Alexander the Great is the great commander of antiquity, who managed to subjugate most of Asia in a short time, reaching India and Pakistan. He went down in history as a conqueror who never lost a single battle. This success was facilitated by the tactical talent of the ruler and the choice of strategy: the Macedonian army always acted quickly and suddenly, while making do with few casualties. The most famous principle of Alexander to this day is the motto: “Divide and conquer.”
Childhood and youth
Alexander was born in the Macedonian capital of Pella. He came from the valiant Argead dynasty, which, according to legend, originates from the famous hero. Alexander's father was the Macedonian king Philip II. Mother - Olympias, daughter of the king of Epirus. Her pedigree is no less noble - according to legend, the founder of the Pyrrhid family was himself. The awareness of belonging to two great dynasties influenced the formation of certain personal qualities of the young man.
WikipediaDue to his father’s polygamy, Alexander had several half-sisters and brothers, but only the eldest Philip, who was recognized as weak-minded, was considered his family. The boy grew up in an ambiguous environment: he admired the valor of his father, who waged endless wars with the Greek policies, but at the same time felt personal hostility towards him, as he was under the influence of his mother, who set her son against her husband.
At an early age, Alexander studied not at home, but according to established tradition - with relatives. He studied at Mieza, and his teachers were Leonidas, who insisted on the Spartan way of life, and the actor Lysimachus, who taught the young heir to the throne rhetoric and ethics.
From the age of 13, he began to be raised by a great thinker who was well acquainted with his father. The philosopher, realizing that he was the mentor of the future ruler, emphasized the study of politics, ethics and philosophy. In addition, trying to give his ward a classical education, the teacher taught the prince medicine, literature and poetry.
Ancient Pages From an early age, Alexander showed such qualities as ambition, stubbornness and determination. On the other hand, he was indifferent to physical pleasures, limited himself in food and for a long time showed no interest in the opposite sex.
Already in childhood, the future strategist had extraordinary intelligence and ingenuity. Having met a delegation of Persian ambassadors in the absence of his father, he did not ask them a single frivolous question. The boy was interested in such things as the quality of roads, features of urban life and the culture of a foreign country. At the age of 10, the teenager managed to saddle the rebellious horse Bucephalus, who later became his faithful friend on all campaigns. Alexander noticed that the stallion was frightened by his own shadow, so he avoided turning on his horse towards the sun.
Alexander the Great and Diogenes. Artist Jean-Baptiste Regnault / Beaux-Arts de Paris The father first entrusted his son with the administration of Macedonia when he was 16 years old. Philip himself went to conquer Byzantium, and at this time an uprising arose in his homeland, the instigator of which was the Thracian tribes. The young prince, with the help of the regiments remaining in the capital, suppressed the rebellion, and on the site of the Thracian settlement he founded the city of Alexandropol in his honor. After 2 years, he again acted as a successful commander, commanding the left wing of the Macedonian army at the Battle of Chaeronea. In 336 BC. e. King Philip was killed, and Alexander was proclaimed king of Macedonia.
Reign and great campaigns
Having come to power, Alexander destroys his father's enemies, who were responsible for his death, and abolishes taxes. Then, within 2 years, he suppresses the barbarian Thracian tribes in the north of the country and restores Macedonian power in Greece.
Alexander the Great enters Babylon. Artist Charles Le Brun / Louvre After this, Alexander unites all of Hellas and makes a great campaign against Persia, which Philip had dreamed of all his life. The battles with the Persians fully demonstrated the amazing military talent of Alexander the Great. After the Battle of the Granik River in 334 BC. e. Almost all of Asia Minor came under Macedonian rule. And Alexander himself found the glory of the greatest commander and conqueror.
Having subjugated Syria, Phenicia, Palestine, Caria and other countries of the Middle East almost without a fight, Alexander went to Egypt, where he was greeted like a new deity. In Egypt, the king founded another city in his honor - Alexandria.
The family of Darius before Alexander the Great. Artist François Fontebasco / Wikipedia Returning to Persia, Alexander conquered Susa, Persepolis and Babylon. The last city became the capital of the united power. In 329, the crown king of Persia, Darius, was killed by his own entourage, and Alexander again shows himself as a smart tactician and strategist. He declares that the king’s murderers, and not the conquerors, are to blame for the fall of the Persian Empire, and calls himself an avenger for the honor of Darius.
Alexander becomes the king of Asia and within 2 years captures Sogdean and Bactria, that is, modern Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Occupying new territories, Alexander founded cities in his honor. For example, Alexandria Eskhata and Alexandria in Arachosia, which have survived to this day under the names Khujand and Kandahar.
