Royalty.nu - Alexander the Great, King of Macedon Royalty.nu > World Royalty > Europe > Balkans > Alexander > Books About Alexander · Videos & DVDsSearchAlexander the GreatAlexander's ChildhoodAlexander the Great's father, Philip, was the brother of King Perdiccas III of Macedon or Macedonia, in northern Greece. In 359 B.C., King Perdiccas died. His young son Amyntas was expected to succeed him, with Philip as his regent, but Philip usurped his nephew's throne, making himself King Philip II. He proved to be a strong ruler, and in a few decades he conquered most of Greece.Philip's wife was Olympias, daughter of King Neoptolemus I of Epirus, which was located in what is now southern Albania and northwest Greece. Their son Alexander was born in 356 B.C. Alexander had a younger sister, Cleopatra (not the famous Egyptian queen).Unfortunately for Alexander and Cleopatra, their parents hated each other. In keeping with Macedonian tradition, Philip had several lesser wives, and Olympias regarded these other women and their children with great animosity. When one of her rivals gave birth to a retarded son, Philip Arridaeus, it was rumored that Olympias had caused his disability with poison. Olympias told Alexander that Philip wasn't his real father, but this probably wasn't true. Philip certainly seems to have believed that Alexander was his son. He made sure the boy was well educated; the great philosopher Aristotle was one of Alexander's tutors. But Philip wasn't a particularly kind father. Alexander had a high-pitched voice, and Philip once told him that he should be embarrassed by it.In his childhood or teens Alexander became friends with a handsome boy his age named Hephaestion. It is possible that they were lovers. All that is known for sure is that Alexander and Hephaestion remained devoted to each other throughout their lives.A Bold and Angry PrinceWhen Alexander was 16 his father went away to war, leaving Alexander to serve as regent of Macedon. But things were tense between father and son.Alexander was prone to temper tantrums. One of them took place at a feast held to celebrate his father's marriage to his fifth wife. The bride's uncle, Attalus, toasted the couple, saying that he hoped his niece would give birth to a legitimate heir to the throne. "What about me? Am I a bastard?" Alexander shouted, hurling his goblet at Attalus. Attalus threw his own goblet back and a general brawl ensued, during which Alexander and his father snarled at each other. History does not record what they said, but it was enough to enrage Philip. He pulled his sword, lunged at Alexander - and fell drunkenly to the floor. "Look, men," Alexander sneered, "he's about to cross from Europe to Asia, and he falls crossing from couch to couch." (Philip was planning to invade Asia Minor.)After this incident Alexander and his mother left Macedon. Later they reconciled with Philip and returned home, but Alexander continued to mistrust his father. When Philip arranged for his retarded son Arridaeus to marry the daughter of a Persian satrap (governor), Alexander feared that this meant Philip intended to make Arridaeus his successor. In a panic Alexander secretly schemed to marry the satrap's daughter himself. Philip learned of the plot and placed Alexander under house arrest. He banished all of Alexander's friends, except Hephaestion, from the kingdom, and decided to divorce Olympias, who had encouraged the plot. He placated Olympias's brother, the king of Epirus, by giving him Cleopatra's hand in marriage, despite the fact that Cleopatra was the king's niece.In celebration of this marriage a great festival was arranged. An opening ceremony was to be held in a theater. As Philip was entering the theater he was stabbed in the heart by the captain of his bodyguard, Pausanias. The assassin fled across a vineyard behind the theater, and might have gotten away if his foot had not been snagged by a vine. He fell and was killed at once by three of the king's bodyguards. Not surprisingly, many people suspected that Olympias and/or Alexander had played some part in Philip's death. Many historians believe Olympias and Alexander were innocent.King and ConquerorAfter his father's murder in 336 B.C. Alexander became King Alexander III. He had several rival claimants to the throne