Alexander the Great is remembered as a military leader who was undefeated in battle, conquering many prosperous lands. Surprisingly, he once organized a drinking contest. However, at the end of the contest, all participants ended up dead.
As the emperor of the Kingdom of Macedonia, Alexander the Great (356 – 323 BC) is celebrated as a military genius. Throughout his military career, he never experienced defeat.
Alexander the Great (356 – 323 BC).
The great king of Macedonia conquered vast territories, including Greece and Persia. As a result, many cities founded by Alexander the Great were named in honor of this undefeated military leader.
Despite being a skilled military strategist, Alexander the Great had a “stain” on his legacy when he organized a deadly drinking contest.
Specifically, in 324 BC, Alexander the Great learned that his advisor Calanus was gravely ill and nearing death. This individual had significantly contributed to helping the Macedonian king achieve many glorious victories.
Therefore, Alexander wanted to host a grand feast to honor Calanus. After some consideration, the king decided to organize a party featuring a drinking contest.
Participants in the drinking competition included court officials and generals. A total of 41 people took part, with the prize announced by Alexander being one barrel of gold (worth approximately $1.4 million today).
All the participants, eager to win, consumed a great deal of alcohol. Ultimately, the winner was one of the generals who had fought alongside Alexander for many years.
However, 35 participants died right at the feast. The remaining individuals, including the winner, passed away a few days later. The likely cause was excessive drinking leading to alcohol poisoning.
As a result, the drinking contest organized by Alexander the Great turned into a deadly affair.