Alexander cuts the Gordian knot. Artist Jean-Simon Berthelemy / Beaux-Arts de Paris In 326 BC. Alexander the Great launched a campaign against India. He managed to capture several tribes and conquer the territory of present-day Pakistan. But after crossing the Indus River, the exhausted army went on strike and refused to move on. Alexander was forced to turn his troops back after a triumphant 10-year advance deep into the Asian part of the Eurasian continent.
The peculiarity of Alexander the Great as a ruler was that he accepted the traditions and beliefs of the occupied territories, did not try to impose his own culture, and even sometimes left former kings and rulers as governors. This policy prevented a surge in uprisings in the conquered territories, but every year it increasingly caused discontent among compatriots. The same tactics would later be used by the ancient Roman emperors.
Personal life
In his personal life, Alexander the Great showed the same love of freedom and independence from other people’s judgments as in military affairs. The harem of Alexander the Great numbered 360 concubines, of which Campaspa was singled out, she was his mistress for 2 years, starting in 336, and 7 years older than Alexander, Barsina, who became the mother of his illegitimate son Hercules. In addition, his relationships with the Amazon queen Thalestris and the Indian princess Cleophis are known.
Alexander had three wives. The first was the Bactrian princess Roxana, whom the king took as his wife when the bride was only 14 years old. According to legend, the girl was a captive, the king could not resist her beauty and fell in love at first sight. They married in 327 BC. e.. She gave birth to the only officially recognized child of the great commander - the son of Alexander, who was born a month after the death of his father.
Alexander the Great and Roxana. Artist Pietro Antonio Rotary / Hermitage After 3 years, the king married two Persian princesses at the same time - the daughter of King Darius Stateira and the daughter of King Artaxerxes III Parysatis. Both additional marriages are considered to have taken place solely for political reasons. True, this did not stop the first wife Roxana from becoming jealous and killing Stateira on this basis immediately after her husband’s death.
Alexander the Great had advanced views for his time on relationships with women, whom he respected and considered almost equal to men, although even his teacher Aristotle insisted on a secondary role for women.
Death
In the winter of 323 BC. e. Alexander begins to plan new campaigns against the Arab tribes of the Arabian Peninsula and the conquest of Carthage. The king’s plans include the subjugation of the entire Mediterranean. After a short rest, he begins construction of a new port in the Persian Gulf and renewal of the flotilla.
Less than a week before the start of the enterprise, the great commander fell seriously ill, presumably with malaria. The researchers doubt that the infectious disease does not manifest itself in any way among the ruler’s immediate social circle. Hypotheses were put forward about blood cancer, which became transient, about pneumonia, typhoid fever and liver failure. In addition, there are versions about the poisoning of Alexander.
Monument to Alexander the Great in Thessaloniki, Greece / Nikolai Karaneschev, Wikipedia For several months the ruler could not get out of bed at his home in Babylon. From the beginning of June, he lost his speech and was overtaken by a severe fever that lasted 10 days. June 10, 323 BC the great king and commander Alexander the Great died. At the time of his death he was 32 years old, a month shy of his 33rd birthday.
Soon after the death of Alexander the Great, the collapse of the state began. The conquered territory was divided among the commanders of the ruler's army. None of the king's heirs - Alexander and Hercules - entered the fight for the throne, since both were killed as children, which meant the end of the Argead dynasty. Nevertheless, the spread of Greek culture throughout most of the states of Asia Minor and Central Asia gave impetus to the emergence of Hellenism in these territories.
Memory
The influence of Alexander the Great on the development of culture, politics and economics of the ancient world can hardly be overestimated. Already in antiquity he was recognized as the greatest conqueror of all times and peoples. In the Middle Ages, his biography served as the source of the plot “The Romance of Alexander,” which was supplemented with many fictitious facts. Subsequently, the image of the commander inspired playwrights to create portraits, sculptures and works of art. In the city of Thessaloniki a statue of the great conqueror on horseback was erected.
In world cinema, the personality of Alexander the Great has more than once become a source of inspiration for screenwriters and directors. The famous Hollywood films “Alexander the Great” of 1956 and “Alexander” of 2004 starring him.
Movies
- 1956 – “Alexander the Great”
- 2004 – “Alexander”
Known for his ambitions for conquest, Alexander the Great took his place in history as a great ancient Hellenic commander and conqueror.
Over 10 years of military campaigns, he conquered more than half of the lands known at that time and did not suffer a single defeat in battle!
short biography
Alexander the Great (name - AlexanderIII; nickname - "Great") born July 20-21, 356 BC in Macedonia. His father - PhilipII, was the current king of Macedonia. His mother - Olympics, daughter of the king of Epirus.
It is known that at the age of 7 the boy began to be taught the art of war and various sciences. Alexander showed no interest in philosophy and mathematics. But in horse riding and archery, as well as some other physical and military sciences he had no equal.
Aristotle's student
One of the teachers of young Alexander the Great was Aristotle- famous and wisest ancient Greek philosopher. Thanks to his teacher's stories about the Universe and its many riches and wonders, the boy began to dream of conquering new lands.
