Alexander The Great Real Face

Alexander the Great the Real Face was an ancient Macedonian ruler and one of the greatest military minds in history, who, as a king of Macedonia and Persia, established the largest empire the ancient world had ever seen.

Charismatic and ruthless, brilliant and power-hungry, diplomatic and bloodthirsty, Alexander the great inspired like loyalty in his men that they would follow him anywhere and, if necessary, die in the process. Although Alexander the Great died before realizing his dream of uniting a new world, his influence on Greek and Asian culture was so profound that it inspired a new historical era – the Hellenistic period.

Where Did Alexander the Great Come From?

Alexander the Great was born in Pella, Macedonia, in 356 BC. To King Philip II and Queen Olympias – although legend says his father was none other than Zeus, ruler of the Greek gods.

King Philip II was an impressive military man in his own right. He turned Macedonia (a region in the northern part of the Greek peninsula) into a power to be reckoned with, and dreamed of conquering the massive Persian Empire.

Bucephalus

At the age of 12, Alexander the great showed admirable courage when he tamed the wild horse Bucephalus, a massive stallion with a grumpy demeanor. The horse became his battle companion throughout most of Alexander’s life.

When Alexander was thirteen, Philip invited the great philosopher Aristotle to teach his son. Aristotle sparked and strengthened Alexander’s interest in literature, science, medicine, and philosophy.

Alexander was only 16 years old when Philip went to fight and left his son in charge of Macedonia. In 338 BC, Alexander saw the opportunity to prove his military worth and led his cavalry against the Sacred Legion of Thebes—a supposedly invincible select army composed entirely of male lovers—during the Battle of Chaeronea.

Alexander showed his strength and courage, and his knights destroyed the holy band of Thebes.

Alexander First Step to Throne 

 

In 336 BC, Alexander’s father, Philip II, was assassinated by his bodyguard, Pausanias. At just twenty years old, Alexander seized the Macedonian throne and killed his rivals before they could challenge his supremacy.

He also crushed independence rebellions in northern Greece. Once he had cleaned house, Alexander left to follow in his father’s footsteps and continue Macedonia’s world domination.

Alexander appointed General Antipater as regent and headed to Persia with his army. They crossed the Hellespont, a narrow strait between the Aegean Sea and the Sea of ​​Marmara, and encountered Persian and Greek forces at the Granicus River. The victory went to Alexander and the Macedonians.

Alexander then headed south and easily captured the city of Sardis. But his army met resistance in the cities of Miletus, Milassa and Halicarnassus. Under siege but not defeated, Halicarnassus held out long enough for King Darius III, the last Persian king, to raise a large army.

Gordian Knot

From Halicarnassus, Alexander headed north to Gordium, home of the legendary Gordian Knot, a group of tightly interwoven knots tied to an ancient cart. Legend has it that whoever unties the knot will conquer all of Asia.

As the story goes, Alexander accepted the challenge but was unable to untie the knot with his hand. He took another approach and cut the knot with his sword, claiming victory.

The Battle of Issus

 

In 333 BC, Alexander and his men encountered a huge Persian army led by King Darius III close to the town of Issus in southern Turkey. Alexander’s forces were far outnumbered in men, but not in experience or determination to take revenge and claim the great wealth of Persia, much of which he had plundered.

When it became clear that Alexander would win the Battle of Issus, Darius fled with the remainder of his forces, leaving his wife and family behind. His mother, Sisegambis, was so upset that she disowned him and adopted Alexander as her own son.

It Is now clear that Alexander was an intelligent, ruthless, and brilliant military leader – in fact, he never lost a battle in his life. He built an empire on the back of his motto: “Nothing Is impossible for those who try.

Battle of Tyre

After that, Alexander captured the Phoenician cities of Marathus and Arados. He rejected Darius’s call for peace and seized the cities of Byblos and Sidon.

He then besieged the heavily fortified island of Tire in January 332 BC, after the Tyrians refused him entry. But Alexander had no fleet to speak of and Tire was surrounded by water.

Alexander ordered his men to build a bridge to reach Tyre. All went well until they came within striking space of the Tyrians. Time and again, Alexander’s clever attempts at entry were thwarted by the Tyrians, and he realized that he needed a powerful navy to break through their defenses.

He gathered a large fleet, and finally breached the city walls in July 332 BC. Thousands of Tyrians were executed for daring to challenge him; Many others were sold into slavery.

Alexander Enters Egypt

 

After rejecting another peace offer from Darius, Alexander set off for Egypt. But he was marginalized in Gaza, forced to endure another long siege. After several weeks, he captured the city and entered Egypt, where he founded the city that still bears his name: Alexandria.

Alexander traveled to the desert to consult the seer of Amun, the supposed god of good counsel. Legends abound about what happened at the Oracle, but Alexander remained silent about the experience. However, the visit fueled speculation that Alexander was a god.

Then, Alexandria became the center of culture  and learning also it was the site of the amazing Library of Alexandria and the legendary Qaitbay citadel.

Alexander the Great Becomes King of Persia

After conquering Egypt, Alexander faced Darius and his massive forces at Gaugamela in October 331 BC. After fierce fighting and heavy losses on both sides, Darius fled and was assassinated by his forces. It is said that Alexander was saddened when he found Darius’ body and gave him a royal burial.

