2 000

For modern man 4th century BC e. seems like a dense gray-haired antiquity, a time when people existed in terrible living conditions, having neither electricity, nor mobile communications, nor digital technology, nor other achievements of civilization. Medicine was at a low level, life expectancy left much to be desired, and the person himself was absolutely unprotected from arbitrariness the mighty of the world This is due to the lack of competent laws and an effective judicial system.

However, the inhabitants of those distant times apparently felt quite comfortable in the outside world. They worked hard, raised their children, and apparently thought life was wonderful and wonderful. In addition to quite natural peaceful activities, these people did not disdain wars in order to become famous on the battlefields and quickly improve their financial situation.

There were always many hunters for luck. The names of most of them have sunk into oblivion, leaving no memory of themselves, those who are remembered even today are few. One of these people is Alexander the Great (Great). This name survived two and a half thousand years and at all times was one of the most popular among all those who considered themselves to be an enlightened part of humanity.

Alexander's brilliant military career began in 338 BC. e. At this time, he was only 18 years old. He glorified himself in the battle of Chaeronea, making a significant contribution to the defeat of the allied forces of Athens and Boeotia. After that, for 15 whole years, he had no equal among the skillful commanders of that distant century. An insidious fate cut short the life of this outstanding personality in the prime of his life. Alexander the Great died in June 323 BC. e., not having lived a little more than a month to 33 years.

The death of a person who is very popular, and even at such a young age, at all times caused a lot of conjectures and assumptions. The official version says that the great conqueror died of malaria, but there are numerous opinions that consider such a sudden death from a different angle. From the lips of many people the words escaped: poison, poisoned, killed by envious people, destroyed by secret enemies.

Thus, we can say that for almost 25 centuries there has been a mystery of the death of Alexander the Great. Can it be unraveled? To do this, first of all, you need to have an idea about the personality of the great conqueror, about his environment, about the policy that he pursued, strengthening his power and might.

Alexander was born in July 356 BC. e. in the city of Pella, the capital of Macedonia. He came into being in royal family which greatly contributed to the disclosure of his talents.

From 343 BC. e. the famous philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC), a student of the very Plato who first told people about Atlantis, was engaged in his upbringing. So the boy received an excellent education, and it can be said with all responsibility that he later became one of the most enlightened monarchs of his time.

The young man was taught the art of war by his father, the king of Macedonia, Philip II (382-336 BC). This man was imperious, decisive, striving by all means to strengthen his state and expand its borders. It was under him that a strong land army, a powerful fleet were created, and the famous Macedonian phalanx was significantly reorganized and improved.

Macedonian phalanx

It was Philip II who created a single state, uniting scattered cities under his rule and thereby preparing a reliable springboard for his son. The latter very effectively took advantage of the achievements of his father, turning the military power he inherited to the conquest of numerous lands and spaces that were not subject to the human imagination of that time.

Alexander became king of Macedonia after the death of Philip II (he was killed by his bodyguard) in 336 BC. e. A few months later he went on a campaign to the north-west of the Balkan Peninsula. Numerous tribes of Getae and Triballi lived here. Very quickly breaking their resistance, the young king annexed these lands to his possessions, thereby proving to those around him that he was in no way inferior to his late father.

The young commander did not manage to rest after a successful and short-term military campaign. The messengers brought the news that the cities of Central Greece, annexed to Macedonia in the last five years, had rebelled. Apparently, the death of a tough and domineering king inspired hope for liberation in the hearts of their inhabitants. But these people did not take into account the fact that the son turned out to be a match for his father.

Alexander with a small army "walked like a whirlwind" through the rebellious lands. He did not know mercy for the rebels and quickly showed everyone that the power in Macedonia was by no means weakened, but rather even strengthened and became even more ruthless and harsh.

Very soon order and peace were established in all corners of the kingdom. The “heavy” hand of the young monarch was felt by both friends and enemies. It would seem that the king can calm down for a while and enjoy the benefits that unlimited power gives. Probably everyone in his place would have done so, but Alexander the Great fell out of the usual row of people.

He acted quite differently. Already at the beginning of 334 BC. e. the young king, leaving a friend of his father Antipater (397-319 BC) as governor in Pella, crossed the Hellespont (Dardanelles) with a strong army and ended up on the territory of the Persian kingdom. The Achaemenids put up a large armed army against the invader, but it was completely defeated in the battle on the Granik River.