executed, including his cousin Amyntas, whose throne Philip had usurped. However, he spared the life of his retarded half-brother, Arridaeus. Olympias, too, rid herself of enemies. Philip's last bride had given birth to her second daughter, and Olympias is said to have had the child killed in the mother's presence before forcing the unhappy woman to hang herself.Alexander became king when he was twenty years old. He was an exceptionally handsome man who set a fashion for the clean-shaven look. Although he was a heavy drinker, his health was excellent and he was very athletic. He enjoyed reading, music, and the theater. He was intensely loyal to his friends and the men he led. And he was, of course, a brilliant general.Soon after taking the throne Alexander proceeded with Philip's planned war on Persia. In a few years he conquered most of Asia Minor. He was called "Lord of Asia," a title he had chosen for himself.Because Alexander wanted the Persians to accept him as their leader, he tried to treat them fairly. But his impulsiveness, caused by his bad temper and hard drinking, sometimes got in the way of his good intentions. According to one account Alexander decided to sack the Persian city of Persepolis after a courtesan suggested it at a drunken party. The city and its palace were reduced to rubble. The king of Persia, Darius III, fled from Persepolis and Alexander pursued him. Darius appealed to a satrap named Bessus for help, but Bessus and his allies killed Darius, possibly at Darius's request. Alexander brought Darius's body back to the ruins of Persepolis and gave him a grand funeral. Then he had Bessus hunted down, publicly flogged, and executed for Darius's murder.Alexander's attempts to appease the Persians, along with his increasing power and ego, antagonized some of the men around him. The son of one of his most trusted generals became involved in a plot to assassinate him. Although the general had no part in the conspiracy, he was executed along with his son, which did not please Alexander's soldiers. The general's successor insulted Alexander at a party and Alexander killed him on the spot.In 327 B.C. Alexander captured a group of rebels and fell in love with the chief's daughter, Roxane. They were married and Roxane soon became pregnant, but the child was stillborn. Due to his constant campaigns Alexander had little time to spend with his wife, and it was four years before she became pregnant again. After marrying Roxane, Alexander invaded India and conquered much territory there. Following one bloody battle (which his forces won) his men refused to go any further. Reluctantly Alexander agreed to turn back. He attacked many cities on the march home; during one battle he took an arrow in the chest and almost died.In the winter of 325-324 he returned to Persia. Finding that several of his governors had abused their authority in his absence, he had them executed. To promote harmony between his people and the Persians he ordered eighty of his most important men to marry highborn Persian women in traditional Persian wedding ceremonies. He himself married King Darius's daughter, who was named either Barsine or Stateira (he was still married to Roxane). His best friend, Hephaestion, married Barsine's sister Drypetis. Alexander also began promoting Persians to high ranking positions in his army, saying that Persians and Macedonians should share the empire. His efforts to create unity failed; even the marriages between his men and the Persians mostly broke up after Alexander's death. But Alexander was not forgotten in Persia. He was remembered as Sikander or Iskander and was called Dhul Quarayn, or "theTwo-Horned," possibly because he was once depicted on a coin wearing a helmet with horns.In the fall of 324 Alexander's beloved friend Hephaestion died. Alexander was heartbroken. The following summer Alexander too became ill, and on June 13 he died in Babylon. He was 32. Modern historians have long suspected that he died from malaria, but recently it has been suggested that the culprit was typhoid fever.The DiadochiRoxane was pregnant when Alexander died. It is possible that Barsine was also pregnant, which may explain why Roxane dealt with Barsine so ruthlessly. After Alexander's death Roxane sent a letter to the Persian princess in Alexander's