Key features and developments Flashcards
Impact of Philip II assassination
At Phillip II daughter wedding: Phillip II assassinated in 336 by young nobal Pausanias -> creation of power vacuum & power struggle.
-> Olympus and Alexander was accussed by ancient historians.
Plutarch: “external dangers on every side.”
Had to murder Attalus (Philip’s general), who questioned Alexander’s legitimacy + all Cleopatra male relatives + all male relatives of Alexander i.e Amyntas.
Continue Philip II policies towards his soldiers -> soldiers exempt from paying tax + for Alexander to prove his military prowess.
-> Alexander assassination was prevented by Anitpater and Parmenio support.
Inherited experienced & talented generals + a full invasion plan of Persia.
-> Maybe the assassination of his father drove his ambition surrounding his conquoring of Persia
Consolidation of Greece mainland and Macedon
Cripple northern tribes of Triballi & Illyria -> highlighted his tactical genius as he crossed the Danube in 335 BC.
Inherited hegemony over Corinthian League, and thus through razing Thebe after their revolted inorder to regain overlordship.
The razing of Thebes (335BC) for their disloyalty and revolt, setting an example for others to not betray him -> fear of disaffection spreading to other Greek cities.
- Plutarch: “to fighten the rest of Greece into submission”
- Mod Anson could of stopped it destruction, if he had so wished
Gain the support of the Greeks, who would supply him during his Persian campaign.
Grancius: 334 BC Modern-day Turkey
Conquest of Asia Minor -> gave Alexander the finances to continue his campaign against Persia + eliminated many significant Persian nobles.
Alexander’s surprise cavalry charge uphill across a river highlighted his decisiveness & rash generalship.
-> Arian: ‘a cavalry battle with, as it were, infantry tactics’
Alexander scuttled his fleet -> due to lack of funds & usefulness.
Alexander was considered a liberator on the Ionians -> little resistance
Issus: 332 BC Syria - Decisive hellenic victory
Had favourable terrain, prevented his smaller army from being encircled by 150,000 Persians -> more experienced Macedon troops had upper hand in combat.
Alexander led his companion cavalry (alexander Mosaic), going through the gap in the Persian infantry -> to eliminate Darius III & destroy Persian leadership, leading to Darius III to flee.
Tens of thousands of Persian were killed & Greek mercenaries would desert the Persian army.
Alexander captured Persian camp -> gaining further funds for his campaign, which would be used to capture Egypt & Syria.
-> treated Darius III familiy respect, his mother saying Alexander was her ‘true son’.
Localised solutions
Kept existing Persian system of Satraps & satrapies -> Mod Anson ‘ he adhearded closing to Persian practices’
Egypt: Used two Egyptian magistrates (nomarch) to administer North & South Egypt -> Still had Macedonians controlling finance (Cleomens collected tax) & military authority (shared by two macedonian)
King Porius was allowed to keep his throne -> forced to be an ally
Hydaspes river
Final main battle in the campaign of Alexander-> wanted to continue into India but was stopped due to Hydaspes munity (324BC) -> forced to turn back around and return to Greece
Split forces into 3 segments: One diversion while 2 crossed the river
Arrian: ‘Alexander crossing was cunning’
Crossed Hydaspes river at two different points. -> envelopment of Porius army -> loss of 20,000 infantry.
Although, Porius ‘ army was destroyed, the mutiny saw his position remain as king -> forging an alliance which would protect his eastern flank.
Gaugamela: 331Bc
Huge persian losses -> crushing of final persian army -> death of darius -> respectful burial of Darius and treatment of his family, showing his respect and character
Final major battle against persians ‘dismantled Persian empire’ Mod Green + Arrian ‘it was the turning point’ -> gave access to most of persian empire-> Babylon and Susa (capitals of Persian empire) open gates to Alexander -> finally recognized as king of Asia
Burning of Persepolis 330BC -> improving relationship with Athens due to burning of the Acropolius in Persian Wars 480BC -> his supposed regret in doing this shows his character and respect
Forced to fight drawn out guerilla campaign with the tribes of central asia
Chariot charge - splitting forces to counteract persian strategy - use of geography and the river to obtain victory
Tolerance of traditional customs:
Head of the Ampthictyonic league -> understands the importence of culture through accepting of Greek relgion as Delphic oracle.
Created a new currency ‘gold staters’, however, allowed old currency was still allowed
Established close bonds with religious leaders -> restoration of destroyed Egyptian temples
Alexander adoption of Persian dress -> incorporation of Persian troops into his army.