After another news that his father Philip had defeated another enemy and conquered the city, AlexanderIII became sad and said: “At this rate, there will be nothing left for me...”
Young commander
At the age of 16, Alexander underwent his first baptism of fire during a battle with the Athenians. His command of the cavalry decided the outcome of the battle in favor of the Macedonians and earned the young commander the nickname "Great". Philip's soldiers praised him!
The father was pleased with his son’s first practical experience, and from that moment on, young Alexander began to closely study military science: the basics of combat, the features of actions phalanx- a combat unit of the Macedonians, which made their numerical minority unimportant in battles with enemies.
King of Macedonia
When Alexander turned 20 years old, his father was treacherously killed by one of his close associates. The time has come to accept the royal throne and government. Alexander the Great did not participate in internal government, but he actively and fruitfully showed himself as a commander and invader, first of neighboring cities, and later of neighboring and distant lands.
There is a legend that during the siege of Athens, the main commander of the Greeks came to the Macedonian Phocion and said the following words:
“Why do you fight against your fellow tribesmen, against the Hellenes? You strive for fame and riches, so go to Asia and fight against the barbarians. There you will win wealth, achieve military glory, and among the Greeks you will become famous for your kindness.”
The Macedonian took advantage of the wise advice of the Greek commander, retreated from Athens and directed his 40 thousandth army(according to some sources, there were about 50 thousand soldiers) on a campaign to the lands of Asia, Persia, and Egypt.
Pharaoh of Egypt
Having crossed the Hellespont, Alexander and his army took the first fight with the Persian army near Troy, on the Granicus River.
The Persian army was defeated by a talented commander from Macedonia. After this, many Persian cities surrendered to the young king without a fight.
In 332 BC. The Macedonian entered Egypt without any resistance and became its Pharaoh. By that time, almost all the military power of the Egyptians was in Asia Minor.
King of Asia
After strengthening his position in Egyptian lands and building the city of Alexandria, Macedonian decides to delve deeper into Asian lands. By that time DariusIII, the Persian king, managed to gather a large army for a new battle with Alexander.
October 1, 331 BC e. a great battle took place at Gaugamelah, during which the troops of the Persians and the peoples subject to them were defeated. Darius once again fled from the battlefield, which further reduced his authority.
After this battle, the satraps of many Persian lands began to call the conqueror Alexander King of Asia and they opened the gates for him without a fight.
Persian king
Next, Alexander moved to the south, where the ancient Babylon And Susa, one of the capitals of the Persian Empire, opened their gates to him. The Persian satraps, having lost faith in Darius, began to serve the King of Asia.
From Susa, Alexander went through mountain passages to Persepolis, the center of the original Persian land. After an unsuccessful attempt to break through on the move, Alexander with part of his army bypassed the troops of the satrap of Persia Ariobarzanes, and in January 330 BC e. Persepolis fell.
The Macedonian army rested in the city until the end of spring, and before leaving, the palace of the Persian kings was burned.
According to the famous legend, the fire was organized by the hetaera Thais of Athens, the mistress of the military leader Ptolemy, inciting the drunken company of Alexander and his friends.
IN May 330 BC e. Alexander resumed his pursuit of Darius, first in Media and then in Parthia. In July 330 BC. e. King Darius was killed as a result of a conspiracy by his military leaders. Bactrian satrap Bess, who killed Darius, named himself the new king of the Persian Empire. Bess tried to organize resistance in the eastern satrapies, but was captured by his comrades, handed over to Alexander and executed by him in June 329 BC. e.
Trek to India
After the victory over the Persians, Alexander the Great did not return to his native land, but moved to India. In the battle he defeated the army of the Indian king Porus and wanted to reach World Ocean. But then his army rebelled.
The Macedonians did not want to fight anymore, they demanded a return to their homeland, accusing their king of an excessive thirst for wealth and glory. I had to give in to him. He had grandiose plans, he wanted to conquer the whole world, he thought of building a road through the Sahara desert, digging wells along it and much more.
Death of Alexander "The Great"
Upon returning to Babylon, Alexander soon fell ill with a fever. The disease progressed, the Great Commander fought it for 10 days, but June 13, 323 BC Alexander the Great died.
His body was transported to Alexandria, where he was buried with great honors in a golden coffin.
Alexander the Great (Alexander III the Great, ancient Greek Ἀλέξανδρος Γ" ὁ Μέγας, lat. Alexander III Magnus, among Muslim peoples Iskander Zulkarnain, presumably July 20, 356 - June 10, 323 BC) - Macedonian king with 336 BC from the Argead dynasty, commander, creator of a world power that collapsed after his death. In Western historiography, he was better known as Alexander the Great. Even in Antiquity, Alexander gained the reputation of one of the greatest commanders in history.
