Did Alexander have any idea of how to administer the empire he conquered?

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Student Number- c3115440

Did Alexander have any idea of how to administer the empire he conquered?

     Alexander was born into greatness in the year 356 B.C.E being the son of King Phillip of Macedon and Olympias of Epirus. He rose to the throne of Macedonia in 336 B.C.E at just twenty years old, gaining himself a kingdom on the northern border of modern day Greece, as well as inheriting “one of the greatest armies in the world.” (Dell, P. Skelton, D. 2005. P.15). During his twelve-year reign his empire expanded greatly having conquered most of the known world to the ancient Greeks, this was (according to Plutarch) more than likely due to Aristotle’s encouragement of the geographical limits of the world during Alexander’s childhood. (Plutarch. Al. 5.1) Due to Alexander’s achievements he is “regarded as one of the greatest military strategists and tacticians who ever lived.” (Wikipedia, 2006) However did Alexander have any idea of how to administer the empire that he conquered?

     In order to answer this question we have to rely entirely on using secondary sources, as primary sources have inevitably been lost over these many years.  Modern day historians have based their works on “the two remaining major sources, Plutarch and Arrian.” (Heckel, W. Yardley, J. C, 2004, P.  xxiii)  Both of these base their understandings of Alexander on earlier works, as there accounts were written hundreds of years later. There are problems due to this such as Arrian’s “whitewashing” of Alexander and the fact that their personal opinions very much shape their work. We must also consider the fact that these historians may have filled in the gaps were evidence has been lost.  Both sources are however vital in the understanding of Alexander and his achievements.

        In 334 B.C., after securing his base in Greece Alexander began his conquest starting with the Persian Empire, which “was divided administratively in to twenty provinces known as satrapies, each governed by a satrap.” (Heckel, W. 2002. P. 22.)  His invasion there was very successful showing his greatness and skill as a military leader. What is more important to us though is how he dealt with each place once it had been conquered and how he administered them?

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     Alexander was on new ground, “there were no precedents for the administration of the territory he annexed, no system inherited from his father.”(Bosworth, A. B. 1988, P. 229). Therefore one of the biggest questions for Alexander was how to deal with the natives that he had conquered? His first acts were accordingly transporting the captured mercenaries to Macedonia where they were “to redeem themselves by labour and possibly to augment the agricultural workforce.”(Bosworth, A. B. 1988, P. 229). The other Persian mercenaries had no choice but to serve Alexander to the very end, although anyone who was considered too powerful was apparently disposed of, such as the great “Persian landholders.”(1988, P. 45). Acts such as these were very common in Ancient times, and are seen as good administration. As Alexander was of course depleting his empire of potential enemies therefore ensuring that there was less threat to his rule.

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     Other administration tactics that Alexander used in the Empire he conquered “was to win the respect and cooperation of the native peoples by lenient and generous treatment” (Hammond, N. G. L. 1989. P. 79), such as giving Mithrenes, a Persian commander an honourable position in his entourage. Although according to some he was only lenient “to those who were willing to accept his leadership; for he came both as a liberator and a leader.” (Hammond, N. G. L. 1989. P. 69). Though most peoples did give their allegiance to him, especially the Greek cities and their neighbours ...

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