This battle became decisive in the struggle for Asia Minor. The coastal Greek cities, languishing under the yoke of the Persians, welcomed the liberators with joy. They drive out the satraps of King Darius III (383-330 BC) and open the gates to the Macedonian troops. In almost a few months, the lands of Lydia were cleared of the Persians and recognized the power of Alexander the Great.

The young and ambitious monarch, inspired by the first serious victory over a strong enemy, moves with his army deep into Persian territory. The powerful forces of the Persians are advancing to meet him. They are headed by King Darius III himself.

The decisive battle takes place near the city of Issus in the autumn of 333 BC. e. Here the Achaemenids have a threefold advantage in combat strength, but the military genius of Alexander the Great prevails over the manpower of the enemy. The Persians suffer a terrible defeat; Darius III flees in disgrace.

After this victory, almost the entire Mediterranean coast is under the control of the Greek-Macedonian army. Alexander, on the other hand, shows himself not only as a brilliant commander, but also as a wise far-sighted politician. He turns his army to Egypt, also languishing under the rule of the Achaemenid dynasty.

Appearing in the kingdom of the ancient pyramids as a liberator, the young king enlists the support of the priestly nobility. This is not manifested in simple obedience and loyalty - Alexander the Great is declared the son of the god Amun and the pharaoh of Egypt. Thus the brilliant commander is transformed from common man into a celestial, which brings confusion and confusion into the ranks of his opponents. Fighting against an ordinary mortal was still all right, but resisting a god was tantamount to suicide.

It was from this time that the young Macedonian king began to move away from his entourage. The commanders devoted to him Antipater, Ptolemy Lag, Perdikka, Philotas, Parmenion, Clitus the Black, Hephaestion begin to feel the despotic character of Alexander. The same one, apparently sincerely believing in his divine destiny, does not notice the growing discontent.

This dissatisfaction soon manifests itself in quite concrete actions. A conspiracy is brewing, headed by Philotas. He is the son of Parmenion, an experienced military leader whom the king unconditionally trusts. However, for now, everything works out, as the army returns to Persia again, where Darius III gathered another strong army.

The decisive battle takes place near the village of Gaugamela in early October 331 BC. e. Here the Persians suffer a final and unconditional defeat. A descendant of the invincible Cyrus and Artaxerxes shamefully flees from the battlefield. However, this does not save the Persian king. Soon he is killed by his own satrap Bess and proclaims himself king of Persia. However, having been in this capacity for only a year, he himself is captured by the Macedonians and is subjected to a painful execution.

After the death of Darius III, Alexander of Macedon occupies the capital of the Persian kingdom, the city of Babylon, and proclaims himself the successor to the Achaemenid dynasty. Here he creates a magnificent courtyard, taking in his entourage, in addition to the Greeks and Macedonians, noble Persians.

The young king is moving further and further away from his true friends and admirers. The brilliance and tinsel of power finally turn him into an oriental monarch with the manners of a ruthless dictator. This is unacceptable for Hellenes brought up in a free and democratic Greece. The fading conspiracy is gaining momentum again.

Philotas unites getters around him - young men from noble families. They plan to kill the king, but there is a traitor in their midst. Already on a campaign in Central Asia, Alexander learns about the plans of the conspirators. On his orders, Philotas is killed, and his father Parmenion is also killed. But their death does not fix the situation. The dissatisfaction of the highest Macedonian and Greek nobility had already taken deep roots. Maybe the mystery of the death of Alexander the Great should be considered from this angle?

Be that as it may, the king is still lucky. He continues to successfully carry out military expansion, adding more and more new territories to his empire. Along the way, he suppresses another conspiracy, the so-called "conspiracy of the pages." It was again the noble Macedonian youth, who carried the personal guard of the king. At the head of these conspirators was the page Germolai. He is executed, and a relatively quiet period sets in, which is the calm before the storm.

The storm comes at the end of 328 BC. e, when the closest associate of Alexander, the commander Clit the Black, openly accuses him of betraying the memory of his own father and calling himself the son of the god Amon. The enraged sovereign kills Clit right at the feast table.

All these internal unrest had no effect on the general tasks of the great conqueror. He continues his march, going further and further east. His plans include the conquest of India. There were legends about her untold riches, and Alexander, spoiled by victories, sees nothing impossible in conquering these lands.

