Just because Alexander the Great’s name says that he is “Great,” doesn't mean that he’s all that great. In reality, he seems more like he was just another one of those evil tyrants in history. His story of conquest and death does not begin with him. It begins with his father, King Philip, who united a collection of scattered tribes to become Macedonia. It was King Philip who built up the Macedonian army and eventually conquered Greece1. At the age of 20, Alexander inherited Macedonia along with his father’s near invincible army. So, does Alexander the Great really deserve this title of “Great?” He doesn’t because he was a cruel murderer, whose empire did not last long after his death.
Alexander conquered a lot of land with the army his dad built: 2,000,000 square miles2 of it to be precise. But in the ancient world, you can’t conquer land without killing innocent people. The text, “Alexander of Macedon,” explicitly states, “Alexander had ordered that all [except] those who sought sanctuary [in the temple] to be slain, and his commands were executed with savage relish.” (Green, 255). Executing people with savage relish makes Alexander and his men monsters! And no murderous monster is fit to be called Great!
Of course, sacking a city is one thing, but killing your own men is another. According to the Legend of the Hat Band, Alexander first rewards one of his sailors for rescuing his hat band, but then cuts of the sailor’s head because a prophet had said whoever wore Alexander’s hat band should not be safe.
Murdering your own man for such a petty reason is unjustifiable!
And finally, Alexander’s empire broke up quickly after he died. I mean, come on, other conquerors such as Asoka of the Mauryan Empire1 didn't have their empires break up right after they died!
That’s pretty weak empire building.
That’s pretty weak empire building.
If Alexander saw what happened after his death,
even he would probably think he was not so great.
Although his name suggests Alexander was great, sometimes historical titles can lie to us. In fact, I think Alexander the Great was one of the WORST!
1How Great Was Alexander the Great?-TheDBQ Project
2Alexander’s Legacy-TheDBQ Project
3History ALive! The Ancient World-Teachers’ Curriculum Institute, page 164. Asoka’s empire lasted 45 years after his death.
