Alexander And His Army example essay topic

Alexander, The Great Alexander the Great, clearly seen as one of the worlds most successful conquerors in History, in now the greatest, conquered almost all the known world then. As one critic puts it, "His magnetism in life was rivaled only by his magnetism in death. ' Yet his short lived life, filled with a lifetime of dreams to most, was mostly spent learning from the famous Aristotle. From his early years to his death, he is seen to most as the premier conqueror to be like.

For he was a man capable of cruelty and sympathy, brilliance and blindness, paranoia and an open hand generosity, all at the same time. Alexander, born in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia around 356 BC, was the son of Phillip II, King of Macedonia, and of Olympias, a princess of Epirus. As a young boy, Alexander was learning from his tutor Aristotle. Along with himself he also had a friend that could be seen as his best friend. Hephiestion, around the same age, also was taught by Aristotle. Alexander had named him "Philalexanders' meaning friend of Alexander.

Early in Alexanders life, it can be seen that he was more ambitious than his father for he once said after hearing about one of his dads conquests: "My father will get ahead of me in everything, and will leave nothing great for me to do. ' Another thing that showed Alexanders character what when he made a bet with his father that be could tame and ride a magnificent black stallion that was originally going to be Phillips, but he was unable to ride it because he couldn't tame it. The horse was way to wild for him. So they made a bet, that if Alexander could tame it, the horse would be his. Meanwhile, during all this, young Alexander had realized that the stallion was afraid of its shadow. So Alexander turned the horse into the sun, away from its shadow, and got on it and rode it.

Phillip was quite impressed and gave him the horse. Alexander named it Bucephalus, and from that day on Bucephalus carried Alexander into most of his famous battles for both of their short lives. From the beginning, young Alexander had to get ready to fill his fathers shoes, for his father Phillip II had built an empire that had yet to peak. His father, Phillip, can be credited for turning the Macedonian army into the fighting force which would be the pride of the ancient world. He created the phalanx,' which was a group of Macedonian soldiers that worked together as one with spears that were 13-14 feet in length. This disciplined force would move on the enemy as a cohesive unit with spears projecting outward and protected on the sides and rear by shields thus making them unbeatable.

Now after the phalanx was in the battle, the calvary would wait till a weakness would show. Then they would take advantage of it. This army that Phillip II created helped unite the Greek city states. Later, he was appointed the leader of Macedonia and from that an empire blossomed. After the empire that Phillip had created became a great power, he began to plan on campaigning to conquer Persia and take back the land that was taken by them. In Phillips absence during the campaigns, Alexander was left in charge of Macedonia as regent, with the power to rule.

This position at such an early age was a great accomplishment for Alexander. And he proved he was ready for such a position for he ruled as a king. After campaigning for a long period of time, Phillip II returns to home and rests his army. During this brief period of rest Phillip decides to get married again.

The girl that he chooses is a Macedonian women named Cleopatra. The only problem with this was that if by chance and time, Phillip and Cleopatra had a child, this child would be a threat to Alexanders right to the throne when his father dies. Now although young Alexander, in his teenage years at the time, has ultimately done enough to show that he is well responsible enough to success his father, he still feels threatened. So during the wedding feast, a rather drunken Attalus, father of Cleopatra, toasted to the happy couple and spoke of his hope for a legitimate heir to the Macedonian throne. Alexander being jealous says a few words to Attalus and gets into a quarrel with him. Phillip, a little drunk too, comes to his feet and pulls out his sword towards Alexander.

Being very intoxicated though, he falls. And from this, Alexander speaks, "Look, this is a guy who wants to cross from Europe into Asia, and he can't even cross from table to table. ' Alexander left the party, and went to his home, Epirus. From this episode, Phillip was unable to carry on his campaign for Alexander was to dangerous to be left alone on bad grounds. So Phillip eventually makes peace with Alexander and then goes off to campaign again.

After a few years of what can be said as "command and conquer' for Phillip, he returns home to see his daughters wedding and also make plans for a full assault on Persia. Unfortunately he was assassinated during that time at home. Alexander quickly became his successor. For a brief period it seemed the great empire was coming up to its downfall, but actually it had yet to reach its peak. Alexander quickly took control an put down any revolts that might happen. One of these revolts actually happened in Greece.

While Alexander was in the north putting down some on the barbaric revolts, the region of Greece hears a rumor that Alexander has died. Instigated by the Athenians, a revolt began in Greece. Alexander hearing this, marches back south to Greece, covering 240 miles in 2 weeks. He quickly put down the small revolts and then went on to the major revolts in Thebes. It is said that Alexander gave them a few days to change their minds but in response the Thebans attacked with a small contingent of soldiers which Alexander destroyed very easily with archers and light infantry. After this Alexander sent his general, Perdiccas, in to attack the city.

Perdiccas broke threw and Alexander followed right behind. Alexander stormed the city, ordering to kill everything in sight. They sure did by killing all, even women and children. They plundered, sacked, burned and razed Thebes, as an example to the rest of Greece. One of the other city's in Greece now, Athens, had also revolted but after bearing about Thebes, they quickly backed down. So now with everything back in control, Alexander could continue his fathers dreams of destroying the Persian Empire.

Persia, at the time now, is the greatest and biggest empire at the time. They control most of Asia and Europe at this time. Under King Darius, they are quite a match for the Macedonians. Or are they not? Alexander began his quest against Persia in the spring of 334 BC by crossing the Hellespont with an army of about 35,000 Macedonians and 7,600 Greeks. It is said that Alexander there his spear from his ship to the coast and it stuck in the ground.

