Assignment 02 CLSSOCN: Greek History Philip & Alexander Student Number: 34890963

Discuss the political state of Greece in 336 BC. How was Alexander able to secure his position as king of Macedonia and Hegemon of the Corinthian League is such short time.

336 BC, Philip II of Macedon, the man who rose Macedon from obscurity to the most powerful state in Greece lay dead, slain by an assassins blade. The death of this one man had major consequences, effects and complications which sent ripples through Greece that would never allow the Hellas to be the same again. Before his death, Philip managed with some success to create a loose federation of the Greek states, a major achievement at which the major Greek states Sparta, Athens and Thebes failed in previous years. Philip formed the Corinthian League out of the Greek states of which he was the Hegemon with the main aim of the old Greek dream of invading Persia and taking revenge upon the invasions by Darius and his son Xerxes so many years before.

Philip sent an invasion vanguard of 10 000 men under his most trusted general Parmenion to Asia, while he remained behind to consolidate his affairs in Greece and also for his daughter, Cleopatras wedding. It was at the wedding celebration that Philip was struck down by the assassin Pausanias. Philips son, Alexander III with support of much of the army and two of Philips most able generals, Parmenion and Antipater, ascended the throne. The Boy King as he was known, came to the throne at the most challenging circumstances, very much as his father did when he stepped forward to lead his country. At the death of Philip, the enemies of Macedon jumped at the opportunity and the future of the state once again seemed dim. It appeared that all of Philips efforts at rising Macedon to greatness, expanding the kingdom, unifying Greece and the Persian invasion were to be washed away by the blood of his death. Thrace, Philips hard earned tributary in the north rebelled and sought to break away from Macedon, the Illyrians descended once again upon Macedon to wreak havoc and revenge, and the cities of Greece too, sought to through off the yoke of what they perceived to be a not truly Greek state. To make matters worse for the young king, a prominent Macedonian nobleman, Attalus claimed regency to the throne and opposed the ascension of Alexander.

His first act was a show of force where he had the three sons of Pausanias executed and even had all the horses of the family killed. In his actions he clearly sent out a message of the consequences one would face for crossing Alexander.

Alexander refused to submit to any of his enemies, not paying any heed to his advisors in using diplomacy and to first consolidate his position, immediately turned his attention to Greece where the situation was most dire.

His first action was to quell the insurrection of Thessaly. The Thessalian cavalry played a prominent role in the Macedonian military machine and Macedons success depended much on her military, and thus, for Macedon to be the Archon of Thessaly was very important. It also stood between Macedon and southern Greece and Alexander could not move towards the southern states with an enemy behind him. Marching an army to Thessaly he found the gateway into the country blocked by a strong Thessalian garrison who held a very well defended position. When the young king asked the Thessalians for their support on the same terms as they have supported his father, the Thessalians mockingly responded that Alexander should asked them nicely first and

then they will consider it. Alexander, instead of storming the position decided to march to the coast and cut a path of steps into the Ossa Mountain and created a path which placed him behind the enemy. This unimaginable task and the speed with which he executed it caught the Thessalians completely off guard who promptly submitted to Alexander. The Thessallian Assembly voted Alexander the archon of Thessaly without him ever having to draw a sword. With Thessaly back in Alexanders hand the neighbouring states of Malis and Dolopia submitted as well without need of military action.

The road to Southern Greece was now open to Alexander who rapidly moved onwards without delay and at Thermopylae he was met by an embassy of the Amphictionic League. They recognized Alexander as member and head of the League. As head of the Sacred League, Alexander and so Macedon, held a political and religious position in the affairs of Hellas. The importance of holding this position is thus clear. Just as in the days of Philip, to be head of the Sacred League gave recognition to Macedon as a Greek state.

