Alexander the Great : Personality Review (1 Viewer)

AsyLum

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AsyLum

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The Many Faces of Alexander

~ A Divine Birth

: Through my father Phillip, I was born of the line of the deified Hercules, son of Zeus, and born of the line of Achilles through my mother, Olympias. - Alexander

Heracles was the only herohonoured in the Greek world as a human granted immortality by the gods. He destroys monsters, struggles with death, destroys cities and killed his own children.

Achilles is the typical Greek hero, he is strong, proud, wrathful, fearless and passionate. Achilles had a choice of a long life in obscurity or a mortal death and immortal glory.


Alexander was born in 356 BC and possibly 20 July, making him a Cancer. His father single-handedly created the Macedonian kingdom out of warring tribes and local principalities. His mother, Olympias, was a young princess from Epirus, a mountainous region bordering Albania. Phillip had allegedly fallen in love with her at the age of 14, she was involved in a mystery cult on the island of Samathrace. Later writers portray her as extremely proud and devoted to these mountains cults, a snake handler, she follows Dionysus. Alexander is influenced by his parental environment, he obtains these characteristics from his parents: from his father he obtained ruthlessness and how to be a politician, and from his mother he gains an insight into the realm of the mysterious, he is greatly influenced by the supernatural. She could also be very volatile and show a range of
emotions.

~ Parental Relationships

: The relationship between his father and mother was never easy, Phillip apparently distanced himself from Olympias after he saw her in bed with a snake. This take gave rise to legends that she had been impregnated by a God and Alexander was not the son of a mortal father, this was reinforced by the fact that he often escaped death and catastrophe and so must have been divinely
protected. Olympias was utterly devoted to seeing Alexander as a master of Macedonia Nothing and no one was going to stand in the way of her boy securing the throne. She would not tolerate Phillip's other relationships, even though the practice of polygamy was widely accepted. Olympias was in her mid-30's when abandoned for a younger wife, in disgust she returns to Epirus with Alexander. On his return Alexander is taunted about the second marriage and the fact that there is a new heir to the throne on the way. But Olympias has the last laugh, when the new wife and child are put to death after Phillip's assassination. The ruthlessness would often be repeated by Alexander and is part of the Macedonian kingship. You liquidate potential enemies, if they cross you or are thinking of crossing you. Adolescence for Alexander is a training ground for his later life.

~ Alexander’s Education

~ The Princely Acts

The physical skills necessary to become a warrior king were vital for a boy who was destined to be great, Alexander displayed good talent for sports and combat. His uncle, Leonidus, was responsible for training him hard in the use of the sarissa, the Macedonian lance. He also used the javelin, bow and arrow and quarterstaff.

Alexander was invited to compete at Olympia but said “Only if I have kings to run against me..” He was also a great horseman. Alexander was exposed to competition at an early age and with Phillip making other sons, trained Alexander to be the best and never settle for second place.

“Well then, if you have competitors for the kingdom; prove yourself honourable and good, so that you might obtain the kingdom not because of me, but because of yourself.” –Phillip, Plutarch ‘Sayings of King and Commander’

Leonidas was a severe disciplinarian and kept Alexander on a very strict and lean diet, he wore minimal clothing and was constantly doing hard exercises.

~ Education with Aristotle

From childhood Alexander had been brought p on Homer’s epic poems, the Illiad and the Odyssey. Within these poems he was inspired by the tale of heroes and gods, particularly surrounding the Trojan War. And he connected directly with the hero Achilles, so much so that he never missed an opportunity to compare himself and the parallels are striking. Both Achilles and Alexander lead the Greeks against the barbarian enemy and they both die young. Alexander’s favourite line was “ever to be best and stand far above all others.” Alexander regards the Illiad as a manual of war as it was in these stories that he learnt how to be a master strategist (strategos).

Aristotle is responsible for instilling in Alexander a scientific curiosity through the study of subjects such as botany, zoology and medicine. He also studied rhetoric, philosophy, law, politics as well as ethics. Alexander benefited greatly from what Aristotle teaches, however, his ideal of a philosopher king would not be necessary in a Macedonian military legacy. Alexander did not agree with Aristotle’s idea that non-Greeks were sub-human, barbarians and uncivilised, if anything Alexander will be overwhelmed by the achievements of the Persians, so much that he starts to adopt their culture.

