Alexander The Great
The Youth A pupil of Aristotle at age 13 They later became estranged, but he still admired his
brilliance. From Aristotle he learned: value of intelligence, engineering,, biology, technology, climates, cultures, mathematics, reason, persuasion, This knowledge coupled with the military education his father Phillip II of Macedonia taught him made Alexander a complete man at an early age. Wanted to know size of army, position of king in warfare, distribution of troops, tactics, etc. “ This Boy is a Great King, ours is only Wealthy ” -Visiting Foreign Ministers
The Man A man of great valor, breadth of vision, incredible ambition,
uncompromising drive, and unbridled enthusiasm. Nothing was impossible! ALSO : Arrogant, irascible, brutal, mostly when in command… but capable of electrifying men’s hearts by his words and motivating them to great achievements. Believed himself the heir of Achilles of Troy. Incredibly courageous ad intelligent, quick thinking...totally fearless! Strongly attached to his men.
Traits Short in height Athletic Built Fair complexion, Head held to at a slight slant angle to the
side. Married twice...Roxanne, daughter of Iranian baron, and to daughter of Darius the Persian King. Heavy drinker at times and bi-sexual.
Alexander The Great
Early Years Came to power at 21 years old. Won support off generals… immediately killed any conspirators
or rivals. Attulus and his fathers new son and wife. The Northern districts around the Black Sea sought independence…Alexander conquered them. Word spread that Alexander was killed...Thebes revolted! Alexander forced marched his army to Thebes… thousands killed, rest enslaves, city razed to ground, spared temples, Would later repent this violence...but it did serve a purpose… no one else would repeat…BUT...his action unified Greece !
Alexander’s Focus After solidifying his power base, he revisited his
father’s
dreams. An all Greek War against Persia to punish her for the invasions of several generations before. Also sought to build a greater empire. He prepared his Macedonian Calvary and Greek hoplites for an invasion of Asia Minor. He would first stop at Troy to pay homage to Achilles Grave. His total focus was on military tactics and strategies…he was a military conqueror!!!
Alexander’s Army 50,000 soldiers of which 6,000 were Calvary divided into
light and heavy Calvary. His opponent Darius would field 120,000 men & 30,000 Calvary. Core was Macedonian farmers and nobles. The Macedonian Calvary and the Greek phalanx formed an unbeatable assault force. Soldiers spent years in military…professionals! Better trained and highly disciplined fighting man.
Calvary Heavy and light. Close union of Calvary and phalanx. Changed tactics to meet needs. Companion Calvary of 2,000. Alexander’s personal forces…he led them into battle. Armed with “ helmet, breastplates, greaves, short sword,
thrusting spear, small round shield, (no stirrups). Special share of prize money.
Sirassa Infantry Mobile and flexible. Helmet, breastplates, greaves, 18’ weighted spear (Sirissa) Sirissas: corps were carefully coordinated. 18 foot long, 1 foot blade, and counter-balanced. Blades extended beyond five ranks of men. Ran into warfare howling and chanting.
Hoplite Formation Over 9,000 strong Sometimes open…sometimes closed. Often changing suddenly. 8-10-16 men deep. Shape of formation altering to meet need. Infantry carried long shields they could cover
themselves with, or hide under.
Archers and Slingers Attacked from a distance Drove defenders from their positions Disrupted defensive operations. Allies : 12,000 Greeks Thousands of Thracians, Any soldier willing to fight for pay.
Weapons
Spear Points
Greaves
Alexander as General Always stayed close to the front and led most
attacks
He employed strong tactics and harsh discipline. He maintained high moral, by the power of his
personality and by the rewards he distributed. He personally walked the lines before combat to reassure his men. His men would endure marches of over 30 miles per day…even in the desert or mountains. He never allowed terrain or weather to control his attacks.
Strategy The Strategy of defeat...he pursued the enemy with
the
some
purpose of total destruction or complete surrender. He employed siege trains: Siege towers over 150 feet high Boarding bridges. Battering Rams…100 feet long with metal heads… mounted on ships. Catapults…60-60 pound stones. Arrow catapults ... with 200 yd range. Built large hills with the need called for it.
Results Because of his military abilities Alexander proved
victorious. He sent thousands of slaves home to Macedonia to work on farms, in the cities, and in silver and gold mines. This generated much wealth for Macedonia. It also freed up vast numbers of young Macedonian men for military service.
Conquest of Persia
Asia Minor Began with the conquest of Troy. Traveled to Gordium. Within ten years he had conquered the Persian
Empire. Darius’ army was composed of 120,000 men, of which 30,000 were trained horseman and archers, ...a tradition taught in east from childhood. War chariots with scythes. Two major Battles: Granicus River & Issus freed Asia Minor.
Battle of Granicus River Granicus River ran between the opposing
forces… Darius not present, his army was to the east. Alexander, not riding Bucephalus, in his Aschilles Armor and white plumed helmet led the charge. Alexander charged across the water at night to surprise the Persian army. He did not ravish the land …because it was now his. He executed 15,000 prisoners and sent the rest as slaves to Macedonia.
Battle of Issus
Battle of Issus Darius rushed east to confront Alexander. He wanted a decisive battle with this young upstart. Alexander headed south looking for Darius’ army. The Mediterranean Sea to his right and the Amanus
To his left. Meanwhile…Darius was on the other side of the mountains heading north. At Bakcha Pass, Darius west to the sea and headed He discovered wounded Macedonians, and cut off hands...word got back to Alexander!!!!!
