Top 10 Facts about Alexander the Great

Top 10 Facts about Alexander the Great

By Jean-Simon Berthélemy -wikimedia

Alexander was born around July 20, 356 B.C., in Pella; it was then the capital of Macedonia, to King Philip II of Macedon and Queen Olympia.

His given name was Alexander III of Macedon. He had one sister, Cleopatra (not to be confused with Cleopatra of Egypt) and a step-sister Thessalonike.

Growing up, he did not see much of his father who was often away on military duties defending his kingdom. Despite the absence, he was one of Alexander’s most influential role models.

1. Alexander the Great was Mama’s Boy

In the absence of his father, Alexander grew up to adore his mother who played an important role in his life.

She was determined to see her son succeed the throne and did everything to protect and advance Alexander’s interests, and would inculcate the notion of greatness in him.

2. Alexanders’ parents greatly contributed to his rise to greatness

Alexanders success in leadership can be attributed to both his parents. They each played a role in honing his skills at a pretty young age.

While he was away, King Philip II trusted Alexander to rule the kingdom in his absence. Alexander took advantage of such opportunities and at one point conquered the Thracian people.

He rewarded himself with “Alexandroupolis” a city named after himself.

3. Alexander was privately tutored by Aristotle

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King Philip II wanted the best education for his son. He commissioned Aristotle, the Greek philosopher.

Through his education, Alexander arouse his deep passionate for knowledge, logic, philosophy, music and culture.

Aristotle’s teachings, especially his doctrines on morals and politics, empowered him in winning over the citizens in the kingdoms he invaded and conquered.

This intrigued him because the cultures of the kingdoms were of great contrast, yet he won them over.

4. Alexander the Great was not close to his Father

Alexander and his father had a strained relationship. It is believed that the duo were estranged during his teenage years.

Alexander was not happy with the choice of lifestyle his father chose, he had many wives and children, whom is believed threatened Alexanders’ success to the throne.

He went on exile with his mother after she separated with his father. They later reconciled and were allowed back into the Macedonian kingdom.

5. Alexander the Great cheerleader

Alexander the Great was loved by his followers because he always affirmed them.

He always motivated his army for their exemplary performance in battle, this  always brought the best out his team.

He would occasionally name the best warriors and honour them for their bravery, recounting their acts of heroism executed by former and fallen heroes in the battle field.

He personally acknowledged the efforts and contributions made by each team member.

He was considered a confidant by many of his followers because he always displayed empathy.

6. Alexander never lost a battle

By wikimedia

Alexander the Great lived to his name. He never lost a single battle  during his reign.

He had the best military tactics that have been emulated today by military academies world over.

He won his first battle aged 18 and quickly gained the confidence of his fellow warriors in leading them in the battlefield.

He organized his troops in small sizes and strategically positioned them in battle catching their enemies unaware.

The peak of Alexander’s army force was the 15,000-strong Macedonian troop, that held off the sword-wielding Persians with 20-foot-long pikes called sarissa.

7. For the love of his name, Alexander and cities

By Nikolai Karaneschev-wikimedia

Alexander won many battles and with those came cities.

He named city of Alexandria in Egypt after himself. It is currently the second largest city in Egypt.

Other Alexandria cities can be found in Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan.

One of his toughest battles in conquering present day India was the battle of the river Hydaspes.

After he won, he honored his favorite horse by naming it Bucephala. The horse died in the battle.

8. Alexander the Great had an active love life 

Alexander had beautiful, intelligent women around him. Like his father that he despised, Alexander is said to have relations with other women outside his marriage.

His first wife, Barsine was a widow when she met Alexander.  Alexander fell for her because of her beauty. It is believed that they had a son named Heracles.

His second wife was Stateira, they celebrated their wedding for five days. Its was called the susa weddings. He also married Roxanna, it was love at first sight.

It is also believed that Alexander had an affair with three young men. The first was a Persian dancer, Bagoas, given to him as a gift by one of King Darius’ commander.

The other two Excipinus and Hector were said to be beautiful youth that were favored by Alexander.

9. Roxanna, beauty and brains, was Alexander’s favorite wife 

Alexander had a weakness, it was Roxanne. He was so fond of her that he spent most of his time with her. This irked his soldiers.

It is said that after meeting her, he lost interest in other women. They got married  in August 327 BC. Their marriage was politically tied to an empire he had conquered.

She bore him a son, Alexander IV who was born six months after the passing of Alexander the Great.

10. The Fall of Alexander the Great Empire 

By Unknown author -wikimedia

On June 323 BC in Babylon, Alexander the Great breathed his last. The real cause of his death is not clear, speculations on the cause of his death were; typhoid fever, poisoning or malaria.

Following his death, Roxanne heavy with child, plotted to kill her co-wives. She wanted her unborn child to be the heir of throne after his father.

She had Stateira and her sister murdered, their bodies were thrown into a well which they filled with earth.

As fate would have it,  13 years later, Roxanna and Alexander IV were murdered in 310 BC by Cassander who took over the kingdom.

This saw the fall of Alexander the Great’s empire and lineage.

Alexander the Great’s parents were both assassinated albeit at different times. His father King Philip II was killed by Pausania, a Macedonian, while at his daughter Cleopatra’s wedding in 336 B.C. It is believed that Olympia helped plan the assassination.

In 316 B.C his mother Olympia was stoned to death by families of her victims on Cassander’s orders. He refused to give her decent burial.