Having ascended the throne at the age of 20 after the death of his father, the Macedonian king Philip II, Alexander secured the northern borders of Macedonia and completed the subjugation of Greece with the defeat of the rebellious city of Thebes. In the spring of 334 BC. e. Alexander began a legendary campaign to the East and in seven years completely conquered the Persian Empire. Then he began the conquest of India, but at the insistence of the soldiers, tired of the long campaign, he retreated.
The cities founded by Alexander, which are still the largest in several countries in our time, and the colonization of new territories in Asia by the Greeks contributed to the spread of Greek culture in the East. Almost reaching the age of 33, Alexander died in Babylon from a serious illness. Immediately his empire was divided among his generals (Diadochi), and a series of Diadochi wars reigned for several decades.
Alexander was born in July, 356, Pella (Macedonia). The son of the Macedonian king Philip II and Queen Olympias, the future king received an excellent education for his time; Aristotle was his teacher from the age of 13. Alexander's favorite reading was the heroic poems of Homer. He underwent military training under the guidance of his father.
Already in his youth, Macedonsky demonstrated exceptional abilities in the art of military leadership. In 338, Alexander's personal participation in the Battle of Chaeronea largely decided the outcome of the battle in favor of the Macedonians.
The youth of the heir to the Macedonian throne was overshadowed by the divorce of his parents. Philip's remarriage to another woman (Cleopatra) became the cause of Alexander's quarrel with his father. After the mysterious murder of King Philip in June 336 BC. e. 20-year-old Alexander was enthroned.
The main task of the young king was to prepare for a military campaign in Persia. Alexander inherited from Philip the strongest army of Ancient Greece, but he understood that defeating the huge Achaemenid power would require the efforts of all of Hellas. He managed to create a Pan-Hellenic (pan-Greek) union and form a united Greek-Macedonian army.
The elite of the army consisted of the king's bodyguards (hypaspists) and the Macedonian royal guard. The basis of the cavalry were horsemen from Thessaly. The foot soldiers wore heavy bronze armor, their main weapon was the Macedonian spear - the sarissa. Alexander improved his father's fighting tactics. He began to build the Macedonian phalanx at an angle; this formation made it possible to concentrate forces to attack the enemy’s right flank, traditionally weak in the armies of the ancient world. In addition to the heavy infantry, the army had a considerable number of lightly armed auxiliary detachments from different cities of Greece. The total number of infantry was 30 thousand people, cavalry - 5 thousand. Despite the relatively small number, the Greek-Macedonian army was well trained and armed.
In 334, the army of the Macedonian king crossed the Hellespont (modern Dardanelles), and a war began under the slogan of revenge on the Persians for the desecrated Greek shrines of Asia Minor. At the first stage of hostilities, Alexander the Great was opposed by the Persian satraps who ruled Asia Minor. Their 60,000-strong army was defeated in 333 at the Battle of the Granik River, after which the Greek cities of Asia Minor were liberated. However, the Achaemenid state possessed enormous human and material resources. King Darius III, having gathered the best troops from all over his country, moved towards Alexander, but in the decisive battle of Issus near the border of Syria and Cilicia (the region of modern Iskanderun, Turkey), his 100,000-strong army was defeated, and he himself barely escaped.
Alexander the Great decided to take advantage of the fruits of his victory and continued his campaign. The successful siege of Tire opened the way for him to Egypt, and in the winter of 332-331 the Greco-Macedonian phalanxes entered the Nile Valley. The population of the countries enslaved by the Persians perceived the Macedonians as liberators. To maintain stable power in the captured lands, Alexander took an extraordinary step - declaring himself the son of the Egyptian god Ammon, who was identified by the Greeks with Zeus, he became the legitimate ruler (pharaoh) in the eyes of the Egyptians.
Another way to strengthen power in conquered countries was the resettlement of Greeks and Macedonians, which contributed to the spread of the Greek language and culture over vast territories. Alexander specifically founded new cities for the settlers, usually bearing his name. The most famous of them is Alexandria (Egyptian).
After carrying out financial reform in Egypt, Macedonian continued his campaign to the East. The Greco-Macedonian army invaded Mesopotamia. Darius III, gathering all possible forces, tried to stop Alexander, but to no avail; On October 1, 331, the Persians were finally defeated at the Battle of Gaugamela (near modern Irbil, Iraq). The winners occupied the ancestral Persian lands, the cities of Babylon, Susa, Persepolis, and Ecbatana. Darius III fled, but was soon killed by Bessus, satrap of Bactria; Alexander ordered the last Persian ruler to be buried with royal honors in Persepolis. The Achaemenid state ceased to exist.
