Page 50 - All About History - Issue 09-14

Alexander the Great

A picture showing Alexander the Great
suppressing a rebellion in Greece
bride; and Alexander himself, who promptly
executed all other contenders for the crown and “ He trained in pankration – an Ancient
crushed rebellions across Greece. Olympias, too, set
about consolidating her power, having Cleopatra Greek martial art, which focused on
Eurydice, her replacement as consort to the dead savage grapples, punches and kicks”
king, and her baby daughter burned alive.
The dubious heroes of myth were Alexander’s
own blueprint for greatness. With legendary figures and mercenaries from across Macedon and the Was it a propaganda stunt that spurred on his
on both sides of the family tree, it was hard not Greek kingdoms. Leaping from his warship in army, or did he believe it? His fierce pragmatism
to be convinced of his own special destiny. His full ceremonial armour, vast plumed helmet and ambition would suggest both – a dangerous
father’s bloodline claimed descent from Hercules and golden breastplate, the emperor-to-be sent a and unpredictable combination that made him one
– the son of Zeus and bull-wrestling demigod of spear whistling through the air to crash into the of the battlefield’s most iconic generals.
Twelve Labours fame – while his mother’s family undefended soil of Asia Minor. It was the first First meeting the Persians in battle in 334 BCE,
looked up to Achilles, the all-but-invulnerable blow in a war that would claim for Alexander over Alexander quickly established a formula for swift
champion of the fabled Siege of Troy. Omens and 200,000 square miles of land and leave between and decisive victory at the Battle of the Granicus,
portents prefigured every decision, but as much as 75,000 and 200,000 dead. just outside of his beloved Troy. Leading from the
this ambitious new king gave every appearance of The coastline of what is now Turkey was littered front ranks, a feint drew the stronger Persian units
being a slave to destiny – looking for meaning in with Greek cities ruled by the Persian invaders, and their battle-hardened Greek mercenaries out,
flights of birds and consulting oracles at every turn and of them Troy had particular significance for spreading their line thin and allowing Alexander’s
– he steered destiny himself, consciously building Alexander. The alleged site of his maternal ancestor cavalry to hammer through their scattered ranks.
a legend that would lift his accomplishments well Achilles’ most celebrated victory and tragic death, He was welcomed as a liberator by the Greek
beyond those of his father and into the same world Alexander carried with him on his journey the subjects of Asia Minor, and endeavoured to win
of the legendary journeys and heroic battles that story of the Trojan War, Homer’s epic Iliad (a gift over the local population too. Claiming to distrust
had once inspired him. In just shy of a decade, he from his tutor Aristotle), and quoted from it often. tyrants, he appointed local rulers and allowed them
crushed the life out of the once-mighty Persian First, he had the tomb of Achilles opened so he relative independence, but with a new centralised
state and expanded the borders of his domain from could pay tribute, then riding to a nearby temple of tax system he ensured their autonomy was reliant
Libya to India to create a mighty empire. Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, the Macedon upon his handouts.
Fittingly, this conquest began with some king was shown what they claimed were the With Persia’s control of the vast expanse of
mythical brand management. Picking up weapons of Achilles. There, he took down a shield, Asia Minor resting on its superior navy, Alexander
where Philip II’s army of invasion had been replacing it with his own. Alexander wasn’t merely opted to scatter his own vessels rather than fight
poised, Alexander crossed the Dardanelles – content sharing a fanciful familial association with a sea war he couldn’t win, and marched down
the narrow channel connecting the Black Sea Achilles; he wanted to rival him, visiting this site of the coast to take the enemy’s largest naval port,
to the Mediterranean, and Europe from Asia bloodshed and heroism, and taking the mantle of Halicarnassus – now Bodrum in Turkey – by land,
Minor – in early 334 BCE with 47,000 soldiers one of Ancient Greece’s greatest heroes. forcing his way through the walls until the Persians
50