Upon his return from India, Alexander the Great traveled to the Persian royal city of Pasargadae to pay homage at the tomb of King Cyrus, founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, whom he admired greatly. Disgusted to find Cyrus’ tomb desecrated and looted, the Macedonian king had the tomb guards tortured, the Persian provincial governor executed and the tomb refurbished. This episode involving Cyrus’ tomb serves as one of many case studies in Alexander’s relationship with Persia. At times Alexander would behave pragmatically, sparing his defeated enemies and adopting Persian customs. Sisygambis, the mother of Persian King Darius III, allegedly came to view Alexander as a son and starved herself at the news of his demise. On other occasions he did not shy away from destruction (famously torching the palace at Persepolis) and cruelty, earning himself the nickname ‘the accursed’. This conflicting nature gives Alexander a complex legacy in the Persian world. Joseph Stiles explores Alexander the Great’s fascinating relationship with his ‘spear-won’ empire, disentangling the motives and influences behind his policies and actions as ‘King of Asia’.
Author(s): Joseph Stiles
Publisher: Pen and Sword History
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 233
City: Barnsley
Cover
Booktitle
Copyright
Contents
Acknowledgements
Ancient Sources
Preface Soldier and Politician
Chapter One Persia and Macedonia
Chapter Three Alexandropaedia
Chapter Four Prelude to the Conquest
Chapter Five Alexander Against Darius
Chapter Six Winning Hearts and Minds
Chapter Seven Alexander the Accursed
Chapter Eight Alexander Against Bessus
Chapter Nine Imitator of the Persians
Chapter Ten Consolidating Asia
Chapter Eleven Alexander and the Women of Asia
Chapter Twelve Alexander’s Asian Lieutenants
Chapter Thirteen Great Reforms and Death
Conclusion Was Alexander a Good Empire-Builder?
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Backcover