name, bidding Barsine to come at once to Babylon. When Barsine and her sister Drypetis arrived in Babylon, Roxane had them murdered and their bodies cast into a well. Roxane gave birth to a son, Alexander Aegus, who became King Alexander IV. Alexander the Great's retarded half brother, Arridaeus, was his nephew's co-king until Olympias had Arridaeus murdered. One of Alexander's generals, Perdiccas, was the kings' first regent.The empire was soon torn apart by the power struggles of Alexander the Great's former advisors and generals, collectively called the Diadochi (Greek for "successors"). In 321 Perdiccas was killed by mutinous soldiers and replaced as regent by his rival Antipater. In 319 Antipater died and was succeeded as regent by Polyperchon, who was quickly ousted by Antipater's son Cassander.Olympias had been opposed to Antipater's regency and she tried to oppose his son. In 317 she made herself regent, but Cassander overthrew her. His soldiers couldn't bring themselves to kill the mother of Alexander the Great, so Cassander turned Olympias over to some vengeful relatives of people she had murdered, and they executed the queen.In time Roxane and her son were also killed by Cassander, who became the king of Macedon in 305 BC. Alexander Aegus was thirteen when he died. Nothing else is known about him.Jump to Top of Page Books About Alexander the GreatUnless otherwise noted, these books are for sale at Amazon.com. Your purchase from Amazon or Alibris through these links will help to support the continued operation and improvement of the Royalty.nu site. (Note: Some links below may not be visible if you are using the ad-blocking feature of Norton Personal Firewall.)Book Categories: New, Alexander, Death, His Father, Fiction, Ancient Sources, Analysis of Sources, Military, His World, Wall Map, Macedonia, Greece, Children's Books, VideosNew Books About Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great at War: His Army - His Battles - His Enemies by Ruth Sheppard. Examines all of Alexander's campaigns, describing his armies, generalship, and tactics. With numerous maps, photographs, and full-color artwork. Published in May 2008.Alexander the Great Failure: The Collapse of the Macedonian Empire by John D. Grainger. According to the author, Alexander's arrogance caused his own premature death and the destruction of his empire. Published in February 2008.The Conquests of Alexander the Great by Waldemar Heckel. Emphasizes the aims and impact of Alexander's military expeditions, as well as the political consequences. Published in November 2007.Alexander the Great BiographiesAlexander the Great: Legacy of a Conqueror by Winthrop Lindsay Adams. Biography.Alexander the Great: Journey to the End of the Earth by Norman F. Cantor. This biography draws from the writings of Alexander's contemporaries and recent psychological studies to show Alexander as he was -- a great figure whose puzzling personality fueled his military accomplishments.Alexander the Great: The Hunt for a New Past by Paul Cartledge. Tells Alexander's life story and explains explains why he is endlessly fascinating.Alexander the Great by Nigel Cawthorne. Biography featuring a chronology, full index, and striking color illustrations.Alexander the Great by Lewis V. Cummings. Comprehensive biography of a brilliant and tyrannical leader.Alexander: The Conqueror: The Epic Story of the Warrior King by Laura Foreman. Introduces Alexander's family, the personalities of his generals, and the lands he conquered. Examines Alexander as student, friend, lover, military genius, and emperor, and explores unsolved mysteries about his life. Illustrated.Alexander the Great by Robin Lane Fox. Biography that focuses on the real, living Alexander, an impatient man of passionate ambitions. Alexander of Macedon 356-323 B.C.: A Historical Biography by Peter Green. Examines Alexander as both a great general and a complex individual.The Genius of Alexander the Great by N. G. L. Hammond. Reveals the Macedonian conqueror as a man truly deserving of the title Alexander the Great.Alexander: The Ambiguity of Greatness by Guy MacLean Rogers. In his day he was revered as a god; in our day he has been reviled as a mass murderer. This biography sifts through history and myth to uncover the truth about this