Alexander was proclaimed "King of Asia". After occupying Ecbatana, he sent home all the Greek allies who wanted it. In his state, he planned to create a new ruling class from Macedonians and Persians, and sought to attract the local nobility to his side, which caused discontent among his comrades. In 330, the oldest military leader Parmenion and his son, the chief of cavalry Philotas, were executed, accused of involvement in a conspiracy against Alexander.
Having crossed the eastern Iranian regions, the army of Alexander the Great invaded Central Asia (Bactria and Sogdiana), the local population of which, led by Spitamen, put up fierce resistance; it was only suppressed after the death of Spitamenes in 328. Alexander tried to observe local customs, wore Persian royal clothes, and married the Bactrian Roxana. However, his attempt to introduce Persian court ceremonial (in particular, prostrating before the king) met with the rejection of the Greeks. Alexander mercilessly dealt with the dissatisfied. His foster brother Cleitus, who dared to disobey him, was immediately killed.
After the Greco-Macedonian troops entered the Indus Valley, the Battle of Hydaspes took place between them and the soldiers of the Indian king Porus (326). The Indians were defeated. Pursuing them, the Macedonian army descended down the Indus to the Indian Ocean (325). The Indus Valley was annexed to Alexander's empire. The exhaustion of the troops and the outbreak of rebellions among them forced Alexander to turn west.
Returning to Babylon, which became his permanent residence, Alexander continued the policy of uniting the multilingual population of his state and rapprochement with the Persian nobility, which he attracted to govern the state. He arranged mass weddings of Macedonians with Persian women, and he himself married (in addition to Roxana) two Persian women at the same time - Statira (daughter of Darius) and Parysatis.
Alexander was preparing to conquer Arabia and North Africa, but this was prevented by his sudden death from malaria on June 13, 323 BC. e., in Babylon. His body, taken to Alexandria Egypt by Ptolemy (one of the great commander’s associates), was placed in a golden coffin. Alexander's newborn son and his half-brother Arrhidaeus were proclaimed the new kings of the huge power. In fact, the empire began to be ruled by Alexander's military leaders - the Diadochi, who soon began a war to divide the state among themselves. The political and economic unity that Alexander the Great sought to create in the occupied lands was fragile, but Greek influence in the East turned out to be very fruitful and led to the formation of the Hellenistic culture.
The personality of Alexander the Great was extremely popular both among European peoples and in the East, where he is known under the name Iskander Zulkarnain (or Iskandar Zulkarnain, which means Alexander the Two-horned).
Russian Emperor Alexander I Pavlovich was born on December 25 (12 according to the old style) December 1777. He was the first-born son of Emperor Paul I (1754-1801) and Empress Maria Feodorovna (1759-1828).
Immediately after his birth, Alexander was taken from his parents by his grandmother, Empress Catherine II, who intended to raise the baby as an ideal sovereign. On the recommendation of the philosopher Denis Diderot, the Swiss Frederic Laharpe, a republican by conviction, was invited to become a teacher.
Grand Duke Alexander grew up with faith in the ideals of the Enlightenment, sympathized with the Great French Revolution and was critical of the system of Russian autocracy.
Alexander's critical attitude towards the policies of Paul I contributed to his involvement in the conspiracy against his father, but on the conditions that the conspirators would save the life of the king and would only seek his abdication. The violent death of Paul on March 23 (11 according to the old calendar) seriously affected Alexander - he felt a sense of guilt for the death of his father until the end of his days.
In the first days after ascending the throne in March 1801, Alexander I created the Permanent Council - a legislative advisory body under the sovereign, which had the right to protest the actions and decrees of the tsar. But due to inconsistencies among members, none of his projects were made public.
Alexander I carried out a number of reforms: merchants, townspeople and state-owned (related to the state) villagers were given the right to buy uninhabited lands (1801), ministries and a cabinet of ministers were established (1802), a decree was issued on free cultivators (1803), which created the category personally free peasants.
In 1822, Alexander founded Masonic lodges and other secret societies.
Emperor Alexander I died on December 2 (November 19, old style) 1825 from typhoid fever in Taganrog, where he accompanied his wife, Empress Elizabeth Alekseevna, for treatment.
The emperor often told his loved ones about his intention to abdicate the throne and “remove the world,” which gave rise to the legend about the elder Fyodor Kuzmich, according to which Alexander’s double died and was buried in Taganrog, while the king lived as an old hermit in Siberia and died in 1864
Alexander I was married to the German princess Louise-Maria-August of Baden-Baden (1779-1826), who adopted the name Elizabeth Alekseevna upon converting to Orthodoxy. From this marriage two daughters were born who died in infancy.
The material was prepared based on information from open sources
Alexander the Great (Alexander the Great) b. July 20 (21), 356 BC e. – d.s. June 10 (13), 323 BC e. King of Macedonia from 336, the most famous commander of all times and peoples, who created the largest monarchy of antiquity by force of arms.
