Alexander An Empire: But Dad, Don T You See?
Uniting an Empire: But Dad, don’t you see?
Classical studies: 91397: Demonstrate understanding of significant ideology in the classical world.
Son:
“Alexander was very intelligent and kingly in applying the policy of fusion between the Macedonians and the Persians to form one great empire.”
Father:
“The Policy of Fusion? To me that was the main issuing that caused problems to his empire and ultimately ended his successful reign with his army.”
Son:
“Father, I disagree on what you are saying. The policy of fusion was a way of adapting Persian customs and Greek customs to ultimately form one great empire that could conquer any opposing empire. Curtius tells us he did this to successfully rule over the two very different cultures. He needed to conquer any opposing enemies; Curtius also tells us he needed both Macedonians and Persians to do this.
Father:
“Son, that’s what it may have been planned out to be, but sometimes plans just don’t go according to what you’d hope to result from them.”
Son:
“How so? If it weren’t for the policy of fusion, Alexander would have never been capable of defeating the Great King Porus in 326BC at the river Hydaspes.” He effectively adapted Persian archers and cavalry to gain victory over the …show more content…
Indian forces.”
Father:
Yes that is true, however his reign did not last very long after this. In fact it was a major turning point for Alexander and his army for his campaign. If you think back to the start of Alexander’s campaign, Alexander was a true leader, he could do no wrong, his men were very loyal to him and followed him with blind obedience and most importantly he was the first amongst equals; He could joke around with his men, argue with them, he joined them in drinking parties and wore the same clothes as them. “
What do you see of Alexander after the application of this so called policy of fusion son?”
Son:
“I still see the same man, yet who has also effectively fused many different cultures into his own. What do you see father?”
Father:
“To me I do not think he has done what have you have said. I see a man that has changed not only himself but his army and customs also and in doing so caused many problems to his empire’s campaign and reign. Firstly the Macedonians did not agree to jointly rule an empire with the Persians, whom had seen the Persians as the enemy than as fellow subjects or barbarian. Yet Alexander forced this action to his empire. Where do you see a man that was loyal to his men? Fox tells us the impact of this made his men become resentful to him.
In result to this resentment in 330 BC Philotas and Parmenio had been executed and parmenio murdered. Again where do you see a man loyal to his men? “
Son:
“Alexander was the king father, if he felt that something needed to be done.
He would do it even if it meant sacrifices. The Macedonians were being selfish in keeping the empire to themselves, while Alexander a noble and intelligent person found a way to incorporate the Persians instead of killing them. Also Philotas was very guilty of being part of a plot to assassinate the king Alexander, with the evidence of not passing any information to Alexander. It was Philotas’ disloyalty to Alexander that caused Alexander to do such thing. Parmenio was the father of Philotas, it was only smart of Alexander thinking that he would revolt and plot another assassination to Alexander, as he was the link between east and west.
“
Father:
“However it was to Alexander’s doing that Philotas had resented to him. They felt Alexander was no longer loyal to them. In 329 BC Alexander shows no loyalty or no respect to one of his generals Cleitus, in a drunken argument where Cleitus simply in no intentional harm, questions Alexander’s motives and loyalty to the Macedonians. What does Alexander do? The thing he does best! He murders Cleitus in a drunken rage.”
Son:
“Alexander was drunk he did not know what was going on at the time father. Alexander is very saddened and is remorseful of his death when he realizes what had happened, showing he did not know what was happening.”
Father:
“Then how would he know what the conversation was about?” Surely he’d have enough sense in him to not kill his own general. We hear that by this point Alexander was not seen as the same man. He had turned on his own Macedonian men, causing a lot of resentment between Macedonians. The loyalty between his men was lost. Son not only this, Alexander had caused more problems in attempt to fuse both cultures and empires. We have seen and are told that in the nature of Persian Kingship the king had exalted status, he was seen as a god like figure, treated with luxury and splendor, his dress was extravagant and all people were required to prostate in his presence. Alexander had willingly adapted many of these Persian customs, of which the Macedonians disliked. Curtius tells us that Alexander adopted Persian dress wearing a white robe and sash, the diadem. Son now we know in Macedonian culture the king is the first among equals and wears the same clothes as his men. How is he the first amongst equals if he dresses nicer than them? Alexander wearing these clothes showed the Macedonians he was not among equals and he was changing his ways. “ My son you must look at all these examples of Alexander changing himself and his empire being told by Arrian, Plutarch, Curtius and Diodorus, significantly when Alexander marries Roxane according to Iranian custom not Macedonian customs; sharing an oaf of bread. We are told he appointed foreign enemies as satraps in his provinces, like the time in 326BC where he had fought a brutal battle, then in the end reinstated Porus as ruler, which makes no sense in why they fought them? And we obviously know he included young Persian cavalry in his army, which made the Macedonian’s feel old and replaced.
