The Greatest Speech in History (Alexander the Great)

Hello and Welcome , This episode is brought to you by "The Speech Of Alexander the Great", 

In a brilliant ten-year campaign, Alexander and his Macedonian Army conquered much of the known world, from Egypt to the Indus River. In 324 BC they returned to Opis, near modern Baghdad, where Alexander ordered some of his Macedonian veterans to return home. But angry at perceived insults to their honor, as well as Alexander's adoption of Persian customs... they mutinied. 

According to the Ancient Historian Arian, Alexander executed 13 ringleaders before confronting the army. Alexander's exact words are not known but modern historians believe Arian records the essence of a real moment of history, passed down by eyewitnesses.

The Speech Starts Now:- 

What I’m about to say isn't meant to stop you returning home. As far as I care, you can go wherever you wish. But I want you to know how you have behaved towards me, and how I have treated you. 

I’ll begin, as is right, with my father, Philip. When he found you, you were mere peasants, wearing hides, tending a few sheep on the mountain slopes, and you could barely defend them from your neighbors. 

Under him, you began living in cities, with good laws and customs. And he turned you from slaves into rulers over those very barbarians who used to plunder your land. He conquered most of Thrace, taking the best harbors so there was trade and prosperity, and put the mines to steady work.

The Thessalians - They used to terrify you! Well, we rule them now! The Athenians and Thebans, always looking for a chance to attack Macedonia, were so humbled – myself playing my small part in the war - that they no longer take tribute from Macedonia, but instead depend on us for their protection! My father went to the Peloponnese and put their house in order. Then he was declared supreme commander of all the Greeks for the campaign against the Persians – an honour not just for himself, but for all Macedonians.

My father went to the Peloponnese and put their house in order. Then he was declared supreme commander of all the Greeks for the campaign against the Persians – an honour not just for himself, but for all Macedonians. This is what my father Philip did for you. Great enough on its own – but small compared to what you’ve gained from me! 

I crossed the Hellespont, even though back then the Persians still commanded the sea. I defeated the satraps of the Great King Darius, and made you rulers of Ionia, Aeolis, Phrygia and Lydia, and took Miletus by siege. The rest of the land surrendered willingly, and their wealth became yours. All the riches of Egypt and Cyrene, which I won without a fight, are yours now. Syria, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Babylonia, all belong to you! The wealth of Lydia, the treasures of 

Persia, the jewels of India and the outer sea! You are now satraps. You are generals, and captains. What have I held back for myself, apart from this purple cloak and diadem? 

Nothing. No man can point to my riches - only the things I hold in trust for you all. And what would I do with them anyway? I eat what you eat. I get no more rest than you. Many times I spent the night on watch so that you could sleep soundly. Who among you believes he's worked harder for me than I have for him?! Come on! If you’ve got scars, strip and show them to me! I’ll show you mine. There isn’t one part of my body – the front, at least – that doesn't bear a wound. My body's covered in scars from every weapon you can think of – swords, arrows, stones, clubs.

All for the sake of your lives, your glory and your wealth. And yet here I still am, leading you, as conqueror of land and sea, rivers, mountains and the plains. We’ve celebrated our weddings together. Many of your children will be cousins of my own. 

I’ve paid off your debts, without asking how you got them, even though you’re paid well enough and pillage every city we take. Many of you wear golden crowns – badges of courage and honour given you by me.Any one of us who was killed, who met a glorious end, we buried with full honours. Many now stand immortalized by bronze statues in Macedonia. Their families are honored, and pay no taxes. 

Under my command, not one man has been killed fleeing the enemy.
And now I wanted to send back some of you who’ve been wounded or crippled, or have grown old, to be welcomed back home as heroes.
But since you all wish to go, then all of you – go! Go home and tell them that your king, Alexander, conqueror of the Persians, Medes, Bactrians, and Scythians; 

who now rules over the Parthians, Chorasmians and Hyrcanians as far as the Caspian Sea; who’s marched over the mountains of the Hindu Kush, crossed the Oxus and Tanais rivers, even the Indus – the first to cross it since Dionysus himself. I would have crossed the Hyphasis too if you hadn't cowered in fear…

… who sailed into the Great Sea from the mouth of the Indus, crossed the desert of Gedrosia, where no one had ever led an army. Who took Carmenia, while my fleet sailed the Persian Gulf…When you get home, you tell them that when you made it back to Susa, you abandoned him and went home, leaving him under the protection of the foreigners you’d conquered. Perhaps this report of yours will seem glorious in the eyes of men, and worthy in the eyes of the gods. Be gone!

After the speech, the Macedonian troops begged Alexander for forgiveness, leading to an emotional reconciliation between the king and his army. Alexander began to plan further conquests. But in Babylon, less than a year later, he succumbed to an unknown illness and died, aged just 32.

Well the Article is not finished yet , let talk about this great victorious's early life and education.... 

His early life and the Great tutor  (Aristotle):-

Alexander the Great, also known as Alexander III of Macedon, was the king of Macedonia from 336 to 323 B.C. He was the conqueror of the Persian Empire and is considered to be one of the greatest military geniuses of all times. Born as the son of Philip II, King of Macedonia, he spent his early years observing the administration of his father and witnessed how the king transformed Macedonia into a great military power. Brave and courageous from an early age, Alexander first displayed his prowess when he successfully tamed an unruly stallion when he was just 12. As a young boy he had the good fortune of being tutored by the great Greek philosopher, Aristotle, who imbibed in Alexander a love for knowledge and stimulated his interest in the fields of science, medicine, literature and philosophy. Alexander ascended the throne at the age of 20 following the assassination of his father. His father had been a great conqueror and being his son, Alexander was determined to take forward his legacy. He embarked on a series of extensive military campaigns and created one of the largest empires of the ancient world by the time he was 30.  

The Conqueror:-

In 15 years of conquest. Alexander never lost a battle. After securing his kingdom in Greece, in 334 B.C. Alexander crossed into Asia (present-day Turkey) where he won a series of battles with the Persians under Darius III. During his 13-year reign as the king of Macedonia, Alexander created one of the largest empires of the ancient world, stretching from Greece to northwestern India. Alexander the Great, a Macedonian king, conquered the eastern Mediterranean, Egypt, the Middle East, and parts of Asia in a remarkably short period of time. 

Families in ancient times could expect very high child mortality, but noble children who made it to adulthood could easily live into their 50s, or even past their 70s, so Alexander’s death was premature. He died in Babylon in 323 BC, Aged just 32.

This Article about the greatest speech in the history to his army, was the centre of our interest, that is why i could not through the light in detail on various aspects of Alexander's Life and his major accomplishments. But you would get them very soon.  

Regards

 

Mutiny: Refuse to obey the orders of a person in authority.