Alexander the Great was the king of the Kingdom of Macedonia in ancient Greece from 336 to 323 BC. During his reign, he reunified Greece and conquered the Persian Empire. With his legendary achievements, Alexander the Great is considered one of the most skilled military leaders and the most powerful rulers in history, according to History.com.
Illustration of Alexander the Great – one of the greatest kings in ancient history.
Dreaming of Becoming a Warrior
Alexander the Great was born in the Kingdom of Macedonia in ancient Greece on July 20, 356 BC, the son of King Philip II and Queen Olympia.
Growing up, Alexander rarely saw his father, who spent most of his time engaged in military campaigns. He began his education in mathematics, horseback riding, and archery.
In 343 BC, King Philip II hired the philosopher Aristotle to tutor Alexander. For three years, Aristotle taught Alexander philosophy, poetry, drama, science, and politics. It was during this time that the philosopher recognized Alexander’s aspiration to become a heroic warrior.
Alexander completed his studies in 340 BC. A year later, while still a teenager, he became a soldier and embarked on his first campaign against the Thracian tribe. In 338, Alexander commanded a troop and assisted his father in defeating their enemies.
From a young age, Alexander dreamed of becoming a heroic warrior.
When Philip II succeeded in unifying the city-states of ancient Greece (except for Sparta), the alliance between father and son soon dissolved.
Philip II married Cleopatra Eurydice, the granddaughter of General Attalus, which meant that Alexander’s mother was no longer queen.
Mother and son were forced to leave Macedonia and stay with her family until Alexander and King Philip II reconciled their differences.
King of Macedonia
A significant milestone in Alexander the Great’s life was his father’s death. In 336 BC, King Philip II was assassinated.
At just 19 years old, Alexander decided to seize the throne by any means necessary. He quickly garnered support from the Macedonian army, including generals and soldiers who had fought alongside him.
The army declared Alexander king, but he did not immediately gain control over the unstable region following the king’s death.
With his natural talent, the 19-year-old quelled rebellions and reunited the ancient Greek city-states before embarking on his conquest of the vast Persian Empire.
With his natural talent, the 19-year-old quelled rebellions and reunited the ancient Greek city-states before embarking on his conquest of the vast Persian Empire. (Illustration).
With an army of 32,000 infantry and 5,100 cavalry, Alexander the Great conquered territories of the Persian Empire in Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt without losing a single battle.
He marched to the Asia Minor peninsula in 334 BC and captured the city of Baalbek, according to Ancient.eu.
In 333 BC, the undefeated emperor continued to expand his conquests into new lands, including Syria and Egypt, where he founded a new city named Alexandria – designed to be a center of Greek culture and commerce.
However, historians consider his greatest victory to be the Battle of Gaugamela – the final confrontation with the formidable army of the Persian Empire.
The Legendary Battle of Gaugamela
Alexander encountered the Persian army in the plains of Gaugamela, near modern-day Irbil, Iraq.
His Macedonian army noticed the lights from the encampments, which housed about 100,000 Persian soldiers.
His generals advised Alexander to ambush the Persian forces, but he refused. The king wanted to defeat Persian King Darius III in a fair battle. Only in this way would the Persian king never dare to attack the Macedonian army again, according to History.com.
The two armies met on the battlefield the next morning, October 1, 331 BC. The Persian forces outnumbered the Macedonians (about 100,000 to 47,000).
Alexander’s greatest victory was the Battle of Gaugamela – the final confrontation with the formidable army of the Persian Empire. (Illustration).
Initially, the king ordered archers, slingers, and cavalry to attack the left flank of the Persian army. The Persians also charged into the center of the Macedonian forces but were halted.
The cavalry on Darius’s left flank became embroiled in battle initiated by Alexander, leaving the infantry exposed in the center.
Taking advantage of the “gap”, Alexander and the cavalry launched an attack on the Persians as well as their king. Darius fled, and panic spread throughout the Persian army, leading to their defeat.
After the battle, the Macedonians lost around 700 men, while the Persians lost 20,000. Alexander captured Babylon, the capital of Persepolis in Persia, and thereafter declared himself king of Asia.
Four months later, the Macedonians burned down the royal palace in Persepolis, marking the end of the ancient Persian Empire.
Master Military Strategist
The greatness of the king has been documented by many historians. He was not only exceptionally brave but also wise and respectful of his soldiers.
In battle, Alexander always led from the front, making him easily identifiable. This made him a target for enemies but also inspired his troops.
Statues of Alexander the Great are displayed in many museums around the world.
According to Changing Minds, the king was genuinely courageous, having been wounded multiple times but never leaving his soldiers on the battlefield. He famously said: “To live with courage and to die leaving a legacy is a wonderful thing.”
The king respected his soldiers and never betrayed their trust. The great king fought alongside his men, shared meals with them, and refused to drink water unless there was enough for everyone.
When going into battle, Alexander often arranged his troops in a phalanx formation, which he believed would make the formation more stable and difficult for the enemy to penetrate.
The greatest strength of Alexander’s army was likely its flexibility, according to Documentarytube. As a great strategist, Alexander frequently adjusted tactics during battle. Since his troops needed to move swiftly from one position to another, he equipped them with light armor.
Moreover, Alexander had a strong desire to learn, according to Ancient.eu. While on his conquests, he always sought to understand the new lands. The king brought along scientists to document and analyze various information such as biology, zoology, meteorology, and terrain, utilizing this knowledge to win battles.
Alexander always fought alongside his soldiers.
In terms of military strategy, Alexander is regarded as a wise king. During his reign, he was cautious about minimizing any risk of instability. He treated political prisoners well and recognized the advantages of unity over division. As a skilled politician, Alexander was fluent in many languages, allowing him to persuade and manipulate effectively. He was also particularly careful in dealing with religious figures, according to Changing Minds.
However, the great king was often ruthless toward those who opposed him. When the city of Thebes heard rumors of his death in the northern campaign, they revolted. Alexander then marched his forces to the city for 13 days, killing thousands and enslaving the rest.
In summary, within eight years of being king, commander, politician, scholar, and explorer, Alexander led his army over nearly 18,000 km, founded over 70 cities, and created an empire that spanned three continents, covering more than 5 million square kilometers.
Alexander the Great died of malaria in Babylon (now Iraq) on June 13, 323 BC, at the age of just 32.