Finally, Alexander got rid of Darius and declared himself king of Persia. But another Persian leader, Bessus (who is also believed to have been the murderer of Darius), also claimed the Persian throne. Alexander could not let this claim stand.

After a relentless pursuit by Alexander, Bessus’ forces handed Bessus over to Ptolemy, Alexander’s close friend, and he was mutilated and executed. With Bessus out of the way, Alexander took complete control of Persia.

Proskynesis

To gain credibility with the Persians, Alexander adopted many Persian customs. He began dressing like a Persian and adopted the practice of proscenes, a Persian court custom that involved bowing and kissing the hands of others, depending on their rank.

The Macedonians were not happy with Alexander’s changes and his attempt to be seen as a god. They refused to pursuit proskynesis and some plotted his death.

With his paranoia growing, Alexander ordered the killing of one of his most respected generals, Parmenio, in 330 BC, after Philotas, Parmenio’s son, was found guilty of planning an assassination attempt against Alexander (and killing him as well).

Alexander the Great Kills Cleitus

In 328 BC, Cleitus, another common and close friend of Alexander, also met a violent end. The drunken Cletus was fed up with Alexander’s new Persian-like persona, and he continued to insult Alexander and belittle his accomplishments.

Pushed further, Alexander killed Cleitus with a spear, a spontaneous act of violence that disturbed him. Some historians believe that Alexander killed his general in a fit of drunkenness, a persistent problem that plagued him for most of his life.

Alexander struggled to capture Sogdia, an area of the Persian Empire that remained honest to Bessus. The Sogdians found refuge at the top of a rock and refused Alexander’s demand to surrender.

Alexander was not one to take no for an answer, so he sent some of his men to climb the rock and surprise the Sogdians. Supposedly one of those on the rock was a girl named Roxanne.

As the story goes, Alexander fell in love with Roxanne on sight. Alexander the great married her despite her Sogdian heritage, and she joined him on his journey.

Alexander the Great, the legendary Macedonian king, is known for his unprecedented conquests across three continents, shaping the course of history. His empire stretched from Greece to Egypt and into Asia, spreading Greek culture and influence.

Images of Alexander can be found in various ancient artworks, depicting him as a youthful and dynamic leader. Many of these depictions are preserved in collections such as the archaeological museum in Alexandria, where visitors can explore artifacts that reflect his profound impact on both the ancient world and later civilizations.

Alexander The Great Enters India

In 327 B.C., Alexander marched toward Punjab, India. Some clans surrendered peacefully. But others did not. In 326 B.C., Alexander the Great met King Porus of the Paurava at the Hydaspes River.

Porus’s army was less skilled than Alexander’s, but they had a secret weapon: elephants. However, after a fierce battle in a severe thunderstorm, Porus was defeated.

One event that occurred at Hydaspes devastated Alexander: the death of his beloved horse, Bucephalus. It is not clear whether he died from wounds in battle or from old age, but Alexander named the city of Bucephala after him.

Alexander wanted to go ahead and attempt to conquer all of India, but his war-weary soldiers refused, and his officers persuaded him to return to Persia. So Alexander led his forces down the Indus River and was severely wounded during a battle with Mali.

After he recovered, he divided his forces, sending half to Persia and the other half to Gedrosia, a desolate region west of the Indus River.

A Mass Wedding

In early 324 BC, Alexander arrived in the city of Susa in Persia. Wanting to unite the Persians and Macedonians and create a new race loyal only to him, he ordered several of his officers to marry Persian princesses in a mass wedding. He also took two other wives for himself.

The Macedonian army resented Alexander’s attempt to change their culture and many rebelled. But after Alexander took a firm stand and replaced the Macedonian officers and troops with the Persians, his army retreated.

To further defuse the situation, Alexander the great restored their titles and held a huge reconciliation banquet.

How Did Alexander the Great Die?

By 323 BC, Alexander the great was head of a massive empire, recovering from the devastating loss of his friend Hephaestion – who was also reputed to be one of Alexander’s gay male lovers.

With his insatiable desire for world supremacy, he began plans to conquer the Arabian Peninsula. But he won’t live to see that happen. Some historians say that Alexander the great died of malaria or other natural causes; Others believe he died of poisoning. In both cases, he never appointed a successor.

His death – and the bloody fight for control that followed – led to the disintegration of the empire he had fought so hard to create.

How Old Was Alexander the Great When He Died?

After surviving battle after fierce battle, Alexander the Great died in June 323 BC. At the age of 32.

Why Was Alexander the Great ‘Is Great’?

Many of the conquered territories retained the Greek influence introduced by Alexander, and many of the cities he founded remain important cultural centers today. The historical period from his death to 31 BC, when his empire collapsed, will be known as the Hellenistic period, from the word “helazin”, meaning “to speak Greek or identify with the Greeks”. Alexander the Great is revered as one of the most powerful and influential leaders the ancient world has ever seen.

Alexander The Great Quotes

• Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.
• I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.
• I had rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and dominion.
• There is nothing impossible to him who will try.
• How great are the dangers I face to win a good name in Athens.
• I am dying from the treatment of too many physicians.
• Heaven cannot brook two suns, nor earth two masters.