Alexander the Great in India. Battle of the Hydaspes River

But the fabulous places met the foreign army unfriendly. If in Persia they looked at the Macedonians as liberators from the unbearable oppression of the Achaemenids, here the picture was completely different. Numerous tribes and small states were not at all eager to be subjugated by newcomers. They offered fierce resistance to the invaders, making it difficult for them to move deep into the territory.

In the summer of 326 BC. e. The last major battle in the life of Alexander the Great takes place on the Hydaspe River. King Por opposes him: the lord of a strong state, which turned out to be the will of fate on the path of the great conqueror.

The battle ends with the complete defeat of Por, despite the large number of elephants and chariots in his army. Here, too, Alexander is at the height of his military talent and captures the unlucky local autocrat. But further military expansion into the interior of the peninsula does not work. Tired of the incessant battles, the warriors begin to openly express their displeasure. Alexander the Great is forced to turn back, but he returns in a different way, so the conquest campaign continues.

The great commander divides the army into three parts. One of them is headed by himself, the other is entrusted to the commander Crater. The third part of the troops is sent by sea. The commander of the fleet is Nearchus. Overcoming the resistance of enemies, drowning in the sands of the desert, the ground forces go to the fertile lands of Carmania (region ancient persia). This is where they meet. After some time, the flotilla of Nearchus also comes ashore.

On this, the eastern campaign of Alexander the Great, which made him Great, ends. The conquest of vast lands continued for almost ten years. By the standards of those times, the term is very short compared to the vast territories that fell under the rule of a young and ambitious monarch. This at all times made an indelible impression on other conquerors, who, with all their efforts, could not compare with Alexander the Great.

The king returns to Babylon. Here he is waiting for state affairs to organize the leadership of a vast empire. It is not at all easy to manage this formation, since a huge number of different nationalities and tribes coexist in it. Alexander is getting closer to the local nobility, marries the eldest daughter of Darius III Stateira (346-323 BC). He forces other Macedonians to take Persian women as their wives.

The policy of the newly minted eastern monarch is becoming more and more rigid in relation to his compatriots. This results in a riot of Macedonian soldiers. For many years they have not seen their native lands and their relatives, but the king is not going to let them go home. It is limited to holidays. Such a position of the autocrat causes indignation and indignation of those who for 10 years shared with him all the hardships of the eastern campaign.

Alexander the Great executes the instigators, but in order to completely resolve the situation, he is forced to resign his soldiers, who went with him all the hard way from Asia Minor to India. 10,000 soldiers are returning to their native lands. Each of them has several carts with loot. All this was taken from the inhabitants of Asian cities and now migrates to the lands of Ancient Greece.

The king himself finally settles in Babylon. Here he is preparing for a new campaign, plans to conquer the tribes of the Arabian Peninsula and capture Carthage. Carthage at that time was a powerful state in the western Mediterranean. Having practically monopolized all trade in this region, the Punians (as the Romans called the Carthaginians) concentrated in their hands untold wealth, which was in no way inferior to the wealth of Persia and India.

In 323 BC. e. preparations for a new military expansion are in full swing. More and more new military units are being brought to Babylon from different parts of the state, the fleet is being strengthened, and the top command staff of the army is being reorganized. The campaign to the west promises new brilliant victories and huge wealth.

A week before it starts, a magnificent feast is arranged. The next morning, Alexander becomes ill. He has a fever, he starts to have a fever. Every day the health of the great dictator is deteriorating, he begins to lose consciousness, does not recognize friends and relatives. An incomprehensible disease lasts two weeks and ends with the death of a man who has swung his hand to conquer the whole world.

Alexander the Great on his deathbed

Alexander the Great dies in mid-June 323 BC. e. at the age of 32 years old in the city of Babylon, at the zenith of his glory and power. His empire turns out to be a giant with feet of clay. It immediately collapses, breaks up into many states: Syria, Hellenistic Egypt, Bithynia, Pergamon, Macedonia and others. At the head of these new formations are the diadochi - the commanders of the Macedonian army.

One of them, namely Ptolemy Lag, settles in Egypt. He takes with him the embalmed body of the great conqueror, thereby, as it were, emphasizing that he is the heir to Alexander the Great. In these lands, in the city of Alexandria, founded in 332 BC. e. in the Nile Delta, at the behest of the young king, a luxurious tomb is being built. The sarcophagus with the body of the deceased is placed in it.