In Southern Greece, Athens at the death of Philip, openly defied the authority of Macedon by honouring Pausanias for his gruesome act, headed by Demosthenes who still opposed Macedon with vigor. She

even sent envoys to Attalus in Asia and to Persia requesting aid against Macedonia. Athens was on the warpath to fight the Macedonian tyrant but the speed with which Alexander arrived humbled her. In realising that Athens was in no way ready to stand against Macedon she quickly sent envoys to lay her allegiance at Alexanders feet. We see Alexander as a skilled diplomat by separating his personal feelings from the diplomatic needs of his country. Instead of punishing Athens for the disgraceful acts of dishonouring his fathers name, he immediately accepts the alliance and did not utter a word about Athens offences and even made a visit to Athens.

At Corinth the prominent Greek states met with Alexander and here he established much of his power by renewing the league established by his father. The League elected Alexander to his fathers former position as head of the League. He was now chosen as the general to lead the Greeks into Asia. In essence Alexander became the representative of Greece and it was at the head of this league that the spread of Hellenic culture would be carried to the corners of the known world.

The rapid speed with which Alexander descended upon Greece was miraculous. He caught Greece totally unprepared and managed to bring her under control without any bloodshed or violence.

Alexanders mother, Olympias played her role in the consolidating the power of her son by killing Caranus, the infant son of Philips new wife. In doing so she eliminated any future rival.

Attalus in Asia was dealt with by Parmenion, who had him executed and with the vanguard in Asia firmly under control of Parmenion, Macedon was secure once again in her internal affairs.

With the rebellion in Greece quelled Alexander could now turn his attention to the North. In Thracian country laid the gold mines of Macedonia which was the essential life blood of the Macedonian war machine. Alexander had to stomp out the resistance or lose the funds that allowed Macedon to rise from her humble beginnings. Alexander moved into Thrace against the Triballi who previously managed to check the efforts of Phillip. In reaching their territory Alexander faced a difficult obstacle. The Triballi occupied a mountain pass which was blockaded with war chariots, which they would roll down on the Macedonians should they come up the pass. There was no other way around and Alexander had to force the pass. He ordered his soldiers

to fall onto their knees and lock their shields together to form a shield wall once the chariots were rolled down the hill. The plan worked brilliantly as the chariots rolled harmlessly over the shields of the soldiers and the Macedonians were able to take the pass without losing a man. Once Alexander entered the Triballi land the hostile tribe moved in behind him and blockaded the passes in his rear. Alexander turned his army and fell upon the defenders and dealt them a severe defeat. The Triballi had sent their families to secure themselves on the island of Peuce, in the Danube, on the news of Alexanders arrival in their lands. Alexander now marched his forces to the Danube but found that the left bank of the Island was protected by Scythian, allied to the Triballi. He crossed the river under cover of darkness and dispersed the enemy at daybreak. The island surrendered to Alexander and the submission of all the southern tribes followed and Thrace was once again secured for Macedonia. Alexander now had to rapidly move to the north western border of Macedon as the invading Illyrians occupied a Macedonian fortress. He arrived on a force march but the Illyrians fled into the Fortress and soon their allies, the Taulantines arrived. Alexander safely, but with great difficulty retreated. That night he launched a devastating night attack upon the enemy and slaughtered a great many of them and the enemy

fled to the safety of the hills. The northern borders of Macedon were once again safe but Alexander was not allowed any rest for news had arrived that trouble was stirring in Greece once again. The new Persian King, Darius III realised the dangers that Macedon posed to his empire and sent much gold to the way of Greece inciting rebellion among the city-states in the hope to delay Alexander in Europe.

Athens publicly denied the funds but in secret Demosthenes, ever-hating of Macedonia, took the funds with the idea of rebellion.

Rumour struck that Alexander had fallen in his northern campaign against the Thracians and Greece saw a pretext and another chance to discard the Macedonian Yoke. Thebes took the lead in the Rebellion and blockaded and besieged its Macedonian Garrison in the citadel. Elis, Aetolia and the Arcadians all moved against Macedonia and Athens sent aid in forms of money and arms to support Thebes.

The Thebans were very surprised to see the young King camped outside their city not long after the news of his death. It took Alexander mere thirteen days to march his soldiers a staggering 250 miles across broken

terrain. Again Alexander caught Greece unprepared and the Theban besiegers found themselves besieged and the rest of Greece unable to come to their aid.

