch of salt. Or rather a bucket.

Clearchus, however, said: “Well, would that Cyrus were alive! but since he is dead, carry back word to Ariaeus that, for our part, we have defeated the King, that we have no enemy left, as you see, to fight with, and that if you had not come, we should now be marching against the King.

Aha. They chased off a fraction of the imperial host, and now they are somehow able to defeat the entire army?

And we promise Ariaeus that, if he will come here, we will set him upon the royal throne; for to those who are victorious in battle belongs also the right to rule.”

They can promise whatever they want. Arieus had been routed and his lord was dead.

Of course, to the Greeks the victor is marked by the retention of the field. So they would view a tactical retreat on the part of the enemy as a victory, especially when they have to recount their story to their fellow countrymen back home. To the Persians - not so much. The victor of any engagement is the one who holds the upper hand after it, and can pursue some strategic goal. The Greeks were a part of a defeated army, and a part that was not of primary concern to the emperor because unlike the feudal troops under Ariaeus, they had no personal stake in the matter apart from gold.