This tomb has existed for 500 years. The latest information about her dates back to the time of the Roman emperor Caracalla (186-217). He was in Alexandria in 215 and visited the ashes of the great conqueror. There are no more mentions of the tomb of Alexander the Great in history. No one still knows what happened to the remains of this person after the specified date, and where they are currently located.

As for the mystery of the death of Alexander the Great, there are several versions, the origins of which go back to the mists of time. The personality of the great commander was so popular that no one paid attention to her. famous historian How ancient world, as well as modern times. Naturally, each of them put forward his own interpretation of this event, which often did not coincide with the opinions of his colleagues.

If we summarize the discordance of opinions, then several main versions come to the fore, each of which has the right to consider it. Some historians are inclined to believe that the culprit in the death of Alexander the Great was none other than his governor in Macedonia, Antipater. Allegedly, shortly before the start of the campaign to the west, the young king decided to remove this man from his post and put another in his place.

Antipater, through people devoted to him, organized the poisoning of his master in order to protect himself from such an unwanted resignation. All this sounds rather doubtful, since in 323 BC. e. Antipater was 73 years old. Age is very advanced and respectable. It is unlikely that the gray-haired old man held on to his place so strongly, knowing full well that he had already practically lived out the life span determined for him by Providence. He died in 319 BC. e., outliving his king by only a little over three years.

According to another version, his teacher Aristotle is blamed for the death of Alexander the Great. The younger one. In 323 BC. e. he is only 61 years old. But why should a harmless philosopher raise his hand against his pupil and pour poison into his goblet of wine? Moreover, how could he do this, when all the time, while his student conquered the world, the philosopher lived quietly in Athens. He settled there in 335 BC. e. and led a philosophical school, giving preference to the improvement of the soul and expounding to others his understanding of the world around him.

Here is a weighty argument in favor of the fact that Aristotle was very fond of money. He was bribed by representatives of the powerful and wealthy Carthage. The elders of this city and the state of the same name were well aware of Alexander's plans. They found the most rational way to protect themselves by inviting the philosopher to destroy the talented commander.

Aristotle had great connections. Among his admirers were not only pampered philosopher students, but also battle-hardened warriors, and a rather motley audience that held not the most righteous views on moral norms and prohibitions. He could well find people who, for a decent reward, were able to carry out such an unseemly act as the murder of a king.

However, during the described period, the philosopher felt very unwell. The state of his health left much to be desired, and the sudden death of Alexander the Great only hastened his death, as the inhabitants of Athens rebelled, having received such a sad and at the same time welcome news. Aristotle was immediately expelled from the city, and he spent the last months of his earthly existence on the island of Euboea in the Aegean Sea, leading a very modest lifestyle.

There is another version that points to the Greek-Macedonian environment of the great conqueror. The commanders of Alexander, dissatisfied with his rapprochement with the Persian nobility, entered into a criminal conspiracy and poisoned their patron. Thus, they freed themselves from the harsh autocrat and received vast lands of the disintegrated state into their possession.

This can be allowed, given the previous conspiracies. But the autocrat had already executed all the dissatisfied, besides, the campaign to the west was about to begin. This expansion promised huge profits to the king's associates. In theory, the Greek and Macedonian nobility should have taken care of Alexander more than their eyes, blowing dust off him - after all, the Mediterranean concentrated in itself innumerable riches, and the native, dear Greek coasts were very close by.

So what happens, the mystery of the death of Alexander the Great will remain a mystery? His death in no way coincided with the interests of his comrades-in-arms and those close to him. On the contrary, the longer the king lived, the richer and more powerful his entourage became.

There are natural causes. The king caught some deadly infection and died suddenly. What kind of infection is this, and why did it affect only him?

It has already been said that the official cause of death of Alexander the Great is called malaria or swamp fever. This is an acute infectious disease transmitted by a mosquito bite. Malaria is characterized by recurrent bouts of severe chills and high fever. All this is accompanied by profuse sweating. The liver, kidneys are destroyed, there is a blockage of the vessels of the brain. Death from malaria is quite common.

Thus, it is not at all excluded that the culprit in the death of Alexander the Great was an ordinary mosquito that bit the invincible commander a couple of weeks before that ill-fated feast, after which the king felt ill. Of course, this is not a fact that the ruler of half the world was struck down by swamp fever, but the symptoms of the disease are painfully reminiscent of it.