~ Early Years

Lion hunting was a popular past time among the Macedonians. Alexander regarded the lion as a worth opponent. On one hunting expedition there was an envoy from Sparta, the most military state of Greece and Alexander wanted to show him his physical skills and he did by spearing the lion and this left an impression on the envoy who supposedly said, “Alexander you fought bravely with this lion to decide which of you should be king.”

There are several Greek envoys this time and it is 335 BC, a friend of Phillip’s buys him an expensive, black stallion, a thoroughbred. Apparently the horse was 12 years old and never been broken in. The grooms are trying to control this horse in front of Phillip without much success and Phillip tells them to get rid of it. Plutarch says that Alexander speaks up at this point and says, “What a horse they are losing just because they don’t know how to handle him or if they do, they dare not try.” Phillip tells them to get rid of it, and then says to Alexander, “Well do you think you can do better,” Alexander replies, “Well I know I can manage it better, at least this horse anyway.” Phillip says, “But if you cannot, what will be the consequence of your impertinence and rashness.” Alexander replies, “I will pay for what the horse costs.” Plutarch states that Alexander goes to the horse, takes hold of the bridle and turns Bucephales towards the sun so that it is blinded and cannot see its own shadow, Alexander mounts the horse and gallops away and parades it in front of the parties. Alexander dismounts, and Phillip kisses him and says, “My boy, you must find a kingdom big enough for your ambitions, Macedonia is not large enough for you.”

~ Summary of the Boyhood of Alexander

: My boy, you must find a kingdom big enough for your ambitions, Macedonia is not large enough for you.

From a very young age Alexander had submitted to a regime of competition, from the other pages at his first school, competition with his own father, and competition to be the best and nothing but the best.

This example of Alexander's competitiveness with fellow pages is seen with the training he received from his uncle, Leonidus. He excels at the training, and at the age of fourteen joins a school for royal pages. Here Alexander was trained, along with fifty or so other boys, by his father, the king, in becoming a true warrrior and in the last year, it is said that the strictness of the rules was such that the King executed one page for not following orders. This was a building block for Alexander who had now attained all that he had needed to rule MAcedonia. But his philosophical learning would soon be fulfilled at the hands of the great scholar, Aristotle. Here Alexander learnt rhetoric, politics and diplomacy, law philosophy and ethics. Alexander was also introduced and a passion instilled into him, to the great works of the Illiad and the Odyssey. He accepted his teachers views on philosophy, astronomy and other areas except for Aristotle's view that non-Greeks were barbarians and uncivilised, in fact it is seent aht Alexander cherishes the diversity of his kingdom, especially of the Persians.

As a boy, Alexander was brought up on Homer's epics, and sympathised and idolised the character of Achilles. Being the traditional Greek hero, Achilles possessed the charm, strength, courage and other heroic Greek temperings. "Ever to be best, and stand for above all others" was supposedly Alexander's favourite line, and throughout his life, Alexander would draw comparisons with his idol and his own life.

Another hero he idolised was that of Heracles, the demigod, son of Zeus and born of the mortal mother. Due perhaps to his mother's instillment that Phillip was not his real father, and that she had borne Alexander not of Phillip but of Zeus, Alexander had been brought up believing of a divine destiny and the figures within the epics were beings who had walked the earth previous to his birth.

His relationship with his parents differed through time. His mother, a young princess from Epicurus, Olympias, was an ambitious and strong willed woman, who had been part of mysterious cult of her area and was also an adept snake handler. She had seeked to place Alexander upon the throne, no matter the cost. Alexander was fond of his mother, and joined her when Phillip had taken a younger wife, and Olympias had gone back to Epicurus.

This was not to say that he did not respect his father, quite the contrary, it was in fact his father whom he had held the standard to, the man had made the warring tribes of Macedonia into the most powerful force in Europe in 342 and had become the leading statesman in Greece. Phillip had even guided Alexander through his education through the royal school of pages and with his appointment of Alexander to the rank of deputy, indicating his position in the case that Phillip had died on campaign. As deputy Alexander became responsible for the royal seal and managed royal and kingly duties, a further testament to his extraordinary gifts at a young age. In 340, an uprising in the town of Stryman Valley by the Maedi had occured, and ALexander led and commanded the Macedonian forces, expelling the natives and refounded the city of 'Alexandropolis.'


