Alexander the Great seemed to be given a name fit for someone who is legendary. We all know his name today, even though he lived sixteen hundred years ago. What made him such a great man?
Alexander was born to father King Phillip II and mother Olympias (formerly called Myrtale) on day six of the month Loios (Macedonian month of July). During a majority of this time, King Phillip was away fighting wars, so his mother Queen Olympias oversaw his training and instilled resentment in Alexander about his father. She did that by criticizing King Phillip’s moral shortcomings, and telling Alexander that he was destined for greatness.
Alexander had many teachers growing up. From Leonidas who though he was defiant, and was trying to teach him horseback …show more content…
Alexander assisted his father King Philip II by taking command of a cavalry unit, and helped to defeat Athenian and Theban armies. King Phillip II was successful in uniting all the Greek state (except Sparta) into the Corinthian League. Afterwards, King Phillip II married Celopatra Eruydice and Alexander and Olympia had to flee Macedonia, as Olympia was ousted by King Phillip II. Alexander and his mother stayed with her family in Epirus, until Alexander and King Phillip II reconciled. King Phillip II was at a celebration of the marriage of Alexander’s sister to a Molossian king. It was at that celebration that King Phillip II was murdered by a Macedonian noble named Pausanias. Once Alexander’s father was murdered, Alexander became the feudal king, but did not get control of the Corinthian League as the Greek southern states were happy about King Phillip’s II death, and had different interests in mind. Athens had wanted to take control of the league and with the leadership of Demosthenes, attempt to wrest control of the league. Alexander sent his army to the south, and strong armed Thessaly into accepting him as the leader of the league. He then reissued treaties with the city-states that were in the Corinthian League (except Athens) and was given full control and military power to fight the Persian Empire and King Darius III. As Alexander was securing the north border against the Thracian Triballians, Thebes …show more content…
His army marched across Asia Minor where they rested during the winter in Gordium. The following summer in 333, King Darius III once again clashed with Alexander at Issus. King Darius III had superior numbers, but Alexander had superior tactics and was able to out strategize the Persians. He did that by developing and implementing formations that the Persians could not defend against. By using speed, logistics, intelligence, and communications on the battlefield, he was able to out maneuver King Darius’s army. His corps of engineers were also well versed in set battles (where both sides decide on the place and time of a battle) and siege warfare (surrounding a city, and blockading it). The speed and improvisation of Alexander were unknown by any general up until that time. With Asia Minor lost to Alexander, Darius III attempted to negotiate with him, but to no avail. Alexander wanted Darius III to surrender to him, and nothing else would be sufficient. At the Battle of Gaugamela, Alexander was outnumbered by the Persian military. Estimates put Alexander’s army at around 47,000 and Darius II’s army from 87,000 to over a million. Alexander’s men were better armed and trained though, and Alexander’s unusual strategy of drawing off some of Darius’s III cavalry to open a hole that allowed some of Alexander’s men to directly attack Darius III,
Alexander was born to father King Phillip II and mother Olympias (formerly called Myrtale) on day six of the month Loios (Macedonian month of July). During a majority of this time, King Phillip was away fighting wars, so his mother Queen Olympias oversaw his training and instilled resentment in Alexander about his father. She did that by criticizing King Phillip’s moral shortcomings, and telling Alexander that he was destined for greatness.
Alexander had many teachers growing up. From Leonidas who though he was defiant, and was trying to teach him horseback …show more content…
Alexander assisted his father King Philip II by taking command of a cavalry unit, and helped to defeat Athenian and Theban armies. King Phillip II was successful in uniting all the Greek state (except Sparta) into the Corinthian League. Afterwards, King Phillip II married Celopatra Eruydice and Alexander and Olympia had to flee Macedonia, as Olympia was ousted by King Phillip II. Alexander and his mother stayed with her family in Epirus, until Alexander and King Phillip II reconciled. King Phillip II was at a celebration of the marriage of Alexander’s sister to a Molossian king. It was at that celebration that King Phillip II was murdered by a Macedonian noble named Pausanias. Once Alexander’s father was murdered, Alexander became the feudal king, but did not get control of the Corinthian League as the Greek southern states were happy about King Phillip’s II death, and had different interests in mind. Athens had wanted to take control of the league and with the leadership of Demosthenes, attempt to wrest control of the league. Alexander sent his army to the south, and strong armed Thessaly into accepting him as the leader of the league. He then reissued treaties with the city-states that were in the Corinthian League (except Athens) and was given full control and military power to fight the Persian Empire and King Darius III. As Alexander was securing the north border against the Thracian Triballians, Thebes …show more content…
His army marched across Asia Minor where they rested during the winter in Gordium. The following summer in 333, King Darius III once again clashed with Alexander at Issus. King Darius III had superior numbers, but Alexander had superior tactics and was able to out strategize the Persians. He did that by developing and implementing formations that the Persians could not defend against. By using speed, logistics, intelligence, and communications on the battlefield, he was able to out maneuver King Darius’s army. His corps of engineers were also well versed in set battles (where both sides decide on the place and time of a battle) and siege warfare (surrounding a city, and blockading it). The speed and improvisation of Alexander were unknown by any general up until that time. With Asia Minor lost to Alexander, Darius III attempted to negotiate with him, but to no avail. Alexander wanted Darius III to surrender to him, and nothing else would be sufficient. At the Battle of Gaugamela, Alexander was outnumbered by the Persian military. Estimates put Alexander’s army at around 47,000 and Darius II’s army from 87,000 to over a million. Alexander’s men were better armed and trained though, and Alexander’s unusual strategy of drawing off some of Darius’s III cavalry to open a hole that allowed some of Alexander’s men to directly attack Darius III,