complex genius.Alexander the Great: The Invisible Enemy by John Maxwell O'Brien. A biography which presents Alexander as an alcoholic whose drinking had a profound impact on his life.The Nature of Alexander by Mary Renault. A biography that examines Alexander's character and motives.Alexander the Great: Man and God by Ian Worthington. Account of Alexander's colorful but ultimately destructive life.Alexander: Invincible King of Macedonia by Peter G. Tsouras. Biography from the Brassey's Military Profiles series.Alexander the Great by Ulrich Wilcken. A study of Alexander the Great as a conqueror. Focuses on Alexander's achievements and influence.Alexander the Great: Son of the Gods by Alan Fildes and Joann Fletcher. A biography based on the latest theories and discoveries about the Macedonian king. Among the topics covered are Alexander's relationship with his father, the influence of his mother, his brilliant leadership, and his daily life. Illustrated. Out of print, but available from Alibris.Alexander the Great by William W. Tarn. Classic biography, published in 1948. From Alibris.Alexander the Great: Volume 2, Sources and Studies by W. W. Tarn. Detailed analysis of the sources and discussion of Alexander's life.Alexander the Great: A Life in Legend by Richard Stoneman. Drawing on earlier biographies and newly unearthed evidence, this book reveals Alexander as a brilliant and ruthless commander who came to believe in his own myth.More Books About AlexanderConquest and Empire: The Reign of Alexander the Great by A. B. Bosworth. Explores the process and consequences of Alexander's campaigns, focusing on the effect of his monarchy upon the world.Envy of the Gods: Alexander the Great's Ill-Fated Journey Across Asia by John Prevas. Few people know the full story of Alexander's decline and fall as he sought to bring the most remote areas of the Persian empire under his control. The author personally retraced of much of Alexander's route through what is now Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.Alexander's Tomb: The Two-Thousand Year Obsession to Find the Lost Conquerer by Nicholas Saunders. Despite the popular fascination with Alexander the Great, we have no idea where he is buried. The search for his tomb began soon after his untimely death in 323 BC and continues even today.Alexander the Great in Fact and Fiction edited by A. B. Bosworth and E. J. Baynham. Ten essays by leading scholars in the field of Alexander studies.Alexander the Great and the Mystery of the Elephant Medallions by Frank L. Holt. Explores how Alexander promoted the perception that he enjoyed divine favor and commanded even the forces of nature against his enemies.In the Absence of Alexander: Harpalus and the Failure of of Macedonian Authority by Christopher Blackwell. Harpalus was a childhood friend of Alexander who became the king's treasurer. He embezzeled from the treasury and fled to Greece, where he was eventually murdered.The Legend of Alexander the Great on Greek and Roman Coins by Karsten Dahmen. Examines portraits and representations of Alexander on ancient Greek and Roman coins (c.320 BC to AD 400).The Wisdom of Alexander The Great: Enduring Leadership Lessons From the Man Who Created an Empire by Lance B. Kurke.The Life of Alexander the Great As Narrated by King Alfonso X, edited by Joseph Abraham Levi. Biography of Alexander by a Spanish king.Alexander the Great: The Man Who Brought the World to Its Knees by Michael Alvear. Humorous account of Alexander the Great, his boyfriends, his tendency to sulk, and his drama queen inclinations. Filled with examples from Alexander's life to show Alexander in a new light.The Death of AlexanderDeath of Alexander the Great: What or Who Really Killed the Young Conqueror of the Known World? by Paul Doherty. Did Alexander die of alcoholism, a hideous bout of malaria, or were other factors involved?Alexander the Great: Murder in Babylon by Graham Phillips. Presents forensic evidence that Alexander was poisoned by a member of his court. The author discusses eight prime suspects, uncovering a maze of sexual intrigue and tragedy.The Lost Tomb of Alexander the Great by Andrew Chugg. The disappearance of the tomb of Alexander the Great is a tantalizing mystery. This book combines a detailed chronological account of the