ALEXANDER TIIE GREAT (B.C. 356-323). King of Macedonia and conqueror of the Eastern world, son of Philip 11. of Macedon and of Olym pias, an Epirot princess. At Alexander's birth, his father had already established his position as King of Macedonia, had made great progress in developing his army, and had begun the extension of his kingdom to the eastward, so that he pos sessed the rich gold mines in Mount Pangfeus. The yearly revenue of 1000 talents made feasible his policy of expansion. Though a thoroughgoing Macedonian Philip was still possessed of genu ine Greek culture; doubtless, while a hostage at Thebes, he hail learned nmell besides military and political wisdom. Ho chose Aristotle as his son's tutor. How far the teacher infinenced the pupil we cannot determine: he undoubtedly gave him a thorough training in rhetoric and literature—he may have inspired that love for the Hellenie past which characterized Alexander later; but it is improbable that Alexander's far-reaching ambi tion for conquest gained the sympathy of Aris totle. In the summer of B.C. 336 Philip was assassinated; that the murder was instigated by Olympias, whom Philip had put away in favor of the niece of his general Attains, there is little doubt; and it is probable that Alexander was implicated in it. Philip had gained a remarkable position for a Greek ruler. lie had extended his empire eastward, had made Thrace tributary, and had tried to capture Byzantium. Thessaly was dependent on him; he had gained a place in the .Amphietyonie Council; and, by his victory at Clueronea (August, 33S1, he bad made himself the head of all Greece, a position formally recog nized by the Congress of States at Corinth in the following year. The greatest legacy, however, which he left his son was the large conception of a Panhellenic empire.
At his accession Alexander found himself su• rounded by enemies at home and threatened by dangers abroad. The subject States were plan ning to revolt, and Greece hated the Macedonian hegemony. But the hands of assassins cleared away his domestic enemies. With the greatest speed he descended to the south; before the sum mer closed he had Macedon's posi tion in lower Greece and had been elected by the Congress at Corinth to his father's place as gen eral against the Persians. The next year he speedily carried out a successful campaign against the defecting Thracians, and penetrated to the Danube. on his return he crushed in a single week the threatening 111yrians, and then hurried into Greece, for certain States had been negotiating with Persia. In September he razed Thebes to the ground, sparing only the house of the poet Pindar. This prompt action ended all
positive resistance in Greece and left Alexander free to enter on his eastern campaigns.
At the beginning of 334 he crossed to Asia Minor, where his generals had already gained a foothold. To secure Macedonia and Greece he bad been forced to leave behind a considerable portion of his army; only 30,000 foot and 5000 horse followed him, yet these were undoubtedly skilled veterans. His ships numbered but 160, which were so inadequate to combat the 400 gal leys of the Persians that he soon disbanded them. After visiting the site of ancient Troy and mak ing offerings there, he advanced in early summer to meet a Persian force at the river Granicus. He was victorious, and then proceeded to the con quest of Asia Minor. The prompt surrender of Sardis gave hint the satrapy of Lydia, and Mi letus soon fell. Haliearnassus resisted stubbornly for a tittle; but finally the defenders withdreW after firing the city. At the close of the sum mer's campaign Alexander marched into Lydia, which yielded at once and then advanced through Pamphylia and Pisidia to Celama) and Gordion, where with a stroke of his sword he loosed the famous knot and entitled himself to become the lord of Asia.
Gordion was the mustering point for the year 333. Alexander led his reassembled army first into Cappadocia, where he received the submis shm of Paphlagonia. and then advanced to the C'iliciau Gates.' By a ruse lie caused the hostile force here to retire and entered Tarsus unopposed. All Cilieia was soon secured. Thus in less than two summers the greater part of Asia Minor had been won and the first step taken in the plan of conquest. The next was to advance by way of Syria to the subjugation of Egypt ; this accom plished, Alexander could proceed against Babylon and Susa. But the Great King had assembled a vast host to cheek the invader. Battle was joined in the little plain of Issus, where the enormous numbers of the Orientals could not be employed to advantage. The day was decided by Alexan der's attack on that part of the line where Darius was in his war-chariot. The Great King turned and fled, while the Greeks drove all before them. The mother, wife, and children of Darius fell into Alexander's hands, but were treated by him with the respect due royalty. While this victory at Issus opened the way to Syria and Egypt, it was far more valuable to Alexander in the pres tige it gave him. Darius humbled himself to write, begging for the return of the royal cap tives and proposing to make a treaty of alliance. Alexander's reply was a stern command to come to him and offer submission.