Alexander -- the Great Alexander, Who Was Term Paper

Alexander -- the Great

Alexander, who was the son of Phillip II, sat on the throne of Macedon when he was 22 years of age. Between his twenty third and thirty third birthday, in a period of ten years, he conquered most of the known civilizations of the world, from Indus to the Adriatic Sea. (Southern Utah University, 2005)

The history indicates that these conquests of Alexander became possible because of his remarkable personality and military genius. He is regarded as mystery to the world as he has not left behind any diary, formal discourse on the art of war or theory of monarchy. All the world has are some parts of his speech, fragments of his conversations and a number of stories that depicted his various abilities and hi intelligence. (Southern Utah University, 2005)

Alexander's biography tells the world very little about this man. His biography indicates that he could be charming by all accounts when it served his purpose. He is described as charming while he communicated with his soldiers, charismatic when he intended to impress someone and highly ruthless when cruelty was the best possible option. (Southern Utah University, 2005)

Alexander was favored by the society because of commendable intelligence, looks and confidence. According to Plutarch, as mentioned in the research of Southern Utah University (2005), 'He was fair and of a light color passing into ruddiness in his face. He carried his head tilted slightly towards his left shoulder, his eyes often looking up as if communing with some unseen presence.' (Southern Utah University, 2005)

It has been indicated by a number of studies that major motivators behind Alexander's power were his military expertise, great intellect and strategy development skills and his desire to control the world. (The Motivations of Alexander the Great: What motivated the famous general as he was conquering the world?, 2013)

Alexander's Military Expertise

The world that was left behind by Alexander regarded this great king as an exceptional military success. The successors of Alexander tried very hard to achieve the military expertise that was achieved by him but all of them failed. The Romans greatly respected his military powers and they also tried to achieve his glory. (Overtoom, 2011)

Alexander is regarded as one of finest military leaders who finely led the wars that took place before the advent of gun powder. The strategies and plans of Alexander were based on genius. Alexander was born as the successor of the throne of a kingdom that was located at the boundary of the Greek world. He deployed the military power developed by his father to conquer the Persian Empire and landed the flags of his empire on the Indus River. (Gabel and Willbanks, 2011)

Most Contagious Military Campaign

The battles of Alexander were masterpieces in tactical terms. The most commendable characteristic of Alexander as a military leader was that he very fluently used decisive and personal decision making and leadership skills at critical times in the battlefield. (Gabel and Willbanks, 2011)

Alexander the great is perhaps one of the most famous names in the history of the world. Some of the authors state that his name is synonymous with military glory. He conducted the most contagious and extended military operation of the history which extended for almost ten years. During the course of this campaign he conquered an area that stretched from east to west and then the Continental United States. (Gabel and Willbanks, 2011)

Alexander spent his entire adulthood, from the age of sixteen year to the age of thirty two, at war. He fought hundreds of battles against a large number of rivals who had expertise over a number of military practices and the most astonishing fact is that he won all these battles. (Gabel and Willbanks, 2011)

Personal Leadership Skills

His empire was the largest empire that was ever created in up till his time. He extended his reign over Western Civilization beyond the Indus River and the Himalayas. Beyond being courageous Alexander was also a 'soldier's soldier'. He was not a rigid leader and is known for making personal bonds with his soldiers. He shared the privations and hardships of his soldiers. (Gabel and Willbanks, 2011)

In addition to that, Alexander personally attended to the well being of his soldiers. He shared the spoils of the battle with his soldiers in a generous manner and shared their rough humor in an enthusiastic manner. These are the reasons due to which his soldiers held Alexander with great awe. However, only heroic personal leadership is not enough for the power and great conquest, Alexander also possessed other qualities as. These qualities, however, were not much romantic but they were necessary for Alexander's success. (Gabel and Willbanks, 2011)

Coup D'oeil

Alexander also possessed the ability which was termed as "coup d'oeil' by Fredrick. It is a French term which means 'glimpse' or 'the stroke of eye'. According to Frederick it can be defined as an intuitive ability to size up the tactical possibilities instantly, to think of their deployment and then timely use them as a military advantage. (Gabel and Willbanks, 2011)

Alexander's Strategy and Tactics

Alexander always led his army during the war and fought in the front line. According the historians Alexander was a great psychologist and he knew his men well. He was very well aware of the fact that his actions would motivate his soldiers, if not for any other reason, then to save their ambitious and head strong king. (Engels, 2013)

Alexander used the same tactics to fight against Persian force, which was slightly larger than Alexander's force and was waiting in the defensive form at the banks of the river Granicus. Alexander motivated his army in a very efficient manner and his actions persuaded his man to follow his trail and to stay behind him to protect their leader. (Engels, 2013)

The tactical secret behind Alexander's victories was that he showed no regard for his personal safety. In every battle that he fought during his 10-year military campaign, he followed this tactic. He studied the opposing army, organized his plan and at the right psychological moment he launched himself over the rival with an affirmative belief that his men will follow him. (Southern Utah University, 2005)

Alexander's body was marked by traces of wounds caused by swords and arrows. At moments, during the extensive military campaign, his soldiers became exhausted and begged to go home. At such moments Alexander used to step in front of his soldiers and stripped his armor off to show his wounds to his men and to motivate them to fight like him. (Southern Utah University, 2005)

The following passage from Alexander's speech clearly demonstrates the ways in which he used to motivate his military men. It also indicates that how he used to manipulate the emotions of his soldiers by using the themes of guilt and loyalty and by reminding them of their obligation towards the Macedon. (Southern Utah University, 2005)

As indicated in, as quoted in the research of Southern Utah University, while addressing his military men Alexander stated that, 'Philip found you vagabonds and helpless, most of you clothed with sheepskins, pasturing a few sheep on the mountainsides and fighting for these against the Illyrians and Thracians on your borders. He gave you cloaks to wear instead of skins? He brought you down from the hills and made you fearsome opponents of your enemies. He made you city dwellers and established the order that comes from good laws and customs. It is due to him that you became masters and not slaves of those barbarians who used to plunder your possessions and carry off your persons. I inherited from my father a few gold cups, and more debts than assets. I led you across the sea in the teeth of the Persian navy; I took Asia Minor and the cities of Phonecia. All the good things from Egypt which I took without striking a blow came to you. I have no part of my body, in front at least, that is left without scars? There is no weapon, used at close quarters, or hurled from afar, of which I do not carry the mark. I have been wounded by the sword, shot with arrows, struck from a catapault, smitten many times with stones and clubs -- for you, for your glory, for your wealth.' (Southern Utah University, 2005)

Alexander's Desire to Rule the World

Alexander! The conqueror of more than half the world was motivated by what? What were the reasons for his motivation and passion to fight and win have been argued over by many of the historians. Each of them came up with a set of reasons including saving the humanity, or the belief to bring peace and save the world, a few also concluded that he was a 'self-promoting tyrant' and fought because of his hunger for winning, etc. (Worthington, 1999)

But the most realistic reason for his drive and passion to fight and win…