Alexander the Great, who grew up under the shadow of King Philip II of Macedonia and was tutored by Aristotle, demonstrated his prowess from a young age and went on to conquer half of the known ancient world in a remarkably short span of 11 years.
Who was Alexander the Great?
Alexander the Great (356 BC-323 BC) assumed control of Macedonia at a young age when he stayed behind while his father led a campaign to Byzantium. In 338 BC, he displayed his military skills by commanding the left flank of the Macedonian army in the war against the Greeks, alongside King Philip II.
After the controversial death of King Philip II (rumored to be orchestrated by Alexander's mother to clear the path for him), Alexander ascended the throne in 336 BC and wasted no time in unleashing his potential. Initially, he launched expeditions beyond the Danube and then turned westward with his army. However, when rumors spread that he had died in the Athens region, sparking a rebellion believed to be orchestrated by Persian Emperor Darius III, he swiftly redirected his forces towards Greece, leaving the region in flames except for Sparta. Alexander conquered the entire Greek peninsula except for the Spartans, and then set his sights on the perennial nemesis of the Macedonians, the Persian Empire.
With a battle force of approximately 5,000 cavalry and 30,000 infantry, organized and equipped quite differently from the standards of the day, he embarked on his campaign in 334 BC. He achieved victory after victory in Anatolia, Syria, and Egypt, all without suffering a single defeat. The Persians watched in astonishment and fear. Alexander achieved his greatest triumph in 331 BC, winning the battle that took place in what is now northern Iraq, and defeating the Persian Emperor Darius. The 21-year-old Macedonian king had now become the supreme king of the Persians. Over the next 8 years, he wore the crowns of both king and explorer simultaneously, reaching as far as the foothills of the Himalayas with his massive army. He established an empire covering 70 different cities in various countries and spanning 2 million square kilometers.
Undoubtedly, he was one of the most powerful military leaders in history. No one had ever claimed such a vast territory in such a short span of time. The borders of his empire stretched from the heart of the Balkans to the eastern Hindu Kush mountains. His success was attributed to his willingness to show respect for the customs, traditions, and cultures of the regions he conquered, often forming alliances with them. He even entered into marriages for these reasons, uniting millions of people from different races and cultures under a common will. What set him apart was his willingness to take on anything he perceived as different from others and make it his own.
In his childhood, Alexander had a great love for war games. Contrary to popular belief, he was of short stature, displayed signs of megalomania and paranoia, and it is even claimed that he had a homosexual relationship with his general and protector, Hephaestion.
When it came to governing the territories he conquered, he entrusted it to commanders he trusted or individuals chosen by the local population. For him, conquest was important, not governance.
It is believed that he untied the legendary Gordian Knot. According to the legend, the Phrygian king Gordius dedicated a chariot to Zeus, which was tied to a temple with a knot. It was said that the one who could untie the knot would become the ruler of Asia. When Alexander arrived in Gordion, he somehow managed to untie the knot, or according to many accounts, he couldn't, so he simply cut it with his sword, fulfilling the prophecy. Thus, he became the ruler of Asia. However, it's suggested that his early death was attributed to cutting the knot with a sword.
After conquering the sacred city of Memphis in Ancient Egypt, a coronation ceremony was held where Alexander donned the Pharaoh's crown, wearing both the traditional and double crowns. Additionally, after crossing the Zagros Mountains and capturing Persepolis, he held a ceremony to burn the temple of the famous Achaemenid ruler, King Xerxes I (Serhas), seeking revenge for what the Persians had done to Greece in 484 BC.
Alexander considered Achilles as his role model. In his first campaign in Anatolia, when he captured the region around Troy, he visited the tomb of Achilles, and it is said that he took Achilles' shield, which was believed to have been a gift from the gods, for good luck.
When Alexander the Great passed away at the age of 32, succumbing to a suspected bout of malaria in Babylon in 323 BC, he left behind a vast empire. When asked to whom he bequeathed his empire, he replied, "To the strongest."
Alexander's Conquered Territories
He never returned to his homeland, which he left for his campaigns. His mother believed that Alexander was the son of Zeus. Thanks to his mentor Aristotle, he developed an interest not only in science and medicine, but also in philosophy.
Of course, there were also acts of brutality. After battles in which he was wounded, he is known to have massacred the local population in the war zones for shock value. Additionally, it's a known fact that he fed his soldiers onions to keep them in shape.
He loved his horse so much that when it died, he named a city in the present-day territory of Pakistan after it. Furthermore, Alexander established numerous cities bearing his name, including the present-day city of Iskenderun. The city of Thessaloniki also took its name from Alexander's sister. Moreover, they never lost a battle they entered. Alexander had established a modern army considering the conditions of the time. He was the first to implement the strategies of war, which are still taught in many military academies and is considered by many historians to be the most successful commander in history. Alexander is known for his short stature (about 5 feet). There is a rumor that his father Philip told him, "My son, this land is too small for you, go find new lands for yourself."
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