Problems facing Alexander - 336-335

~ The Question of Succession

: The question of succession was always a problem in Macedonia, and Alexander did not ascend to throne without some problems. Attalus, the father of Phillip's younger bride, and a nobleman, had claimed and sponsored his grandson to be the legitimate heir to the throne, rather than that of Alexander.

~ Ratification of his Position in Greece

Upon hearing of Phillip's untimely death and assassination, general unrest took hold of the state of Macedonia and its colonies, such is what happens during the power vacuum, and the time was ripe for those colonies to rebel against the Hellenistic state.

Alexander, though had other ideas, and marched immediately to supress those who wished to revolt and this sent a clear message as to his intentions and his power, for he had the support of the military, more powerful than the nobles in terms of the succession as Macedonia had still been a military state. With his father's demise, Alexander had now attained the position of commander in chief of the League of Corinth.

With this the restless tribes of Thrace and Illyria were subdued with a switf and skillful campaign which exhibited his military prowess and leadership qualities, as well as the quality army and cavalry with which he now commanded.

Taking upon the mantle of king of Macedonia, Alexander III, now set about establishing his authority upon the kingdom, firstly exempting all Macedonians from public duties except military service. Next he appoints his exiled friends and places them within his administration thus bolstering his military and political power.

~ Alexander's Men

Alexanders key military advisors included men who had served under his father, and ones of whom possessed incredible experience and skill. Amongst them included General Parmenio, a well connected man within the Macedonian nobility, his brothers and sons also recieved important posts, Antipater, who was to rule Macedonia whilst he was away on campaign, and to keep his mother in line, Antigonus Monophthalmus was the governor of Phryggia, and Cleitus "The Black" who was in charge of the cavalry.

Other trusted advisers were: Hephaestion Craterus, his rumoured lover and best friend, Harpalus, who would become the Royal Treasurer, Nearchus, governor of Lycia, and later battalion commander of the guards and admiral of the fleet, and Callisthenes, Aristotle's nephew and official historian.
 
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AsyLum

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Problems facing Alexander - 336-335

~ The Question of Succession

: The question of succession was always a problem in Macedonia, and Alexander did not ascend to throne without some problems. Attalus, the father of Phillip's younger bride, and a nobleman, had claimed and sponsored his grandson to be the legitimate heir to the throne, rather than that of Alexander.

~ Ratification of his Position in Greece

Upon hearing of Phillip's untimely death and assassination, general unrest took hold of the state of Macedonia and its colonies, such is what happens during the power vacuum, and the time was ripe for those colonies to rebel against the Hellenistic state.

Alexander, though had other ideas, and marched immediately to supress those who wished to revolt and this sent a clear message as to his intentions and his power, for he had the support of the military, more powerful than the nobles in terms of the succession as Macedonia had still been a military state. With his father's demise, Alexander had now attained the position of commander in chief of the League of Corinth.

With this the restless tribes of Thrace and Illyria were subdued with a switf and skillful campaign which exhibited his military prowess and leadership qualities, as well as the quality army and cavalry with which he now commanded.

Taking upon the mantle of king of Macedonia, Alexander III, now set about establishing his authority upon the kingdom, firstly exempting all Macedonians from public duties except military service. Next he appoints his exiled friends and places them within his administration thus bolstering his military and political power.

~ Alexander's Men

Alexanders key military advisors included men who had served under his father, and ones of whom possessed incredible experience and skill. Amongst them included General Parmenio, a well connected man within the Macedonian nobility, his brothers and sons also recieved important posts, Antipater, who was to rule Macedonia whilst he was away on campaign, and to keep his mother in line, Antigonus Monophthalmus was the governor of Phryggia, and Cleitus "The Black" who was in charge of the cavalry.

Other trusted advisers were: Hephaestion Craterus, his rumoured lover and best friend, Harpalus, who would become the Royal Treasurer, Nearchus, governor of Lycia, and later battalion commander of the guards and admiral of the fleet, and Callisthenes, Aristotle's nephew and official historian.
 

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