Arrian ‘Sarius: Alexander allowed them to keep traditional values + gave them freedom’
Foundation of cities:
Goal: all cities were to mix cultures, be easily defendable & facilitate trade across his empire.
Creation of Alexandria in Egypt
Spread of Hellenistic culture to India, with 2 cities installed on the Hydaspes river.
-> Believed to have created 20 cities, 17 of them called ‘Alexandria’.
Marriages:
Married roxanne who was the daughter Sogdian nobel
-> 324 Mass marriage at Susa: 90 Macedonians took Persian wive
+ rewarded Macedonian troops who had already taken Persian wives
Utilised as a tool for the administration of his empire.
Impact of personality on career
Encompassed all aspects of his campaign, and was the foundation of his generalship.
Led Companion cavalry and always fought amongst his men (led by example) -> close relationship
Decisive, commanded respect of men and general-> able to extract the best from them according to Arrian
Alexander’s fearlessness-> inspired, motivated his men, and filled them with confidence and high morale
-> Arrian ‘hesitancy would be unworthy for his people fame’
Polos: Arrian: “Alexander’s insatiable thirst for extending his possessions”
-> Battle of trye where 30,000 people were enslaved
-> Hyraspus river munity 326BC
Anger could make him impulsive, as did alcohol + emotional and paranoid.
-> Exuctction of Parmenio 330BC
-> Killing cleitus in a drunken rage. 328BC
Parmenio
Parmenio was one of Alexander’s most trusted generals and advisors.
He served under Alexander’s father, King Philip II, ->played a crucial role in securing Alexander’s succession to the throne.
Parmenio commanded the left flank-> instrumental in early victories ie. Battle of Issus and Gaugamela.
Despite his loyalty, tensions arose due to Parmenio’s conservative approach, contrasting with Alexander’s bold strategies. -> ANC Rufus: “whose prudence tempered the king’s youthful ardour.”
Parmenio’s son, Philotas, was accused of conspiracy against Alexander, leading to his execution -> Alexander order for Parmenio execution in 330 BC, fear of another assassination attempt but also due to Macedon tradition.
The killing of Parmenio marked a turning point, demonstrating Alexander’s ruthless measures to secure his power and eliminate perceived threats.
Cleitus the ‘black’
Loyal and respected by Alexander, initially sharing a strong bond of camaraderie and trust. Was a commander under Phillip
Cleitus was a trusted officer and close companion of Alexander-> Saved Alexander’s life at the Battle of Granicus by cutting off the arm of a Persian who was about to strike Alexander->Served as a commander of the Companion cavalry.
Relationship soured over time ->Alexander’s increasing adoption of Persian customs (proskinesis) and asiatic (barbarian rulers) behaviour.
However, in 328BC Alexander gave Cleitus owenership of satrapy, Bactria. Alexander holding a feist the evening before in which Cleitus would openly mock alexander, discreidign his efforts and praising his father phillip II.
Alexander kills Cleitus in fit of rage at banquet -> growing strain between him and his officers-> changing leadership style and persian assimilation
-> MOD Bosworth Alexander murder of Cleutius was a tragic symbol of tensions
Hephaestion:
“the friend I valued as my own life” - Arrian
Were raised toghether both taught by Aristotle -> “one soul abiding in two bodies”. according to Aristotle
Closest friend and confidant of Alexander -> commanded the companion cavalry division + entrusted with key battles such as Issus and diplomatic missions such as main ambassador to foreign nations.
One of the few who could speak candidly to Alexander. Was Alexander ‘touch bearer’ / best man during the marriages at Susu. -> marriage to Roxanne sister making them brothers in law
When he died he was second only to Alexander.
Alexander profoundly mourned his death in 324 BC in Ecbatana. Deeply affected by Hephaestion’s death -> didn’t eat or drink for multiple day according to Arrian
Conducted an elaborate funeral and ordered public mourning->Hephaestion’s death contributed to Alexander’s increasing despondency and erratic behaviour in his final years.
Relations with Macedon
Execution of Philotas & Parmenion ->negative impact on his relationship with Macedonia
Due to the length of Alexander’s campaign most of the macedonian states were left to their own devices -> regent Antipator.
-> most of the spoils went back to Macedon and Greece leading to posperous economics however, the demand for more troops strained depleted their strenghts.
Macedonians were at first delighted and celebrated Alexander’s glorious military victories and extension of the
Macedonian Empire -> however length of campaign wore the people down-> negative relationship with the people of Macedonia
- Mutiny at Opis 324 BC -> adoption of Persian traits
Mutiny at the Hydaspes 326 BC -> Going to far east.
