Great men, like Alexander the Great, have left lasting legacies that are difficult for others to replicate. This paper explores Alexander’s military genius and its significant impact on warfare throughout history. It also provides a thoughtful analysis of the reasons behind his success in conquest. Under Alexander’s leadership, a vast empire was established from Gibraltar to the Punjab, making Greek the dominant language in his new world (Cary, M, 1932).
His real name was Alexandros III Philippou Makedonon; he was also known as Alexander III but many have referred to him as Alexander the Great to praise his military conquest. His dream was to create a universal World Monarchy, and he single-handedly, along with his army, conquered the civilized World at that time. He was born in July of 356 B.C. in Macedonia (Narain, A. K, 1965). He was the son of Philip II, a king, but later claimed that his real father was the Greek god Zeus, which boosted his popularity as a leader. One thing is certain – Alexander the Great possessed the courage and determination to establish a universal monarchy that caught the attention of many leaders of his time. During his youth, Alexander resided with his family in the palace of Aegae and received comprehensive physical training as well as lessons in self-control and discipline from his tutors. These forms of training remain essential in modern military training and have positively influenced the success of military endeavors. Aristotle was Alexander the Great’s final teacher, known as the esteemed student of Plato. At the age of 13, Alexander gained knowledge in rhetoric, philosophy, and literature (Bowra, C. M, 1957). He and Aristotle became close friends, and it was during this period that Aristotle gifted Alexander a copy of The Iliad, which motivated him and fueled his desire to conquer Persia.
Aristotle and Alexander had different views on foreigners and their relationship changed. Aristotle considered foreigners to be behind in development, while Alexander was open to mixing cultures and lived with them without fear. When Alexander was only 16 years old, his father went to Byzantium to fight rebels, leaving Alexander in charge of ruling in his name. This marked the beginning of Alexander’s leadership at a young age, where he displayed his ability to command armies. He proved his qualifications in war by taking action against the Thracian tribe of Maedi who were planning a rebellion. He seized their capital and established a new colony in the region. Alexander’s military leadership started at the age of 18 when he commanded 235 men, giving him valuable training for his future endeavors. By defeating the Maedi and establishing a colony, Alexander demonstrated his early signs of military and leadership skills that would later help him establish a vast empire.
After leading the Macedonian cavalry at the Battle of Chaeronea under his father’s command, Alexander became known for his formidable unit. This heavily armored and disciplined group easily defeated their enemies. The Macedonian forces also included the Royal Army and an elite troop called the Hyspaspists, which was renowned for its prowess (Engdahl, W, 2004). Following the victorious battle, rumors circulated that King Phillip was unfaithful to his wife. This led to a heated debate between Alexander and his father, prompting Alexander and his mother to go into hiding. This marked the end of Phillip’s ambitious plan to conquer two continents, as he never left Macedonia out of fear that his son would seize power from him. In the meantime, Alexander continued to develop as a fierce warrior and military leader (Conroy, L.G, 2009). At the age of 20, Alexander assumed power after his father was assassinated. He traveled to Corinth for the assembly of the Greek league and was appointed as the supreme commander of all Greece. During this time, Thebans revolted, and Alexander destroyed everything in their city except for the temples.
This served as a reminder to other communities and tribes in Macedonia that Alexander was respected and honored. He then proceeded to conquer Asia Minor, utilizing his knowledge to plan and organize the army. During the Persian expedition, Alexander had over 100,000 soldiers in his army, but only a few of them actually fought. Alexander showed his appreciation for veterans by leaving them in charge of cities. He was a military genius who could rapidly adapt his army and make quick decisions. He was even willing to change his plan of action if the enemy changed theirs. For Alexander, it was not simply about numbers, but about leadership and strategic planning on the battlefield. Alexander was the first commander to utilize backup reserves, which greatly influenced future war strategies. Ultimately, Alexander emerged victorious over the Persians, demonstrating his unwavering dedication in battle alongside his soldiers.
According to Louis, W. R (1984), Alexander the Great conquered the Phoenician coast, Syria, and Egypt. The most crucial battle of his life occurred when he crossed over to India near the Indus River. Despite the challenging terrain, Alexander’s leadership in the army led to victory, resulting in India becoming a part of the Macedonian Dynasty.
During his reign as king of the empire, Alexander respected the traditions and culture of other people. However, this led to the spread of Greek culture and civilization in all territories under his leadership. He also opened previously closed regions and revolutionized warfare tactics and organization.
Achieving universal tolerance for all religions in the world, Alexander’s conquest of the wild Persia tribes allowed for a new era of peace, enabling people to move freely without fear. Additionally, he established cities and communication lines that facilitated trade between different regions (Mclean, D, 1979).
Unlike Eisenhower, who learned the art of war from humble beginnings, Alexander learned it from his parents and Aristotle. Furthermore, while the development of weapons of mass destruction was initially intended to prevent wars, it has instead become a significant problem.
The future military leaders can now be from diverse backgrounds, whether they come from poor urban areas or affluent quarters in our societies. The importance of exceptional leadership, exemplified by Alexander the Great, cannot be underestimated even with advanced technology. Consequently, many researchers have intensively studied Alexander’s experiences to understand the heart of warfare. One aspect that Alexander employed was psychological warfare against the Persians. For instance, he would keep them waiting all night for an attack that never came, utilizing this art of psychological warfare that still prevails today (Sekunda, N, 1992).