Son:
“But Dad don’t you see? Alexander marrying Roxane benefited his empire as told by Curtius, Roxane was Iranian. Alexander had 30000 Iranian boys otherwise known as “The Successors “,” hostages against their fathers misbehavior”, trained to Macedonian customs. It is said they would be the future solider class of the empire, they would share the empire and be obliged to alexander alone.”
Father:
“The Macedonians resented this group according to Hamilton. This only caused more conflict and resentment between cultures and Alexander and his men. “ Another major event that sparred a change in the relationship between alexander and the Macedonians was if you remember son in 327 BC about the pages conspiracy. The young Macedonian noble who served Alexander planned to assassinate Alexander due to his disloyalty and change in customs disliked by the Macedonians. Alexander had discovered this he tortured and killed them. He also used Proskynesis a Persian court practice on Callisthenes because
He was the tutor of the pages; Alexander included him as a culprit and attempted to introduce proskynesis into his Macedonian court. Callisthenes died in a result of this conviction. The death of Callisthenes caused protest in the Greek mainland as he was well respected. “
Son:
“I see now father. But one question was Alexander really a son of Ammon-Zeus? “
Father:
“No son, you see propaganda motive has lead you into believing this like Alexander was.
This belief of alexander had put him above his men and no longer “first among equals”; He rejected Philip his real father that started the Macedonian army and many of Alexander’s men actually fought under Philip like Clietus. So going back to 326 BC after defeating Porus, we hear his army made a stand against Alexander to go further for they were tired and been war weary with clothes tattered and hooves worn down, but I believe ever since Persepolis and the paranoia of Alexander himself changing and the relationship now between him and the Macedonians, is where it all started and the reason why they would not go and fight anymore. I believe that Alexander did not intend and incorporate the policy but what he was actually doing was playing one off against another to benefit himself, for alexander to satisfy his own personal ambitions for glory and conquest.
Bibliography http://student.kc.school.nz/ClassWebs/ClassicsWeb/Classics301/Alexander%20The%20Great/Alexander%20PwrPts/E.%20Alexander%20&%20the%20Macedonians/1.ThePolicyofFusion.pdf http://www.johndclare.net/AncientHistory/Alexander_Themes5.htm http://www.johndclare.net/AncientHistory/Alexander_Themes5.htm http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Alexander+the+Great http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Hydaspes Arrian Pg 213; 353 – 358
Plutarch Pg 301 – 304; 327 – 328
Curtius Pg 128 – 129; 186
- Diodorus Pg 341 & 343
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great
Classical studies: 91397: Demonstrate understanding of significant ideology in the classical world.
Son:
“Alexander was very intelligent and kingly in applying the policy of fusion between the Macedonians and the Persians to form one great empire.”
Father:
“The Policy of Fusion? To me that was the main issuing that caused problems to his empire and ultimately ended his successful reign with his army.”
Son:
“Father, I disagree on what you are saying. The policy of fusion was a way of adapting Persian customs and Greek customs to ultimately form one great empire that could conquer any opposing empire. Curtius tells us he did this to successfully rule over the two very different cultures. He needed to conquer any opposing enemies; Curtius also tells us he needed both Macedonians and Persians to do this.
Father:
“Son, that’s what it may have been planned out to be, but sometimes plans just don’t go according to what you’d hope to result from them.”
Son:
“How so? If it weren’t for the policy of fusion, Alexander would have never been capable of defeating the Great King Porus in 326BC at the river Hydaspes.” He effectively adapted Persian archers and cavalry to gain victory over the …show more content…
Indian forces.”
Father:
Yes that is true, however his reign did not last very long after this. In fact it was a major turning point for Alexander and his army for his campaign. If you think back to the start of Alexander’s campaign, Alexander was a true leader, he could do no wrong, his men were very loyal to him and followed him with blind obedience and most importantly he was the first amongst equals; He could joke around with his men, argue with them, he joined them in drinking parties and wore the same clothes as them. “
What do you see of Alexander after the application of this so called policy of fusion son?”
Son:
“I still see the same man, yet who has also effectively fused many different cultures into his own. What do you see father?”
Father:
“To me I do not think he has done what have you have said. I see a man that has changed not only himself but his army and customs also and in doing so caused many problems to his empire’s campaign and reign. Firstly the Macedonians did not agree to jointly rule an empire with the Persians, whom had seen the Persians as the enemy than as fellow subjects or barbarian. Yet Alexander forced this action to his empire. Where do you see a man that was loyal to his men? Fox tells us the impact of this made his men become resentful to him.
In result to this resentment in 330 BC Philotas and Parmenio had been executed and parmenio murdered. Again where do you see a man loyal to his men? “
Son:
“Alexander was the king father, if he felt that something needed to be done.