tomb's history with new discoveries. Out of print, but available from Alibris.Books About Philip of MacedonBloodline of Kings: A Novel of Philip of Macedon by Thomas Sundell. Novel about Alexander the Great's father.More Books About Philip of MacedonNovels About Alexander the Great  Fire From Heaven by Mary Renault. A novel about Alexander's youth by a talented, entertaining, and meticulously accurate writer. Definitely worth reading.The Persian Boy by Mary Renault. Novel about the adult Alexander's relationship with a eunuch who was his servant.Funeral Games by Mary Renault. Novel about what happened after Alexander's death. His heirs were two unborn sons and a simpleton half-brother. Wives, distant relatives, and generals vied for the loyalty of the Macedonian army.Empire of Ashes: A Novel of Alexander the Great by Nicolas Nicastro. The great Alexander is dead. Machon - the late emperor's friend - is being scapegoated for his downfall. On trial for his life, Machon tells his accusers the tragic truth behind Alexander's rise and fall.Alexander: Child of a Dream by Valerio Massimo Manfredi, translated by Iain Halliday. First novel in a trilogy about Alexander's life. Followed by the sequels Alexander: The Sands of Ammon and Alexander: The Ends of the Earth.The Virtues of War: A Novel of Alexander the Great by Steven Pressfield. Plunges the reader into battle with Alexander the Great, providing a glimpse into the mind of history's greatest conqueror, and plenty of authentic detail about ancient warfare. Little attention is given to Alexander's life off the battlefield, but this book is a treat for fans of military fiction.The Afghan Campaign: A Novel by Steven Pressfield. Military fiction. Matthias, a young infantryman in the army of Alexander the Great, tells the story of Alexander's invasion of the Afghan kingdoms in 330 B.C.The Conqueror by Judith E. French. A romance novel about Alexander the Great and his bride Roxanne.Bring Down the Sun by Judith Tarr. Fantasy novel based on the life of Olympias, mother of Alexander the Great.The Godless Man by P. C. Doherty. Alexander the Great's personal physician solves a murder mystery.A Murder in Macedon: A Mystery of Alexander the Great by Anna Apostolou. A novel in which Alexander investigates his father's death. Out of print, but available from Alibris.Ancient Writings About AlexanderAlexander the Great: The Brief Life and Towering Exploits of History's Greatest Conqueror edited by Tania Gergel. Selections from the writings of Alexander's original biographers -- Arrian, Plutarch, and Quintus Curtius Rufus -- with an introduction on Alexander's legacy by Michael Wood.The Campaigns of Alexander by Arrian, translated by Aubrey De Selincourt. Arrian was a second century Greek historian whose work about Alexander, Anabasis, was based on the writings of two of Alexander's generals.The History of Alexander by Quintus Curtius Rufus, translated by John Yardley, is a classic account of Alexander's life.Justin: Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus: Books 11-12: Alexander the Great by Marcus Junianus Justinus, translated by John Yardley. The first authoritative English translation and scholarly commentary on a little known but important ancient historical source: the second/third century Roman historian Justin's abridged version of the Philippic History by Pompeius Trogus (27 BC-AD 14). This book covers books 11-12 and represents one of the five major sources for historians on the life and times of Alexander the Great.Plutarch's Lives: Demosthenes and Cicero, Alexander and Caesar by Plutarch. Plutarch was born around 46 A.D. His work Parallel Lives contrasts the lives of great Greeks and Romans. This volume contains his biography of Alexander, whom he compares to Caesar.The History of Alexander the Great by C. A. Robinson provides translations of the extant historians bound with the ephemerides of Alexander's expedition.Alexander the Great: Historical Texts in Translation by Waldemar Heckel and J. C. Yardley. New translations of the most important ancient writings on Alexander, arranged so that the reader can compare different reports of the same events.Analysis of Ancient SourcesAlexander the Great: The Unique History of Quintus Curtius by Elizabeth Baynham explores the motivations of