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17. the Young Alexander

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11/20/2011 L23. Alex as King HIST 225 Fall 2011 The Plain at Chaeronea Battle of Chaeronea Thebes and Athens Macedonians • 35,000 troops • 30,000 troops • 2,000 cavalry • After both sides fought bitterly for a long time. 1. Philip deliberately withdrew his troops on the right wing 2. untested Athenian hoplites followed him • creates gap between Athenians and Theban forces 3. Alexander rides into gap followed by Companions • screens Athenian and Theban lines 4. Philip then about-faces his forces to attack Athenian with great fury 1 11/20/2011 Chaeronea part 2 5. The Athenians unable to resist his Macedonian veterans. 6. After Athenian rout – Thebans isolated and surrounded – Of the famed 300-strong Sacred Band of Thebes, 254 fell on the field of battle, while 46 were wounded and captured. Battle of Chaeronea • http://www.youtube.com/user/johnmb76#p/ u/44/WQj1e78UDrQ 2 11/20/2011 Aftermath of Chaeronea • Theban Army was destroyed • most of the Theban Sacred Band (the 300 elite troops of Thebes) lay dead. • The Athenian army suffered a large loss as well. • Philip allows a monument to be erected in recognition of Theban bravery to commemorate their courage and self- sacrifice. • Now with hardly any soldiers left to defend central Greece, King Philip II of Macedon sent his 18-year old son Alexander to Athens to negotiate and bring an end to the fighting. Lion of Chaeronea "Perish any man who suspects that these men either did or suffered anything that was base". It was erected, according to Pausanias, by the Thebans in memory of their dead. Excavation of the tomb found 254 skeletons, laid out in seven rows. Aftermath of Chaeronea pt. 2 • The Athenian general, Lysicles, was later tried, found responsible for the defeat by the Athenian boulē and executed. • Philip offered to spare the poleis that fought against him that in return for providing him soldiers and financial support for invading Persia. • The Athenians, shocked by Philip's mercy, quickly agreed to the terms, as did the remainder of the poleis. 3 11/20/2011 League of Corinth Created by Philip after Chaeronea – lasted much longer than Delian or Peloponnesian Leagues and was successful – helped create a Greek ‘national entity’ – Stopped rivalry and warfare between poleis – Philip maintained garrisons and representatives from Macedon in key positions to maintain order • poleis armies would be commanded by Philip in an all-out war on Persia. – retaliate for the attack of the Persian king Xerxes – War formally declared in 337 – served to unite Greece Assassination of Philip October 336 BCE • The court had gathered for the celebration of the marriage between Philip's daughter Cleopatra and Alexander I of Epirus • 12 statues of Greek gods brought in and a 13th, Philip • While entering the town's theater unprotected (highlighting his approachability to the Greek diplomats present), Philip was killed by Pausanias, former member of his seven bodyguards. • The assassin immediately tried to escape and was pursued by three of Philip's bodyguards and killed • The “real” story much more juicy – lover’s quarrel 4 11/20/2011 Alexander ascends to the throne • Alexander crowned King of Macedon – Attalus was executed in Alexander's consolidation of power after the murder – Speculation that Alexander and mom Olympias were responsible for Philip (?) • Inherited the war in Asia: everything was ready: – strong economy – strong army – the boy had had a military education and knew something of the country he was about to attack. • Alexander was born for greatness. – first task was to secure his home base. Alexander after Chaeronea Alexander becomes king • After the assassination of Philip, Alexander ascends to the Macedonian throne • Kills political enemies as scapegoats • Needs to publically show that the “young” king has what it takes to succeed • Starts off with an invasion of Northern and Western tribes 5 11/20/2011 Preparations for War • After the assassination of Philip (336) the new king called the Thessalians to order – tried to revolt • organized a second conference at Corinth – received assurances from all Greek cities (except Sparta) that they would obey the treaty with Macedonia as if it had been concluded with Alexander. Problems caused by Philip’s Death • Counter-revolution in Asia Minor – Greek cities in Ionia make peace with Persia – Satraps waiting for Philip make peace with Darius III • Athens and Thebes try to overthrow “Macedonian yoke” – rumored Alex was killed as well. – Demosthenes is killed Alexander consolidates the North 335 Alexander attacked the Thracian tribes living in the north and the Illyrians to the west of Macedonia. • show of strength after Philip • Alexander's army -15,000 men- met fierce resistance, it was a very swift war. • He reached northern Bulgaria, crossed the Danube, defeated his enemies, continued to what is now Albania and defeated his enemies again. 6 11/20/2011 Sack of Thebes (335) • While Alex is north, Demosthenes tells Greeks that Alexander had died during the Illyrian campaign – provoked a rebellion in Greece. – Thebans besiege the Macedonian garrison stationed in their city • Immediately Alexander goes south • After a short siege, Thebes was stormed by phalanx battalion of Perdiccas: – town was razed to the ground, except for its temples and the house that had once belonged to the poet Pindar (wrote and ode to Alex) – 6,000 executed, 30,000 sold as slaves. The Death of Demosthenes • Alexander orders the capture of the troublemaker Demosthenes • He decides to take his own life rather than be arrested. Alexander meets Diogenes of Sinope (Διογένης ὁ Σινωπεύς) Diogenes (Cynic) taught that people should behave as simple as possible, almost like animals, because civilization brought complications and unhappiness John William Waterhouse, Diogenes (1882) Sydney Australia 7 11/20/2011 Alexander Invades Persia May 334 Alexander crossed Hellespont with a large army – Throws a “spear into Asia” • Visits Troy; He and closest friend Hephaestion take part in funeral games for the Homeric heroes Achilles and Patroclus – ancestor of Alexander; ancestor of Hephaestion • From the Trojan temple of Athena, the king took a sacred shield – saved Alexander's life in India Alex was not the first • The Anabasis of Xenophon – 10,000 trapped behind enemy lines and fight their way out of Persian Empire (401) • Spartan king Agesilaus had succeeded in capturing satrap capital of Sardis (359) • War was planned by his father Philip 8 11/20/2011 Pan-Hellenic Crusade • Games stages in Dium, Macedonia to honor the Muses Landing in Asia • propitiates Zeus on European side of Hellespont • throws spear “spear-won land” on Asian side – makes sacrifice to Protesileus, first Greek to be killed at Troy (Homer) Goes to Troy • Alexander sacrifices to Achilles and Ajax – Alex’s intimate Hephaestion sacrifices to Patroclus • dedicates armor to Athena – takes her shield (saves his life?) • Statue of Persian satrap found tipped over – good omen among the men What Alexander Shows Us • Constant feuding between poleis soured Greeks to the idea of localized independence – Kings were better (?) • Alexander also demonstrates a return to favoring Homeric/Heroic attitudes of individualism and bravery • Homeric themes would run throughout Alex’s career and those of his Successors 9 .
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