Alexander desperately did not want to start a war with the city-states and again tried diplomacy, this time it failed. He proclaimed that any Theban who wanted to pledge his allegiance to Alexander would be welcomed into his camp. The Thebans replied that any Macedonian wanting to renounce his king and join the Thebans in freeing Greece from Macedonian tyranny, would be welcomed into Thebes. Alexander suffered the insult in the hopes that the city would still surrender but his hand was forced by one of his officers who attacked the Theban earthworks without orders. Alexander sent aid and managed to push the Thebans back though a hard struggle.

With the defeat of the Theban forces a terrible slaughter followed as Alexanders allies, the Boeotian people fell upon the inhabitants of the unfortunate city, exacting revenge for past wrongs under Theban dominion. 6000 Thebans fell under the blade of the besiegers before the bloodshed was stopped by Alexander.

Alexander now assembled the members of the Corinthian League and together they would decide the fate of Greece. This was a clear political stroke of genius. In assembling the members of the League he demonstrates that the League is not run by a tyrant but that it is of a democratic nature run by free Greek men. Alexander knew all to well the importance of the ideal of liberty in the Greek world and played well on it. The League voted harshly against the ancient City of Seven Gates. Many of the members who supported Thebes in the rebellion voted against her now in fear of Alexander. The judges announced that Thebes should be leveled to the ground with the exception of the house of Pindar, its people sold into slavery and a Macedonian garrison placed in the Cadmean citadel. Thebes lands were divided among the members of the League.

The destruction of Thebes sent a clear message that Alexander was here to be taken seriously and not to be crossed. It checked all thoughts in Greece of further rebellion.

Alexanders campaigns in Europe took but a year and through these he consolidated his power and secured the Hegemony of Macedon over Greece.

In Alexanders campaigns in Europe we see a genius of strategy and a man with insight. This is evident right from the start. Instead of listening to his advisors he dashed forth on a bold campaign into Greece. The speed with which he descended upon Greece gave her no chance to prepare any real defense for herself and could thus not resist Alexander. The rapid speed of the young king saved Greece from war and in essence from tearing itself apart. It was by being a great tactitioner (is strategist nie die korrekte woord nie?) that Alexander subdued Greece and not through bloodshed. A war with Greece would have tied Alexander down for a long time, depleted her resources in manpower and gold. Such a war would have created much bitterness and resentment between Greece and Macedon and thus a more divided Hellas. Looking at these factors we see the strategic and diplomatic importance of Alexanders decent into Greece. If Alexander took more time to consolidate his position back home or was caught up in a war with a more prepared Greece, the Persian invasion would most likely not have happened and history would have been very much different from what it is today.

Alexanders military genius again shows in his Northern Campaigns where his superior tactics and ingenuity defeats the enemy.

Alexander also demonstrates that he is a cunning diplomat; the Greek states especially Athens offended him more than once, became his enemy and publicly denied his authority. Instead of punishing them he reconciles with them after he humbled them. He showed that he was merciful and this improved his relations with the Greek states which he desired so to unify. We also saw the importance of the fate of Thebes not decided by him but through a democratic election, reinforcing that the Greeks are free men governed by their own laws.

Alexander also demonstrated that he could be ruthless if need be. The execution of the sons of his fathers assassin served as a message throughout Macedon not to cross Alexander. Then the destruction of Thebes sent a clear message throughout Greece, on the fate of those who crossed him and in doing so quelled all rebellion in Greece.

We also see some external factors aiding in his consolidation of his power in Macedonia. First the two loyal generals of his father, Antipater

and Parmenion who introduced him to the army troops and won over their hearts for Alexander. Parmenion also dealt with Attalus, his own family member, who he had executed for treason against Alexander. Secondly, Alexanders mother who had Philips youngest son murdered and in doing so wiped out any future threat to Alexanders position.

Alexander thus secured his position and consolidated his power as king of Macedon and Hegemon of the Corinthian League through his genius in military tactics and strategy, his skills as a diplomat and statesmen and the ability of being ruthless when need be along with the support of family and friends.