Alexander the Greek had an esoteric, complex personality with unknown, higher motives. He clearly was confident, even exhibiting “sheer hubris”, but many would argue that he was rightfully so. Additionally, Alexander had a fierce determination, almost supernatural obsession for his work, pushing on endlessly to conquer the world despite already establishing his own European Empire. He was a ruthless warrior and strategist, but also civilized and refined. He held a high respect for history, and possibly even found inspiration from past historical greats. For instance, during his conquests, he supposedly visited the city of Ilium (also known as Troy. See “Why Was Troy Also Called Ilium?” in Bibliography) just as a romantic gesture inspired by his learning about Homer. Whether he simply acted as a curious tourist or if he had some spiritual motive for coming to Ilium, he clearly was not purely a conqueror who had no intellectual value. He killed not for sport, but rationally as to best pursue his mission.
“When the Thebans refused to surrender, [Alexander] made an entry and razed their city to the ground, sparing only temples and Pindar’s house; 6,000 were killed and all survivors sold into slavery. The other Greek states were cowed by this severity, and Alexander could afford to treat Athens leniently. Unlike other conquerors such as Genghis Khan who enacted violence excessively, Alexander of Macedonia saw opportunity to spare resources and people. It wouldn’t be too far off to think that this was Alexander’s original plan: To sacrifice Thebes so that others would surrender peacefully and be saved. Further, Alexander exhibited kindness and humanity to women. When Alexander conquered the Achaemenid Dynasty’s Capital, “the struggle turned into a Persian rout and Darius fled, leaving his family in Alexander’s hands. The women were treated with chivalrous care”(Britannica). The history books certainly paint Alexander to be a strong man physically and mentally who ruled with class and dignity.
After completing his conquest of the Mediterranean, Alexander began his campaigns to the East. Despite the already ambitious and seemingly complete military feats that Alexander accomplished in the West, he still worked to expand as far into the East as possible. His forces reached as far as the tip of Northwestern India 326, 325 BC, where his troops, reported to be generally fiercely loyal to him, mutinied and forced Alexander to retreat. Here, “Alexander — whose motivations for conquest remain indistinct - is said to have wept and to have erected 12 massive alars as a thanks offering ‘at the end of the world’” (Bosworth 1988).
Alexander the Great died age 32 in Babylon, having conquered the whole world (or what was considered the world). The Empire created by Alexander the Great spanned from the Balkan Peninsula to Western Asia(356-323 BC). Like his father, Alexander’s causes for death are obscure.