On the other hand, the question arises: why was malaria so selective. No one else in the autocrat's entourage died like this. The king was alone in his illness. He withered away in two weeks, but the slaves, guards, military leaders, wife, and other people close to Alexander did not experience anything like this. What kind of mosquitoes are those that covet only one person?

There is no answer to this question for years. The sudden death of Alexander the Great remains a mystery behind seven seals, despite modern achievements medicine. The truth, with a certain degree of probability, could be told by the remains of the great conqueror, but their whereabouts are unknown. It is not even known whether they survived or were destroyed long ago.

A huge thickness of time in 25 centuries reliably hid from modern man the cause of the death of a talented commander. This leads to a disappointing conclusion: most likely, humanity will never know the true truth, and the mystery of the death of Alexander the Great will forever remain a mystery.

ATHENS, January 15 - RIA Novosti. Alexander the Great died of accidental poisoning with the poisonous plant hellebore, according to British scientists who published an article in the journal Clinical Toxicology, the Athens News Agency reports.

White hellebore (veratrum album), a plant up to one and a half meters high, grows in southern Europe and Asia. It is considered highly poisonous, but, like any poison, it also has medical applications, British toxicologists write.

After studying a fairly detailed description of the circumstances of the death of the greatest conqueror in history at the age of 32, left by eyewitnesses in 323 BC, toxicologists came to the conclusion that Alexander was severely weakened from his wounds and was in a difficult mental state. He drank a lot and more than once lost consciousness at feasts. A drink from white hellebore with honey was then given by Greek doctors to expel evil spirits, as well as to induce vomiting. The disease overtook Alexander in Baghdad.

The authors of the article believe that the description of the symptoms from which Alexander suffered - prolonged vomiting, convulsions, muscle weakness and slowing of the pulse - testify precisely to the effect of hellebore on a weakened body.

Alexander the Great, or Alexander the Great, is one of the greatest commanders and statesmen of the ancient world. The power created as a result of his conquests stretched from the Danube to the Indus and was the largest state of the ancient world.

Where is Alexander the Great buried?

Before his death, which overtook him in Babylon, Macedonian bequeathed to one of his closest associates and heirs, Ptolemy, to betray his ashes to the earth where he founded his city and where he had a prophecy about world domination. It is known that Ptolemy, the governor of North Africa after Alexander, fulfilled the last will of the king, but exactly where the tomb of the divine Alexander is located has not yet been clarified. From the point of view of historical logic, there are only two places where the great conqueror can be buried - Egyptian Alexandria and the Siwa oasis. More about possible place burial of Alexander the Great and the role it played in his life - in the material "

Alexander III of Macedon is often referred to in European historiography as Alexander the Great. And the definitions of "Great" are quite justified here. Even in ancient times, Alexander was glorified as one of the most skillful commanders in world history. Alexander the Great was born in 356 BC. e. For my short life(only incomplete 33 years), he managed to turn the small state of Macedonia into a huge empire measuring 5.2 million square kilometers. Much is connected with the personality of Alexander, his life and death. interesting facts. Below are 10 such facts - they definitely deserve the attention of anyone who is fond of history.

Alexander had a horse, Bucephalus, who served him for about twenty years.

According to the historian Plutarch, Alexander, while still a ten-year-old child, was able to curb Bucephalus (in Greek, this name can be translated as "bull's head"). Moreover, even the father of the future great commander considered this horse worthless for anything because of his excessive obstinacy. Subsequently, Bucephalus became Alexander's favorite horse, the commander took him on all his campaigns. And when the horse died (most likely, this happened during the battle with the Indian king Por in 326 BC), Alexander founded a settlement right at the place of his death and named it after his beloved animal.

Alexander studied with one of the best philosophers of his time - Aristotle

Alexander's father invited Aristotle to teach his son the sciences (the boy at that time was only 13 years old). And communication with Aristotle, of course, greatly influenced the way of thinking and the system of values ​​of the future commander. It is quite obvious that it was Aristotle who instilled in Alexander the Great respect for philosophy in general.

Alexander, both in his youth and after ascending the throne, was happy to communicate with various philosophers. For example, it is known that once Macedonian met with Diogenes, who at that time was resting in the city square. The emperor asked if he could do something for Diogenes. "Don't block the sun for me," said the founder of the philosophical school of Cynics to Alexander. This answer completely struck Macedonian.