In terms of the actions of Alexander the Great, it is difficult to compare with any of the great commanders in world history. It is known that he was revered by such world-shaking conquerors as... In fact, the aggressive campaigns of the king of the small state of Macedonia in the very north of Greek lands had a serious impact on all subsequent generations. And the military leadership of the king of Macedonia became a classic for people who devoted themselves to military affairs.
Origin. early years
Alexander the Great was born in Pella. He was the son of Philip II of Macedon and Queen Olympias, daughter of the Epirus king Neoptolemus. The future hero of the Ancient World received a Hellenic upbringing - his mentor since 343 was perhaps the most legendary ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle.
“Alexander... admired Aristotle and, in his own words, loved his teacher no less than his father, saying that he owes to Philip that he lives, and to Aristotle that he lives with dignity,” wrote Plutarch.
Tsar-commander Philip II himself taught his son the art of war, in which he soon succeeded. In ancient times, the winner of a war was considered a man of great statesmanship. Tsarevich Alexander commanded a detachment of Macedonian soldiers for the first time when he was 16 years old. For that time, this was a common phenomenon - the king’s son simply could not help but be a military leader in the lands under his control.
Fighting in the ranks of the Macedonian army, Alexander exposed himself to mortal danger and received several serious wounds. The great commander sought to overcome his own fate with audacity, and the strength of the enemy with courage, for he believed that for the brave there is no barrier, and for cowards there is no support.
Young commander
Prince Alexander demonstrated his military talent and courage as a warrior already in 338, when he defeated the “sacred detachment” of the Thebans in the Battle of Chaeronea, in which the Macedonians clashed with the troops of Athens and Thebes united against them. The prince commanded the entire Macedonian cavalry in the battle, numbering 2,000 horsemen (in addition, King Philip II had another 30,000 well-trained and disciplined infantry). The king himself sent him with heavily armed cavalry to the enemy flank where the Thebans stood.
The young commander with the Macedonian cavalry with a swift blow defeated the Thebans, who were almost all destroyed in the battle, and after that he attacked the flank and rear of the Athenians.
Accession to the throne
This victory brought Macedonia dominance in Greece. But for the winner it was the last. Tsar Philip II, who was preparing a large military campaign in Persia, was killed by conspirators in August 336. 20-year-old Alexander, who ascended his father’s throne, executed all the conspirators. Along with the throne, the young king received a well-trained army, the core of which consisted of detachments of heavy infantry - spearmen, armed with long pikes - sarissas.
There were also numerous auxiliary troops, which consisted of mobile light infantry (mainly archers and slingers) and heavily armed cavalry. The army of the King of Macedonia widely used various throwing and siege engines, which were carried disassembled with the army during the campaign. Among the ancient Greeks, military engineering was at a very high level for that era.
Tsar-commander
First of all, Alexander established the hegemony of Macedonia among the Greek states. He forced him to recognize the unlimited power of the supreme military leader in the upcoming war with Persia. The king threatened all his opponents only with military force. 336 - he was elected head of the Corinthian League, he took the place of his father.
Afterwards, Alexander made a victorious campaign against the barbarians living in the Danube valley (the Macedonian army crossed the deep river) and coastal Illyria. The young king, by force of arms, forced them to recognize his rule and help him with their troops in the war with the Persians. Because rich military booty was expected, the leaders of the barbarians willingly agreed to go on a campaign.
While the king was fighting in the northern lands, false rumors about his death spread throughout Greece, and the Greeks, especially the Thebans and Athenians, opposed Macedonian rule. Then the Macedonian, with a forced march, unexpectedly approached the walls of Thebes, captured and destroyed this city to the ground. Having learned a sad lesson, Athens surrendered, and they were treated generously. The harshness he showed towards Thebes put an end to the opposition of the Greek states to warlike Macedonia, which at that time had the strongest and most combat-ready army in the Hellenic world.
334, spring - the king of Macedonia began a campaign in Asia Minor, leaving the military commander Antipater as his governor and giving him an army of 10 thousand. He quickly crossed the Hellespont on ships collected for this purpose at the head of an army consisting of 30,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry. The Persian fleet was unable to prevent this operation. At first, Alexander did not encounter serious resistance until he reached the Granik River, where large enemy forces were waiting for him.
Alexander's conquests
In May, on the banks of the Granik River, the first serious battle took place with the Persian troops, commanded by the famous commander Memnon of Rhodes and several royal commanders - satraps. The enemy army consisted of 20 thousand Persian cavalry and a large number of hired Greek foot soldiers. According to other sources, the 35,000-strong Macedonian army was opposed by a 40,000-strong enemy army.
