How many wars did Alexander the Great lose?

As far as I know, Alexander the Great did not lose any major battle. He was known as a brave military commander. And he was able to achieve this height because he was a tactical leader, one who would quickly devise a new war plan or strategy even in the midst of the enemy.

One of the things that really helped him is that he knew how to retreat from a battle anytime it seemed the battle would never be won, he would retreat and strategize. However, history says he did lose some territories to the enemies, especially after he had conquered some territories in India.

During this period, Chandragupta Maurya launched an attack on Macedon soldiers, and he defeated them. Though, we can't really say Alexander was defeated in that battle because Alexander had returned to Macedonia after he suffered serious injuries in the battle. His soldiers were able to conquer Indian territories, but those territories were reclaimed by Chandragupta Maurya.

Alexander the Great never lost a battle. In the fifteen years that he conducted warfare across the continent, he was the decisive victor. The only campaign that could possibly be listed as a loss was that against King Porus in India. But Alexander was able to set up a government there for a short while. It was after his death that it reverted back to India, and the tribe that had controlled it before.


Alexander used different tactics that many of his enemies were used to. The phalanx was one of his most common tactics, but he also deployed small groups of men that would rush the enemy before they were fully ready to engage in battle, causing confusion.

The rest of the army would then sweep in, claiming yet another victory for their king. Alexander the Great also employed the use of pikes that were twenty feet long, called a sarissa, which kept swords from reaching the men protected by the phalanx.