Alexander the Great was a remarkable commander, warrior, and ambassador. His drive to conquer and reshape empires stemmed from his aspiration to disseminate Greek culture and language. Alexander’s ultimate goal was to unite humanity as a whole, which he tirelessly pursued through war, marriage, and persuasion (McCarty 9). Furthermore, he possessed intelligence and charisma as a leader, earning respect while seeking both transformation and glory.
To fully comprehend the narrative of Alexander the Great, it is essential to commence from the inception. According to bbc.co.uk, Alexander was born in July 356 BC in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia. His parents were Philip II of Macedon and Olympias. It is noteworthy that Olympias did not belong to Macedonian lineage, leading to myths surfacing after Alexander’s birth which suggested Zeus as his father. The family dynamics were tumultuous, with a strained relationship between Philip and Alexander. Philip even regarded Alexander as a “bastard” while referring to Olympias as a “whore” (Stone, Alexander). Consequently, Alexander formed his strongest emotional connection with his mother Olympias (Hammond 3).
According to Carney (27), the relationship between Olympias and her son was excessively close, to the point of being unhealthy. Olympias had a significant influence on Alexander, but her love for him bordered on obsession. In truth, Olympias was manipulative and ruthless towards everyone she encountered. As a result, these negative influences are evident in every aspect of Alexander the Great’s life. This clearly demonstrates the impact that relationships had on his entire story.
Despite facing many challenges, Alexander the Great did have some positive relationships. One notable relationship was with Aristotle, a renowned figure in Western philosophy. According to the source, Aristotle played a significant role in tutoring Alexander. As stated on the source website, Aristotle taught Alexander the importance of moderation and protecting individuals from abuse, emphasizing that the state should provide its citizens with liberty. The influence of Aristotle on Alexander was profound, shaping his future behavior.
In 336 BC, tragedy struck Macedonia as Philip, the King of Macedonia, was assassinated by Pausanias, his bodyguard. As Pausanias attempted to flee, he tripped over a vine and was subsequently killed by his pursuers, including Perdiccas and Leonnatus, who were companions of Alexander. This event marked a turning point for Alexander, as he witnessed the death of his father and immediately became the King of Macedonia at the young age of twenty. Swiftly, Alexander took action to secure his position by ordering the murder of Amyantas, a potential heir to the throne. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great) (McCarty 31).
Following Alexander’s lead, Olympias was implicated in the murder of Cleopatra, Philip’s wife, along with their daughter, whom she had both roasted alive (McCarty 31). This negative influence has been present in Alexander’s life since his birth, ultimately affecting him. It can be assumed that Olympias had authorized the assassination of Philip; however, no concrete evidence has been found.