Most likely, the Persians had a noticeable numerical advantage. It was especially expressed in the number of cavalry. Alexander the Great, in front of the enemy's eyes, resolutely crossed the Granik and was the first to attack the enemy. At first, he easily defeated and scattered the Persian light cavalry, and then destroyed a phalanx of Greek mercenary infantry, of whom less than 2,000 were captured and survived. The winners lost less than a hundred soldiers, the vanquished - up to 20,000 people.
In the Battle of the Granik River, the Macedonian king personally led the heavily armed Macedonian cavalry and often found himself in the thick of the battle. But he was rescued either by the bodyguards who fought nearby, or by his personal courage and military skill. It was personal courage, coupled with military leadership, that brought the Great Commander unprecedented popularity among the Macedonian soldiers.
After this brilliant victory, most of the cities of Asia Minor with a predominantly Hellenic population opened their fortress gates to the conqueror, including Sardis. Only the cities of Miletus and Halicarnassus, famous for their independence, put up stubborn armed resistance, but they could not repel the onslaught of the Macedonians. At the end of 334 - beginning of 333 BC. e. The Macedonian king conquered the regions of Caria, Lycia, Pamphylia and Phrygia (in which he took the strong Persian fortress of Gordion), in the summer of 333 - Cappadocia and headed to Cilicia. But Alexander’s dangerous illness stopped this victorious march of the Macedonians.
Having barely recovered, the king moved through the Cilician mountain passes to Syria. The Persian king Darius III Kodoman, instead of waiting for the enemy on the Syrian plains, advanced at the head of a huge army to meet him and cut off the enemy’s communications. Near the city of Issa (modern Iskenderun, former city of Alexandretta), in northern Syria, one of the largest battles took place in the history of the Ancient World.
The Persian army outnumbered the forces of Alexander the Great by approximately three times, and according to some estimates, even 10 times. Usually sources indicate a figure of 120,000 people, of which 30,000 were Greek mercenaries. Therefore, King Darius and his military leaders had no doubt about complete and quick victory.
The Persian army took a convenient position on the right bank of the Pinar River, which crossed the Issus plain. It was simply impossible to flank it unnoticed. King Darius III probably decided to frighten the Macedonians with just the sight of his huge army and achieve complete victory. Therefore, he did not rush things on the day of the battle and gave the enemy the initiative to start the battle. It cost him dearly.
The king of Macedon was the first to launch an attack, moving forward a phalanx of spearmen and cavalry operating on the flanks. The heavy Macedonian cavalry (cavalry of the “comrades”), under the command of Alexander the Great himself, moved to attack from the left bank of the river. With her impulse, she drew the Macedonians and their allies into battle, setting them up for victory.
The ranks of the Persians were mixed up, and they fled. The Macedonian cavalry pursued the fleeing for a long time, but could not catch Darius. Persian casualties were enormous, perhaps more than 50,000.
The Persian camp along with Darius' family went to the winner. In an effort to win the sympathy of the population of the conquered lands, the king showed mercy to the wife and children of Darius, and allowed the captured Persians, if they wished, to join the ranks of the Macedonian army and its auxiliary units. Many captive Persians took advantage of this unexpected opportunity to escape shameful slavery on Greek soil.
Because Darius with the remnants of his army fled far, to the banks of the Euphrates River, the Great Commander moved to Phenicia with the goal of conquering the entire eastern, Syrian coast of the Mediterranean Sea. At this time, he twice rejected the Persian king's proposal for peace. Alexander the Great dreamed only of conquering the huge Persian power.
In Palestine, the Macedonians met unexpected resistance from the Phoenician fortress city of Tire (Sur), located on an island near the coast. The shooting range was separated from the land by a strip of water of 900 meters. The city had high and strong fortress walls, a strong garrison and squadron, large supplies of everything necessary, and its inhabitants were determined to defend their native Tire from foreign invaders with arms in hand.
A seven-month, incredibly difficult siege of the city began, in which the Macedonian navy took part. Various throwing and battering machines were brought along the dam under the very walls of the fortress. After many days of efforts by these machines, the fortress of Tire was taken by the besiegers during a fierce assault.
Only part of the city's residents were able to escape on ships, whose crews broke through the blockade ring of the enemy fleet and were able to escape to the Mediterranean Sea. During the bloody assault on Tire, 8,000 citizens died, and about 30,000 were sold into slavery by the victors. The city itself, as a warning to others, was practically destroyed and for a long time ceased to be a center of navigation in the Mediterranean.
After this, all the cities in Palestine submitted to the Macedonian army, except for Gaza, which was taken by force. The victors in a rage killed the entire Persian garrison, the city itself was plundered, and the inhabitants were sold into slavery. This happened in November 332.
Egypt, one of the most populous countries of the Ancient World, submitted to the Great General of antiquity without any resistance. At the end of 332, the conqueror founded the city of Alexandria in the Nile Delta on the sea coast (one of many that bore his name), which soon turned into a major commercial, scientific and cultural center of Hellenic culture.