He would do it even if it meant sacrifices. The Macedonians were being selfish in keeping the empire to themselves, while Alexander a noble and intelligent person found a way to incorporate the Persians instead of killing them. Also Philotas was very guilty of being part of a plot to assassinate the king Alexander, with the evidence of not passing any information to Alexander. It was Philotas’ disloyalty to Alexander that caused Alexander to do such thing. Parmenio was the father of Philotas, it was only smart of Alexander thinking that he would revolt and plot another assassination to Alexander, as he was the link between east and west.
“
Father:
“However it was to Alexander’s doing that Philotas had resented to him. They felt Alexander was no longer loyal to them. In 329 BC Alexander shows no loyalty or no respect to one of his generals Cleitus, in a drunken argument where Cleitus simply in no intentional harm, questions Alexander’s motives and loyalty to the Macedonians. What does Alexander do? The thing he does best! He murders Cleitus in a drunken rage.”
Son:
“Alexander was drunk he did not know what was going on at the time father. Alexander is very saddened and is remorseful of his death when he realizes what had happened, showing he did not know what was happening.”
Father:
“Then how would he know what the conversation was about?” Surely he’d have enough sense in him to not kill his own general. We hear that by this point Alexander was not seen as the same man. He had turned on his own Macedonian men, causing a lot of resentment between Macedonians. The loyalty between his men was lost. Son not only this, Alexander had caused more problems in attempt to fuse both cultures and empires. We have seen and are told that in the nature of Persian Kingship the king had exalted status, he was seen as a god like figure, treated with luxury and splendor, his dress was extravagant and all people were required to prostate in his presence. Alexander had willingly adapted many of these Persian customs, of which the Macedonians disliked. Curtius tells us that Alexander adopted Persian dress wearing a white robe and sash, the diadem. Son now we know in Macedonian culture the king is the first among equals and wears the same clothes as his men. How is he the first amongst equals if he dresses nicer than them? Alexander wearing these clothes showed the Macedonians he was not among equals and he was changing his ways. “ My son you must look at all these examples of Alexander changing himself and his empire being told by Arrian, Plutarch, Curtius and Diodorus, significantly when Alexander marries Roxane according to Iranian custom not Macedonian customs; sharing an oaf of bread. We are told he appointed foreign enemies as satraps in his provinces, like the time in 326BC where he had fought a brutal battle, then in the end reinstated Porus as ruler, which makes no sense in why they fought them? And we obviously know he included young Persian cavalry in his army, which made the Macedonian’s feel old and replaced.
Son:
“But Dad don’t you see? Alexander marrying Roxane benefited his empire as told by Curtius, Roxane was Iranian. Alexander had 30000 Iranian boys otherwise known as “The Successors “,” hostages against their fathers misbehavior”, trained to Macedonian customs. It is said they would be the future solider class of the empire, they would share the empire and be obliged to alexander alone.”
Father:
“The Macedonians resented this group according to Hamilton. This only caused more conflict and resentment between cultures and Alexander and his men. “ Another major event that sparred a change in the relationship between alexander and the Macedonians was if you remember son in 327 BC about the pages conspiracy. The young Macedonian noble who served Alexander planned to assassinate Alexander due to his disloyalty and change in customs disliked by the Macedonians. Alexander had discovered this he tortured and killed them. He also used Proskynesis a Persian court practice on Callisthenes because
He was the tutor of the pages; Alexander included him as a culprit and attempted to introduce proskynesis into his Macedonian court. Callisthenes died in a result of this conviction. The death of Callisthenes caused protest in the Greek mainland as he was well respected. “
Son:
“I see now father. But one question was Alexander really a son of Ammon-Zeus? “
Father:
“No son, you see propaganda motive has lead you into believing this like Alexander was.
This belief of alexander had put him above his men and no longer “first among equals”; He rejected Philip his real father that started the Macedonian army and many of Alexander’s men actually fought under Philip like Clietus. So going back to 326 BC after defeating Porus, we hear his army made a stand against Alexander to go further for they were tired and been war weary with clothes tattered and hooves worn down, but I believe ever since Persepolis and the paranoia of Alexander himself changing and the relationship now between him and the Macedonians, is where it all started and the reason why they would not go and fight anymore. I believe that Alexander did not intend and incorporate the policy but what he was actually doing was playing one off against another to benefit himself, for alexander to satisfy his own personal ambitions for glory and conquest.
Bibliography http://student.kc.school.nz/ClassWebs/ClassicsWeb/Classics301/Alexander%20The%20Great/Alexander%20PwrPts/E.%20Alexander%20&%20the%20Macedonians/1.ThePolicyofFusion.pdf http://www.johndclare.net/AncientHistory/Alexander_Themes5.htm http://www.johndclare.net/AncientHistory/Alexander_Themes5.htm http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Alexander+the+Great http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Hydaspes Arrian Pg 213; 353 – 358
Plutarch Pg 301 – 304; 327 – 328
Curtius Pg 128 – 129; 186
- Diodorus Pg 341 & 343
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great