ancient writers about Alexander.From Arrian to Alexander: Studies in Historical Interpretation by A.B. Bosworth. Bosworth is also the author of A Historical Commentary on Arrian's History of Alexander (Volume 1), and A Historical Commentary on Arrian's History of Alexander (Volume 2).Alexander the Great: A Reader edited by Ian Worthington. A guide for undergraduates showing the problems of the ancient source material on Alexander. The 11 thematic chapters contain a broad selection of the most significant published articles, and translate a substantial number of the more inaccessible primary sources.Three Historians of Alexander the Great by N. G. L. Hammond. Provides an in-depth study of the three earliest accounts of Alexander the Great, showing that the authors used multiple and varied sources.Sources for Alexander the Great: An Analysis of Plutarch's Life and Arrian's Analasis Alexandrou by N.G.L. Hammond.Books About Alexander as a Military LeaderAlexander: A History of the Origin and Growth of the Art of War from the Earliest Times to the Battle of Ipsus, 301 BC by Theodore Ayrault Dodge. A classic of military history.Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army by Donald W. Engels.The Generalship of Alexander the Great by J. F. C. Fuller.Alexander the Great, Killer of Men by David J. Lonsdale. Explores Alexander's military strategy and fighting techniques.Alexander the Great: His Armies and Campaigns 334-323 BC by Nick Sekunda and John Warry. Sekunda is also the author of The Army of Alexander the Great.Alexander 334-323 BC: Conquest of the Persian Empire by John Warry.The Macedonian Empire: The Era of Warfare Under Philip II and Alexander the Great, 359-323 B.C by James R. Ashley. Examines the 11 great armies and three great navies of the era, along with some of their operations and logistics, and each campaign and significant battle fought by Phillip and Alexander. (This review © Amazon.com.)Into the Land of Bones: Alexander the Great in Afghanistan by Frank L. Holt. Alexander led the most sophisticated army of its day into the treacherous world of Afghanistan's tribal warlords. This book describes those grueling campaigns and the impact they had on Alexander, his generals, their troops, and the world.Books About Alexander's WorldAlexander the Great in His World by Carol G. Thomas. Places Alexander within the context of his time, place, culture, and ancestry to discover what influences shaped his life and career.Who's Who in the Age of Alexander the Great: Prosopography of Alexander's Empire by Waldemar Heckel. Contains over 800 concise biographies, from leading commanders in Alexander's army to the nobles and regional leaders of the Persian empire.Cities of Alexander the Great by P. M. Fraser. Alexander founded a great many cities, including Alexandria in northern Egypt.In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great: A Journey from Greece to Asia by Michael Wood. Filmmaker and journalist Michael Wood has retraced Alexander's journey - by car, on horseback and camel, by boat, and on foot. The documentary is also available.Alexander. Colin Farrell plays Alexander the Great and Angelina Jolie plays his mother(!) in this 2004 movie directed by Oliver Stone.Alexander the Great: Battle of Issus. Re-enactment of the battle. Sometimes available at Amazon.Alexander the Great. 1956 movie starring Richard Burton, Frederic March, and Claire Bloom.More Videos & DVDs About Royalty and HistoryRelated TopicsBalkan RoyaltyGreek RoyaltyJulius CaesarWilliam the ConquerorPersian Royal HistoryWorld Royal HistoryOther WebsitesAlexander the GreatAlexander the Great on the WebALEXANDER THE GREAT, Project by JJPAlexander the Great Web SiteAlexander of MacedonPhilip of MacedonAlexander's Tomb Alexanderstomb.comArrian, Events After AlexanderFour Stories of Prince AlGayheroes.com: Alexander the GreatThe Great Homepage of AlexanderNot Philip II of Macedon (about royal tomb)Philip, Demosthenes, and AlexanderExplore the World of Royalty at Royalty.nuHome · Countries · Royal History · Royal News · Royal Books · Genealogy · Search© Copyright 1998-2008 by Cinderella.All rights reserved.You are viewing http://www.royalty.nu/Europe/Balkan/Alexander.html_qacct="p-f3Bq2vOhY00wA";quantserve(); |
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