Alexander
Alexander the Great is renowned for uniting the known world under his leadership and has grown to mythical proportions in his leadership abilities and skill at arms. He was also a young ruler, brash, irreverent and narcissistic. His never ending lust to conquer new lands, his growing problems controlling his drinking and his relentless pushing of his army all contribute not only to illustrating personal character flaws but possibly to his death. In his young life Alexander was tutored by the great Grecian philosopher Aristotle. Aristotle is know for arguing that war is only acceptable in pursuit of peace, (Lainas) but Alexander focused for on the warlike studies offered by his educator, developing a passion for the works of Homer. He even took a copy of the Iliad with him on his campaigns. The Iliad is a chronicle of the hero's of the Trojan war, many of them flawed personalities such as the anger of Achilles. We can see from the start that Alexander desired battle and sought to make his name known throughout the world. When his father was murdered Alexander was crowned king of the Macedonians. Among his first royal orders were to kill his cousin, two Macedonian princes and the general of his advance army. He took brutal measures to ensure his regency went uncontested. When news of these murders, including the king's, became public two separate revolts happened and Alexander, to his credit, put them both down peacefully but with the threat of force. He surrounded the Thessalian army in their sleep and they had no choice but to surrender or be massacred and the Athenians sued for peace the moment he arrived. It seems he kept his empire through fear not skillful ruling. Alexander then set out to quiet similar but smaller rebellions along his frontiers, Thebes an Athens again decided to revolt. The Athenians again backed down at a show of force but the Thebans fought and for that their entire city was burned to the ground. In his campaign