Alexander The Great Rise To Power
Alexander the Great (356-323 BC), is known to most as king of Macedonia, conqueror of the Persian Empire, and one of the greatest military geniuses of all times. Alexander, born in Pella the ancient capital of Macedonia, was the son of Philip II, king of Macedonia, and of Olympias, a princess of Epirus. During the time or Alexander’s studies under his strict teacher, Leonidas, Alexander's tutor, Aristotle, gave him a thorough training in rhetoric and literature and stimulated his interest in science, medicine, and philosophy, to be ready to follow in his father’s footsteps.
When Alexander was ten years old, a Thessalian brought a horse of such quality to sell to Philip that it was labeled a prodigy. As it turned out, though, the horse was so wild that no man could mount him. Young Alexander, recognizing that the horse's own shadow was the source of its fear, went to the steed and turned him towards the sun. Upon doing so, the horse calmed down, and the young king easily mounted and rode him. His father and other people who saw this were very impressed; Philip kissed him with tears of joy and said "My son, seek thee out a kingdom equal to thyself; Macedon has not room for thee." This horse was named Bucephalus, meaning "ox-headed"—though there is the possibility that the name refers to the brand that denoted the horse's origin. Bucephalus would be Alexander's companion throughout his journeys, and was truly loved: when the horse died (due to old age, according to Plutarch, for he was already 30; other sources claim that Bucephalus died of wounds sustained in a battle in India), Alexander named a city after him called Bocephia or Bucephala.
Tragically, in the summer of 336 BC, Alexander’s father was assassinated at Phillips daughters wedding and thus Alexander was forced to the Macedonian throne. He soon found...
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