Meeting of Alexander and Diogenes - a painting by the artist Gaetano Gandolfi, written in 1792

And later, during a campaign in India, Alexander suspended military operations in order to discuss with the gymnosophists (they were also called "naked philosophers"). These philosophers were original followers and interpreters of Hinduism. They basically did not wear clothes, as they were sure that it was because of her that people become conceited.

Alexander had a weak-minded brother, who later also ascended the throne

In 336 BC. e., having come to power, Alexander the Great executed possible participants in the conspiracy against his murdered father and all rivals who could also claim the throne (in particular, the princes from the Linkestid dynasty - Arrabay and Heromen). He left alive only his half-brother named Arrhidaeus, who really suffered from dementia. The brother calmly survived Alexander and in 323, after the death of the great commander, began to rule in Macedonia. Although, of course, the power of Arrhidaeus was only formal, in practice he was a plaything in the hands of his entourage. And a few years later, Arrhidaeus nevertheless became a victim of intrigues and was killed.

From the moment of his eighteenth birthday until his death, Alexander the Great did not lose a single battle.

The military and military talents of this historical figure are beyond doubt. The military tactics and strategy of Alexander the Great are studied even today in the military. educational institutions. Somehow he always proved to be faster or more cunning than the enemy. Interestingly, it was possible to achieve victory even when the number of enemy troops exceeded the number of Alexander's troops at times. A striking example here is the decisive battle in the war with the Persians, which took place in October 331. After this battle, Alexander was missing about 1000 of his soldiers. And the Persians died about 30,000 thousand. Of course, in the end the Persians surrendered.

By the way, it is believed that Alexander remembered the name of each soldier of his army, and this despite the fact that its number was several tens of thousands of people.

Alexander the Great, according to legend, cut the Gordian knot

“Cutting the Gordian knot” means resolving some confusing situation in a simple and straightforward way. In the time of Alexander, Phrygia (it was a small country on the territory of modern Turkey) was ruled by a king named Gordius. He had a cart, which he greatly appreciated - she once helped him come to power. He placed the “happy” wagon in a prominent place in the temple, and entangled its yoke with an incredibly complex knot of dogwood bast. And it was believed that whoever unraveled it would take possession of all the lands of Asia. When Alexander conquered Phrygia, he entered the temple and simply cut the knot with one swing of his own sword.

Dozens of settlements Alexander III of Macedon named after himself

The historian Plutarch writes that Alexander founded at least seventy cities during military campaigns and modestly gave them his name. And according to the locations of these cities, you can even trace the routes of the commander. On the territories of modern Turkey, Bulgaria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, India, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq, the Macedonian left its mark in the form settlements with the same name - Alexandria. Perhaps the most famous Alexandria is located in Egypt near the Nile Delta. It is now very Big City- the second most populated in Egypt.

Alexander the Great officially had three wives

He met his first wife in 327 during the war with the ancient states of Sogdiana and Bactria (they were located on the territory of modern Tajikistan and Uzbekistan). After the capture of the mountain fortress Rok, he began to inspect the people he had taken prisoner. His special attention was attracted by a very young girl named Roxana - the daughter of a nobleman from Bactria ... Soon a wedding was already played between Alexander and Roxana. Later, Roxanne had a boy from the great commander - Alexander IV.

And a year before his death, after the conquest of the Persians, Alexander the Great married two more women at once - Starir and Parysatis, daughters of the Persian kings. Alexander considered that he was like new Persian king may well have several wives. But the new wives did not leave him children. The second son of Alexander, who was named Hercules, was illegitimate - he was born by his mistress Barsina.

In general, the emperor, unlike many men of his time, treated women with great respect. And even Aristotle did not quite support him in this matter.

It is also worth adding that, unfortunately, none of the children of Alexander could live to his adulthood - they were killed as potential contenders for power.

It remains a mystery how exactly Alexander died and what caused his death.

Alexander died in 323 BC. He was only thirty-two years old. He returned from his Indian campaign and stopped in Babylon, and it was in this city that death overtook him. It is known that before he died, Macedonian was ill for two weeks. Some researchers of this topic come to the conclusion that Alexander died from some kind of infectious disease (malaria, typhoid fever, liver failure, etc.). However, the fact that no one else with whom he ate in last days, did not get sick, makes the version of an infectious disease less plausible.

