Alexander the Great: A very short introduction

Wherever you are in the world, whatever your background or interests are, chances are that you have at least heard of Alexander the Great even if you don't really know who he was or when he lived. King Alexander the Third of Macedon, known to us as Alexander the Great, was born in 356 BCE and is the most legendary leader of all time, primarily known for his extraordinary strategic skills and the fact that in less than 10 years he conquered most of the then known world, creating and ruling an empire including Greece, Egypt and most of Asia all the way to what is now India and Afghanistan. He died in Babylon at the age of 32 in 323 BCE. He was never defeated in battle. He always led his men fearlessly from the front in his battles and was wounded severely many times. He believed that you should not make your men do what you are not prepared to do yourself. He led by example and his army loved him for it. Although ferocious and formidable with a quick and fiery temper, he was known for being lenient to enemies who surrendered and respectful of their women. Unlike his father king Phillip II of Macedon, he was not very tall (around 1m 68cm) but was well-built, good looking, had fair reddish skin and blonde hair. As well as being an excellent strategist he was highly intelligent and cultured. When he was a boy his tutor was Aristotle. He loved history, philosophy and music (he was known to sing very well and could play the lyre), enjoyed conversation and learning new things. He loved Homer's Illiad and drew much inspiration from it, keeping a copy of it always under his pillow. He believed that knowledge set you free and so he would ensure that libraries were built. He was overly generous to those who would ask him for anything, giving away huge sums of money and gifts, (his mother would tell him off about this!), as well as bestowing titles and giving positions of authority to conquered peoples (something which didn't go down too well with his fellow countrymen). When an acquaintance once complained to him that he had not yet received anything, Alexander replied: "But you never asked me for anything!". His tirelessness and relentless ambition had no limits and if he had lived longer he would have continued expanding his empire turning towards Europe. And who knows, maybe beyond! Days before he died he was already planning a campaign to conquer the Arabian peninsula and move further west. As to the cause of his death nobody is really sure. Some said he was poisoned, others that he died of a fever or the effects of excessive alcohol intake. We will never know for sure. As a result of his conquests ancient Greek culture, language, scientific discoveries and philosophy spread throughout his empire creating the Hellenistic world and inspiring much of what brought about Western civilization as we know it today.



Sources: Arrian, Plutarch, Curtius Rufus 

Recommended reading: "Alexander the Great" by Robin Lane Fox, "Alexander of Macedon, 356-323 B.C." by Peter Green, "In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great" by Michael Wood 

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