Mts.
south. their
Battle of Issus
cont’d…
Alexander learns Darius is to his rear. Turns army and fast marched 10 miles to face him. Alexander’s army 25,000-30,000…Darius’ army 400,000
(counted in pens) With heavy Calvary and war chariots, Darius attacked. Alexander’s disciplined troops held their ground while Alexander himself led a charge directly toward Darius…. Darius fled…when this happened his army dissolved. Alexander captured Darius’: camp, his personal weapons, rich belongings, concubines, even his wife and mother. Alexander treated them with the highest respect. Darius flees to the East
Alexander Charges Darius
Down the Coast… Alexander next had to defeat the Persian Fleet. He did this by taking away their land basis. Ancient fighting ships had little room for supplies. Began seizing all of the ports along the Med. Sea coast. Sieges of Tyre (7 month siege) & Gaza ( 3 months siege). He punished them for their treachery but allowed some to
survive but admit homage to him. Thus began his new approach to the political tactics of conquest. His actions cleared the Med sea of Persians & pirates.
Conquest of Asia Minor
Conquers Egypt Egypt had been restive under Persian Control. Watched carefully events unfolding along the coast. When Alexander approached Egypt…the population
welcomed him. Alexander became the new Pharaoh. Built city of Alexandria. Traveled to temple of Ammon…Believed himself to be an heir. Alexander takes a shift toward divinity! Alexander has now conquered Asia Minor…but has yet to negate Darius or his massive army! Alexander turns his eyes East...
Alexander’s Deification Expressed on Coins
Battle of Gaugamela Darius II ought peace…offered Alexander 1/2 his
empire plus marriage to his daughter…Alexander refused The armies met at Gaugamela…near current Iraq. Persian army outnumbered Macedonians by 10:1, Ground leveled for war chariots. Alexander shifted to rough ground and had men lie under shields during chariot attack. Alexander saw a weakness in the Persian and again led the Companions on a charge toward Darius. Darius fled again!!! Again the Persian army dissolved.
The Chase for Darius Thus began a long mission to find Darius which
brought him deep into Persia. Alexander's army runs across a small detachment men and wagons. One of his men backtracked farther south and discovered an abandoned wagon. Darius was inside bound and murdered….assassinated by his own men. Alexander covered him with his own cloak. With Darius dead…
of
the Great King of Persia!
The bust to the left is the only known true representation of what Alexander the Great may have looked like.
Alexander In Persia Babylon welcomed him. Established himself in the Palace of Persepolis Began to dress in eastern dress. Adopted Eastern Rituals (Prokeysis) Began to incorporate foreigners into Army Heard of conspiracy to kill him…executed Philotas…a valued
friend. Held massive feasts and distributed captured
gold to army.
Prokeysis
Persepolis
The Wealth of Persia
Cyrus the Great’s Tomb
Alexander Invades India
Afghanistan
The North West Empire Traveled north to get to India In transit conquered the warlords of today’s
Afghanistan Severe troubles for his army in this region. Continuously fighting mountain tribesman. Killed Cletius, his valued commander of Companion Calvary in drunken fit. Resorted to his tent for days bemoaning his drunken excess and loss of self control. Difficulty maintaining control
Route to India
India Followed Indus River to Persian Gulf. First time experienced elephants in combat. Seriously wounded by arrow when jumping over
wall…arrow through lung. Persisted in moving East. Farthest extend of his empire…he wanted to travel to the sea…but his men revolted. Sulked in his tent...then turned the tide with a speech…rebels executed. Built a massive navy and sought water route to Red and Egypt. Disgruntled Army wanted to go back to Macedonia.
Sea
Persian Archers
Coin with Elephants
Alexander’s Death
June 13, 323 b.c. Two Stories: Died at age 33….ruled for 12 years 8 months. Poisoned at a party after a month long binge. Became ill with fever after a month long binge, grew steadily worse. Troops nearly revolted…passed the ill Died within ten days of first illness.
drinking drinking Alexander.
Alexander's Tomb
Alexander’s Funeral Carriage
Alexander’s Dream
Ambitions… Alexander was a general, a king, and a god. He conquered a significant portion of the known world. He brought scientists and intellectuals with him and
collected knowledge throughout his travels. He made his 10,000 men in his army marry local women to unite his empire by blood…brotherhood of man. Created 70 cities…. 20 cities named Alexandria. Made Alexandria in Egypt the center of intellectual activity…the great library housing all artifacts and records. He took on the appearance of an eastern potentate…did he believe himself a god?!?! He attracted artists, poets, philosophers,botanists, geographers, hydrographers, geologists, and medical men.
Accomplishments Introduced Alphabet into the East. Spread Greek Hellenistic culture around the known world. Collected known knowledge and secured it at Alexandria. Imposed a strong administrative system. Built roads connecting cities and tying the empire together. Unified the known world under his guidance…smaller wars
ended. Economic development prospered throughout empire. What Persia threatened to do to Greece generations before…Greece did to Persia under Alexander the Great!
Alexander’s Failures Killed by fever outside of Babylon June 13, 323
b.c….did not have time to consolidate his empire. Kept Persians in high positions, this was necessary, but alienated sympathies of Macedonia & Greece. Caused mutinies in his army. Required prokeysis of Macedonians…being treated like an eastern potentate. Forced marriages between Greeks and local women. Failed to maintain stable relations with Greece. Was gone 12 years! No plan for orderly succession!
Aftermath of Alexander’s Death Soldiers mutinied. Subjected peoples rebelled, Generals fought among themselves. “Diadochi” administrators, Alexander’s chosen local
leaders, were killed. Empire split into three parts: 1. Potlemy rules Egypt. 2. Seleucus & Antiochus rule Syria 3. General Antipather ruled Macedonia Hellenic traditions transferred to the East!