Furthermore, Alexander also prioritized training young people in military and Hellenistic culture to enhance the empire’s security. This practice is still common in many countries where compulsory military training ensures readiness in the event of war. Moreover, he introduced new farming methods in Egypt and Mesopotamia and redefined the government’s involvement in military affairs, finance, and civil administration. He demonstrated a willingness to dismiss those who proved unsuccessful or incompetent while implementing universal currency in Macedonia.
Exchange of ideas became easier with Alexander’s introduction of a single language and currency. Although his dream of world domination was not fulfilled during his lifetime, his ideals have been followed by many in both military and governance (Zeman, Z. & Scharlau, W, 1965). Alexander was undoubtedly the most successful warrior of his time and a distinguished general of the classical era. His battlefield triumphs have been studied and applied by numerous military groups worldwide. From the age of 16 until his death at 33, Alexander the Great never suffered a defeat in battle. It is clear that he possessed exceptional qualities in warfare, and aspiring military personnel can only achieve success by emulating his swift decision-making abilities, as he served as both commander and leader. Alexander’s reign extended over a vast empire, spanning from the Balkans to Northern India.
It is evident in this tale of Alexander that a well-trained and coordinated army, with disciplined leadership, is essential for victory. Alexander embraced the motto “united we stand, divided we fall” and recognized that division within an army hinders success. A divided army implies disobedience to instructions and cowardice, rendering it unable to triumph even in minor skirmishes. Adequate preparedness in terms of weaponry and manpower is also crucial for military triumph. As his father King Philip had done, Alexander dedicated considerable resources to strengthening his army for combat (Lonsdale, J.D., 2004). The companion cavalry exemplified cohesive units that promptly obeyed commands on the battlefield. By adapting the Greek phalanx style of warfare, Alexander created an incredibly strong fighting force. Many military leaders have achieved victory by modifying their enemies’ strategies in battle.
The army also employed siege weapons, which had been well known prior to Alexander. These weapons were not utilized indiscriminately but rather strategically at specific times during battle. The Macedonians launched both large arrows, which could target individual soldiers, and catapults that could release multiple stones simultaneously. In the 20th Century, many armies worldwide utilized missiles such as shrapnel, containing numerous lead bullets, capable of inflicting damage on multiple enemies at once instead of a single target. Alexander the Great’s use of catapults on the battlefield is comparable to 20th Century assault artillery. The Macedonian army was the first to be scientifically organized, similar to modern armies. Alexander’s leadership surpassed that of his father in terms of effectiveness. In addition to military advancements, Alexander employed tactical strategies to ensure victory for his army. The adoption of more advanced war tactics can be attributed to Alexander the Great. These advanced tactics are also evident in Alexander’s warfare, where decision-making is carefully deliberated upon and each decision can greatly affect the troops (Cary, M, 1932).
Alexander the Great’s Scythian war demonstrated the first effective use of conventional forces against enemies. The Scythians, much like terrorists in Afghanistan, lacked a fixed base and clear organizational structure or hierarchy. To weaken the hierarchy of the Persians, Alexander targeted their leader, Darius (Engdahl, W, 2004). These similarities allowed the Scythians to successfully defeat their enemies. However, Alexander employed a different strategy by utilizing tactics still used today. He understood that trapping the maneuverable enemy and forcing them into engagement would greatly weaken them. Since it was unlikely for the Scythians to fall into this trap, Alexander had to devise a new solution.
The second approach devised by Alexander was to limit the enemy’s forces to hamper their movements. To accomplish this, Alexander deployed a small cavalry force against the enemy. The Scythecians swiftly reacted and engaged the small group with their precise arrow shots. Meanwhile, Alexander advanced with his larger army to encircle them. Additionally, he divided his remaining cavalry into three groups and successfully cornered numerous enemies. This marked the ultimate downfall of the Sycthecians as their strategies were overcome by Alexander the Great’s superior tactics. In the current 21st century, the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan necessitates exceptional tactics. As a result, soldiers extensively study the techniques and tactics of Alexander the Great in warfare.
The war in Iraq and Afghanistan employed these tactics: enemy forces were dismantled in large training camps using air power and missile launches. Attacks were also carried out on fortifications to limit enemy mobility. By allowing the enemies to disperse in various directions, they were weakened. In Iraq, the American soldiers, along with Iraq forces, have similarly controlled the formation of these groups across the county (Behnke, A, 2007).
In conclusion, Alexander’s lessons and tactics continue to be utilized by armies worldwide when combating crime and terrorism. The knowledge gained from his experiences remains crucial, especially in this era of terrorism. Despite the passage of time, Alexander’s tactics and leadership qualities remain prominent in the minds of many. He is still regarded as one of the finest military leaders ever produced by the world, with his skills and strategies being widely embraced by military leaders and soldiers alike.
Additionally, these strategies have resulted in triumph in numerous global wars and battles. Although Alexander the Great, who achieved remarkable victories, did not fulfill his ambition of a unified world under a single ruler, he came closer to realizing his lofty aspiration than any other figure in history. The graves of both the Macedonian soldiers and their adversaries serve as silent testaments to these conquests (Dupuy, T, 1969).
