The Ancients

Alexander the Great | Rise to Power

February 5, 2026

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  • The early life and story of Alexander the Great are heavily mythologized, making it difficult for historians to separate fact from fiction, especially concerning events before his rise to prominence. 
  • Macedonia, where Alexander was born, occupied a peripheral and often contested position between the established Greek city-states and the 'barbarian' peoples to the north, a context crucial to understanding Philip II's consolidation of power. 
  • Alexander's development as a leader was shaped by his aristocratic Macedonian upbringing, which emphasized martial prowess and kinship bonds (Hetairoi), and his tutelage under Aristotle, who focused his interest on Homeric ideals of glory and honor. 
  • Alexander's early political maneuvering, including the incident with Pixadaris, reveals significant insecurity and occasional political misjudgment despite his later reputation for ambition. 
  • Philip II's assassination, occurring at a major wedding feast, was likely motivated by complex political grievances, potentially involving Alexander or Olympias, rather than just a simple crime of passion by Pausanias. 
  • Alexander's immediate consolidation of power following Philip's death involved a swift and ruthless purge of rivals (like Attalus and Philip's last wife and children) and decisive military action against rebellious Greek states (like Thebes) to prove he was a worthy successor. 

Segments

Introduction to Alexander Series
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(00:00:50)
  • Key Takeaway: The series will explore the formidable military commander Alexander the Great and the figures surrounding him.
  • Summary: The host welcomes listeners to a new series on Alexander the Great, expressing personal interest in his life and the chaos following his death. The series is split into four episodes and features Dr. Adrian Goldsworthy as a special guest.
Birth and Mythological Context
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(00:03:09)
  • Key Takeaway: Alexander’s birth coincided with the burning of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus by Herostratus, creating an immediate mythological link between the two events.
  • Summary: The episode sets the scene with the burning of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus on July 21, 356 BC, the same day Alexander (Alexandros) was supposedly born. This event is linked to the concept of ‘Herostratic fame.’ The host emphasizes Alexander’s destiny for greatness.
Challenges in Documenting Alexander
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(00:07:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Most surviving accounts of Alexander were written centuries later (e.g., Arrian, Plutarch), making it difficult to separate fact from later mythologizing, especially concerning his early life.
  • Summary: Dr. Goldsworthy discusses the difficulty in understanding Alexander’s society (Macedonian court life) due to a lack of contemporary sources. He notes that later writers often generalized from Athenian sources, and Alexander’s story became heavily mythologized.
Macedonia’s Peripheral Status
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(00:12:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Macedonia was on the periphery of the Greek world, often viewed as semi-barbaric, but its strategic position offered greater resources (gold, silver, timber) than the declining southern Greek city-states.
  • Summary: The discussion covers the political landscape: the decline of Athenian and Spartan dominance following the Persian Wars, and Macedonia’s position between ‘civilized’ Greece and ‘barbarian’ northern tribes. Philip II inherited a weak kingdom but was beginning to consolidate power.
Philip II’s Polygamy and Olympias
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(00:17:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Philip II practiced polygamy for political alliances, marrying Olympias (Alexander’s mother) around 357 BC. Olympias’s family (Molossians) claimed descent from Achilles, while Philip’s claimed descent from Heracles.
  • Summary: The host and guest explore Philip’s strategic marriages. They discuss the difference between the city-state culture of Southern Greece and the clan/tribal structure of Macedonia and Epirus, noting the importance of the ‘Hetairoi’ (companions) in the Macedonian military structure.
Myths Surrounding Alexander’s Birth
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(00:21:19)
  • Key Takeaway: Stories surrounding Alexander’s birth, such as Philip’s dream of lightning striking Olympias’s womb, served as foreshadowing that he was destined for divine or semi-divine greatness.
  • Summary: The conversation returns to the myth of the burning temple and Philip’s dreams. The host notes that in a polytheistic society, it was natural for spectacular achievements to be attributed to divine parentage, even while acknowledging Philip as the father.
Alexander’s Siblings and Family Structure
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(00:25:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Alexander had a full sister, Cleopatra, and several half-siblings, including Aridaeus, who would briefly become king after Alexander’s death, though he was considered incapable.
  • Summary: The discussion touches on the little-known sister Cleopatra and the Macedonian tradition of polygamy, which differed from the succession crises seen later in places like Rome (e.g., Henry VIII). The lack of information on Philip’s wives and children is noted as frustrating.
Alexander’s Early Education and Aristotle
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(00:32:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Alexander received a rigorous education, including Spartan-style physical training and tutoring from Aristotle starting around age 13, focusing heavily on Homer’s Iliad.
  • Summary: The guest notes that Alexander was raised to fight, unlike the city-state tradition of the gymnasium. Aristotle provided him with an annotated copy of the Iliad, emphasizing honor, reputation, and glory as moral examples.
Taming of Bucephalus
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(00:40:10)