Then he stepped on shore, pulled his weapon from the soil, and declared that the whole of Persia be won by the spear. Following Alexander were some of his chief officers, including Antigonus, Ptolemy, and Seleucus. Just as soon as they landed, they met the army of King Darius at the crossing of the river Granicus. This army of Persian and Greek hoplite's, were heavily armed and ready for Alexander.

Yet, it seemed with ease that Alexander dominated the enemy, of which totaled 40,000 men. After a great victory, Alexander turned north. He encountered the city of Gordian, home of the famous Gordian Knot, where legend says that whatever man could untie the knot was destined to rule the entire world. Alexander simply slashed the know with his sword and unraveled it. Continuing southward, Alexander and his men met Darius once again at Issue in Syria. And once again Alexander was victorious, by defeating the Persian forces in a narrow field of battle.

King Daruis obviously not a real king anymore, fled leaving his family behind. Alexander being very respectful, treats Daruis' family kindly. That next year, Alexander campaigned across the Phoenician coast with ease. All had surrendered to Alexander except one.

The mighty confident Tyre. Alexander siege d the city and for 7 months the city held off until it could endure no longer. The Tyrians surrendered. Now the whole Aegean coast was successfully conquered. Alexander then headed southward. In 331 BC, Alexander entered Egypt.

He was welcomed with much thanks, for the Egyptians hated the Persians. Alexander ordered a city to be built at the moth of the Nile River. This city would become one of the major cultural centers in the Mediterranean world in the following centuries. Alexander soon became pharaoh by the Egyptians, for to them he was a divine leader who liberated them from the hated Persians. At Tyre, Alexander reorganized his forces of about 40,000 men and 7,000 calvary. He marched all threw the lands between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates.

He found the Persian army which was camping out. It was said that this Persian army numbered in the millions but it is also said that, that is an exaggeration. Instead of surprising the Persian army at night, as Alexanders generals encouraged, he felt it would be better to make the odds even and fight during the day when both sides were ready. Alexander felt that defeating the Persian army in an equally matched situation that the King Darius would never again dare to raise an army against Macedonians. The 2 army's met on October 1,331 BC at the plains of Gaugamel, modern day Iraq. The Macedonians forces swept through the Persian army and slaughtered them.

After the victory Alexander commented,'s o this is what it means to be a King. ' This was the end of the Persian army as Darius fled and soon was found dead, killed by his own people. Now with all of Persia in control, Alexander wanted to get some support, from the aristocracy there. So Alexander appointed Persians to govern the provinces. During the next few years Alexander would travel all throughout his new kingdom making sure it was secure. Then in the Spring of 337 BC, Alexander and his army marched into India, invading Punjab.

They reached as far as the Hydaspes river and then decided to go down the river. On the trip down the river, Alexander encountered Indian philosophers, the Brahmins. The Brahmins were famous for there wisdom, and were well known. Alexander became legendary from them for being both a wise philosopher and a fearless conqueror.

After such a long campaign, Alexander and his men returned to Susa, where they celebrated victory. During this celebration, Alexander married a Persian named Roxanne. Along with him many of his closest men also married. Now with all campaigning done, Alexander wanted to unite his empire since the difference of people and cultures prevented it. With this idea at hand he makes one of his most famous oaths to his soldiers and people: "I wish all of you, now that the wars are coming to an end, to live happily in peace. All mortals from now on shall live like one people, united, and peacefully working towards a common prosperity.

You should regard the whole world as your country, a country where the best govern, with common laws, and no racial distinctions. I do not separate people, as many narrow-minded others do, into Greeks and barbarians. I am not interested in the origin or race of citizens, I only distinguish them on the basis of their virtue. For me, each Foreigner is a Greek, and each bad Greek is a barbarian. If ever there appear differences among you, you must not resolve them by taking to arms; you should resolve them in peace.

If need be, I shall act as your negotiator. You must not think of God as an authoritarian ruler, but you should consider him a common father, so that your conduct resembles the uniform behavior of brothers who belong to the same family. For my part, I consider all, whether they be white or black, equal. And I would like you to be not only subject to my Commonwealth, but also participants and partners. You should regard the Oath we have taken tonight as a Symbol of Love. So Alexander devised a plan to breed a new body of high nobles that were to be mixed blood.

But before he could do such, tragic struck. Alexander was only 33 when he died an June 10,323 BC. He had gave in to an illness of unknown. Alexander age 33, left behind a kingdom of unknown magnitude. And it is said that his last words were said in response to a question, "To whom do you leave the kingdom? ,' asked by some of his closest friends, and Alexander replied, "To the best (the strongest). ' He never did pick a successor and his empire that he created broke up in turmoil.

Alexander the Macedonian, the King and the great conqueror will be looked to as one of the greatest conquerors of time. If not for such an early death he might have created the greatest empire this world would have ever seen. Compared to other conquerors in History such as Hitler and Napoleon, he conquered as they did but in such a short time. He amassed lands that would take generations for empires to conquer and he did it in such a short time. As one author puts it, "Alexander accomplished greater deeds than any, not only of the kings who had lived before him but also of those who were to come later down to our time. ' Clearly the name, "The Great' fits him well, for he was on his way to create a world that could have been the changing point if not for his death.

Who knows. .. Maybe if he didn't die the world would still be under a similar empire created by him. It can only be speculated what it would have been like with out such a conqueror. 1. web March 15, 1999.2. web March 15, 1999 John J. Popov ic.

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