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3/15/2012

Lecture 18: Young Alex

HIST 332 Spring 2012

Kingdom of • Natural resources – fertile soil, timber, precious metals, horses • Large population – 2x bigger than any in – potential for large army • Maintained a kingdom – similar to that seen in – “Heroic Monarchy”

Macedonian culture Retained archaic features: • Palace-culture at Pella resembles Homeric kingship • Multiple wives (political) – Epirote queen Olympias, mother of Alexander • Hereditary Monarchy – contrasted sharply with the Greek cultures further south, where city-states possessed oligarchic or democratic institutions • Feudal Institutions (serfdom)

1 3/15/2012

Philip II of Macedon

• King Perdiccas III has infant heir, but he is deposed by youngest brother Philip – made himself king • inherits a weak, divided kingdom • ushers in a period of Macedonian dominance of Greece. Philip II Macedon Glyptotek, Munich

Macedonian Army Reorganization

• creates Elite () – or private bodyguard – [Silver Shields] • creates “foot companions” – (pezhetairoi) – Philip had been a “hostage” in Thebes and witnessed Theban “Sacred Band” • Training and Funding – used his own money to pay citizens to serve in the army, provide weapons and armor – Took time to properly train his men

2 feet Macedonian with

16 feet

• 15-18 foot (head = 2 feet long) • sliced through shields and armor like a sword

• very effective against shield 8 feet

2 3/15/2012

New weapons and tactics

• Philip creates “Companions” hetairoi • incorporates former rivals nobles from Upper Macedonian into “” who grew up on horseback • primary offensive unit:

– divided into squadrons (ilai) • speed and height • punch holes in enemy formation • guard rear flanks of phalanx • Officers and political advisors – drink all night with King – fight the next day

Hypaspist

Innovations in Macedonian Army

Nearly invincible Macedonia phalanx (pezhetairoi) – armed with the famous sarissa and porpax shield – anchor of Macedonian line – lead by their own ethnic aristocrat • divided into six taxeis of 1500 men each – maneuverable and sub-dividable Elite infantry (Hypaspist) 3000 man brigade – heavy infantry like hoplite – “Silver Shields” after Hydaspes

3 3/15/2012

Elite Squad Hetairoi “Sleeping Friends”

Most important advisors – acted as a “court” – eat and slept near the King – personal protection and emergency reserve – fought all day/ drank all night

4 3/15/2012

Battle of Chaeronea

Thebes and 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 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

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.

5 3/15/2012

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 • 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

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.

6 3/15/2012

Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE)

Greek: Ἀλζξανδρος ὁ Μζγας or Μζγας Ἀλζξανδρος

son of Philip II and Olympias

King (basileus) of Macedon

He was one of the most successful military commanders of all time and is presumed undefeated in battle.

By the time of his death, he had conquered most of the world as known to the ancient Greeks

Alexander tames Bucephalus

Alexander on Bucephalus? Fresco on the "Tomb of Philip", Vergina

Alexander meets the Persian Ambassador

7 3/15/2012

Aristotle teaches Alexander

Jan Lievens, 1631

Prince Charles Louis with His Tutor, as the Young Alexander Instructed by

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

8 3/15/2012

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 ) 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 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. – is killed

Alexander meets of Sinope (Διογζνης 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

9 3/15/2012

Alex was not the first

• The Anabasis of – 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

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