  • Key Takeaway: The famous story of Alexander taming the wild horse Bucephalus at age 12 or 13 demonstrated his unique insight and courage, leading Philip to remark that Macedonia was too small for him.
  • Summary: The host recounts the story of Alexander recognizing the horse was afraid of its own shadow and turning it toward the sun to calm it. The host notes that while possibly embellished, Alexander’s lifelong affection for the horse suggests a genuine bond.
Alexander’s First Military Command
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(00:45:19)
  • Key Takeaway: At age 16, Alexander governed a region and founded the first Alexandria. His major test came at the Battle of Chaeronea (338 BC) where he commanded a wing against the Theban Sacred Band.
  • Summary: Alexander proved himself an able soldier under Philip at Chaeronea. The host emphasizes that Philip trusted him with independent command, reflecting the trust the army placed in its leaders (Hetairoi).
The League of Corinth and Persian Target
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(00:55:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Following the victory at Chaeronea, Philip formed the League of Corinth, uniting Greek states under his leadership (hegemon) to launch a campaign against the Persian Empire, framed as revenge for Xerxes’ invasion.
  • Summary: Philip’s empire stretched widely, and the invasion of Persia was planned. The pretext was revenge, though the host notes the irony given Macedonia’s past relationship with Persia. Philip’s expansionist economy required continuous warfare.
Philip’s Final Marriage and Succession Threat
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(01:00:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Just two years before his death, Philip married Eurydike, a Macedonian noblewoman, which created domestic political tension and potentially threatened Alexander’s position as heir.
  • Summary: The marriage to Eurydike is seen as a political move to shore up support among Macedonian factions, creating uncertainty for Alexander and Olympias regarding the future succession.
Political Marriage and Factions
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(01:00:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Philip’s marriage to Eurydike was likely a political maneuver to manage Macedonian nobility factions.
  • Summary: Discussion on Philip II’s marriage to Eurydike, interpreted by scholars as a political move to appease Macedonian noble factions, highlighting the constant threat of internal murder within the royal family.
Philip’s Succession Planning
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(01:01:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Philip was hedging his bets regarding the Asian war, aware of the risks and the need to manage succession.
  • Summary: Analysis of Philip’s situation before the Asian war, noting that previous Greek expeditions were modest, and discussing Philip’s efforts to secure his succession, even as his new wife quickly became pregnant.
Wedding Feast Incident and Exile
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(01:02:38)
  • Key Takeaway: A drunken incident at a wedding feast led to Alexander and Olympias briefly going into exile, though the long-term plan for Alexander remains unclear.
  • Summary: Recounting the story of the drunken uncle at the wedding feast and Alexander stomping off into voluntary exile with Olympias, emphasizing that hindsight obscures Philip’s true intentions for Alexander.
Alexander’s Pixadaris Misjudgment
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(01:04:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Alexander displayed insecurity and poor political judgment by interfering in a marriage alliance intended for his half-brother Arideus.
  • Summary: Detailed account of the Pixadaris affair where Alexander, driven by jealousy, demanded to marry the governor’s daughter instead of Arideus, causing Philip to rebuke him for mingling in politics prematurely.
Philip’s Assassination Motives
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(01:08:27)
  • Key Takeaway: The assassination of Philip II by Pausanias was rooted in a failure of honor and protection following a past relationship, not just simple passion.
  • Summary: Exploration of the traditional account of Pausanias’s grievance against Philip, focusing on the breakdown of the mentor/protector obligation in Greek aristocratic relationships, rather than just sexual rejection.
Suspicion of Alexander’s Involvement
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(01:10:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite Alexander promoting the Persian involvement theory, the timing of Philip’s death provided Alexander with immediate and clear benefit.
  • Summary: Discussion on the suspicion surrounding Alexander and Olympias following the assassination, noting that while the Persians would have been happy, the timing perfectly benefited Alexander.
Immediate Succession and Purge
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(01:12:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Nobles immediately backed Alexander upon Philip’s death, leading to a swift and brutal purge of rivals to secure his power.
  • Summary: Description of how Macedonian nobility immediately recognized Alexander as king, followed by a purge including the execution of Attalus and the alleged murder of Philip’s final wife and children by Olympias.
Consolidating Rule in Greece
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(01:19:39)
  • Key Takeaway: Alexander spent two years consolidating power in Europe, using extreme ruthlessness, exemplified by the destruction of Thebes, to establish his authority.
  • Summary: Focus on the two years Alexander spent securing his rule before invading Persia, highlighting his campaigns against northern tribes and the shocking annihilation of Thebes to deter future Greek resistance.
Alexander’s Mixed Reputation
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(01:24:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Alexander’s reputation was built gradually through spectacular success mixed with appalling ruthlessness and moments of great generosity.
  • Summary: Summary of how Alexander’s image developed—a mix of savagery (like Thebes) and chivalry (rewarding the virtuous woman), making him both a terrifying enemy and a potentially good friend.