During the conquest of Egypt, Alexander showed the wisdom of a great statesman: he did not touch local customs and religious beliefs, in contrast to the Persians, who constantly offended these feelings of the Egyptians. He was able to win the trust and love of the local population, which was facilitated by the extremely reasonable organization of government of the country.
331, spring - the Macedonian king, having received significant reinforcements from the royal governor in Hellas, Antipater, again went to war against Darius, who had already managed to gather a large army in Assyria. The Macedonian army crossed the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and at Gaugamela, not far from the city of Arbela and the ruins of Nineveh, on October 1 of the same year, the opponents fought in battle. Despite the significant superiority of the Persian army in numbers and absolute superiority in cavalry, Alexander the Great, thanks to the skillful tactics of conducting an offensive battle, was again able to win a brilliant victory.
Alexander the Great, who was with his heavy cavalry "comrades" on the right flank of the Macedonian battle position, opened a gap between the left flank and the center of the Persians and then attacked their center. After stubborn resistance, despite the fact that the Macedonian left flank was under strong enemy pressure, the Persians retreated. In a short time, their huge army turned into crowds of uncontrollable armed people. Darius III was among the first to flee, and his entire army ran behind him in complete disorder, suffering huge losses. The winners lost only 500 people.
From the battlefield, Alexander the Great moved towards the city, which surrendered without a fight, although it had powerful fortress walls. Soon the victors captured the Persian capital of Persepolis and the huge royal treasury. The brilliant victory at Gaugamela made Alexander the Great the ruler of Asia - now the Persian power lay at his feet.
By the end of 330, the Great Commander had subjugated all of Asia Minor and Persia, achieving the goal set by his father. In less than 5 years, the king of Macedonia was able to create the greatest empire of that era. In the conquered territories, local nobility ruled. Only military and financial affairs were entrusted to the Greeks and Macedonians. In these matters, Alexander the Great trusted exclusively his people from among the Hellenes.
In the next three years, Alexander made military campaigns in the territory of what is now Afghanistan, Central Asia and Northern India. After which he finally put an end to the Persian state, whose fugitive king, Darius III Kodoman, was killed by his own satraps. Then came the conquest of the regions - Hyrcania, Aria, Drangiana, Arachosia, Bactria and Sogdiana.
Having finally conquered the populous and rich Sogdiana, the Macedonian king married Roxalana, the daughter of the Bactrian prince Oxyartes, who especially valiantly fought against him, thereby trying to strengthen his dominance in Central Asia.
328 - Macedonian, in a fit of anger and intoxicated with wine, stabbed during a feast the military leader Cleitus, who saved his life in the battle of Granicus. At the beginning of 327, a conspiracy of noble Macedonians was discovered in Bactria, who were all executed. The same conspiracy led to the death of the philosopher Callisthenes, a relative of Aristotle. This last punishing act of the great conqueror was difficult to explain, because his contemporaries were well aware of how highly the student revered his wise teacher.
Having finally subjugated Bactria, Alexander the Great in the spring of 327 undertook a campaign in Northern India. His army of 120,000 consisted mainly of troops from conquered lands. Having crossed the Hydaspes River, he entered into battle with the army of King Porus, which included 30,000 foot soldiers, 200 war elephants and 300 war chariots.
The bloody battle on the banks of the Hydaspes River ended with another victory for the great commander. A significant role in it was played by the light Greek infantry, which fearlessly attacked the war elephants, which the eastern warriors were so afraid of. A fair portion of the elephants, enraged by their numerous wounds, turned around and rushed through their own battle formations, confusing the ranks of the Indian army.
The winners lost only 1,000 soldiers, while the vanquished lost much more - 12,000 were killed and another 9,000 Indians were captured. The Indian king Porus was captured, but was soon released by the winner. Then the army of Alexander the Great entered the territory of modern Punjab, winning several more battles.
But further advance into the interior of India was stopped: open murmur began in the Macedonian army. The soldiers, exhausted from eight years of constant military campaigns and battles, begged Alexander to return home to distant Macedonia. After reaching the Indian Ocean along the banks of the Indus, Alexander the Great had to obey the wishes of the army.
Death of Alexander the Great
But the king of Macedonia never had the chance to return home. In Babylon, where he lived, busy with state affairs and plans for new conquests, after one of the feasts, Alexander suddenly fell ill and died a few days later at the 33rd year of his life. Dying, he did not have time to appoint his successor. One of his closest associates, Ptolemy, transported the body of Alexander the Great in a golden coffin to Alexandria and buried it there.
Collapse of the Empire
The consequences of the death of the Great commander of antiquity were not long in coming. Just a year later, the huge empire created by Alexander the Great ceased to exist. It broke up into several constantly warring states, ruled by the closest associates of the hero of the Ancient World.