There are also other versions. For example, the version about the poisoning of the emperor by his closest associate Antipater. There is also a suitable motive: Alexander wanted to deprive Antipater of the post of governor of Macedonia.

The body of Macedonian was kept for some time in a vat of honey.

The authoritative English archaeologist Wallis Budge suggested that the remains Alexandraat first were immersed in honey to stop further decay. And only later the corpse was embalmed in accordance with the then traditions.

But the "adventure" of the remains of Alexander did not end there. At some point they were sent from Babylon to Macedonia. On the way they were intercepted by Ptolemy I, a former general of Alexander. He decided to transport such a valuable cargo to Egypt. Ptolemy believed that since he had the body of Alexander, he was the rightful ruler of the empire ...

Sculpture of Ptomeleus I - a man who significantly influenced the fate of the remains of Alexander

The mummy of Alexander has not survived to this day

Later, the grave of Alexander, located in Egyptian Alexandria, was visited by the Roman rulers Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Octavian (historians write that Octavian, awkwardly touching Alexander's mummy, broke off his nose from it) and Caracalla. Later, the grave was looted, and information about its exact location was lost.

In 323 BC. e. the Hellenic army was returning to the west. Alexander the Great completed his campaign to the east, reaching India. He managed to create a huge empire that stretched from the Balkans to Iran and from Central Asia to Egypt. In the history of mankind, there have never been such huge states that appeared literally overnight by the will of one commander. The death of Alexander the Great overtook in Babylon. It was a huge oasis with many channels taking water from the Euphrates. The city often suffered from diseases and epidemics. Perhaps this is where the King of Kings caught the infection.

IN Last year of his life, Alexander became twitchy and suspicious. His mourning was caused by death best friend and an approximate commander of Hephaestion. The whole of May was spent in the hassle associated with the organization of the funeral. For Hephaestion, a huge ziggurat was built, which was decorated with numerous trophies obtained during the campaign in the east.

The king ordered that a decree be sent to all parts of the empire that his friend should be revered as a hero (in fact, this was the status of a demigod). Being an extremely religious and superstitious person, Alexander attached great importance to such things. Among other things, he surrounded himself with numerous prophets and oracles.

Babylon annoyed Alexander. He briefly left the bustling city to explore the banks of the Euphrates and neighboring swamps. The king was going to organize a sea expedition around the Arabian Peninsula. He explored the banks of the river, trying to figure out how to place 1,200 ships near Babylon, which were soon to set off.

During this voyage, the wind tore off the head of the ruler of his red hat with a gilded ribbon, which he wore as a diadem. The prophets, to whom the monarch listened, decided that this case was a bad omen that did not bode well. When the death of Alexander the Great became a fait accompli, many close associates remembered that incident on one of the Euphrates canals.

At the end of May, the king returned to Babylon. He stopped his mourning on the occasion of the death of a friend and began to feast with his associates. Festive sacrifices were made to the gods, and long-awaited gifts began to be distributed in the army - a lot of wine and meat. In Babylon, the success of the Nearchus expedition in the Persian Gulf was celebrated. The king was also impatient to go on another campaign.

In the first days of June, Alexander developed a strong fever. He tried to get rid of the disease by taking baths and making generous sacrifices to the gods. Rumors of the king's illness leaked into the city. When a crowd of excited Macedonians broke into the residence of their ruler on June 8, the king greeted his supporters, but his whole appearance said that the monarch is held in public through force.

The next day, June 9, Alexander fell into a coma, and on the 10th the doctors pronounced him dead. For many centuries, historians of different generations have offered the most different theories about what caused the death of the young commander, who was always distinguished by good health. IN modern science the most common point of view, which says that the cause of the death of Alexander the Great is far from mysticism.

Most likely, the king caught malaria. She noticeably weakened the body, and he could not cope with pneumonia (according to another version - leukemia). The discussion about the second fatal disease continues to this day. According to a less common theory, the cause of Alexander's death was West Nile fever.

It is important that none of the king's companions died from an infectious disease. Perhaps the monarch ruined his health with regular drinking. During the last holiday, he did not stop feasts for a single day, where alcohol was consumed in huge quantities.

Modern researchers drew attention to the symptoms that accompanied the illness of the commander. He suffered from convulsions, frequent vomiting, muscle weakness and an irregular pulse. All this indicates poisoning. Therefore, the versions of the death of Alexander the Great also include the theory of improper treatment of the monarch.

Doctors might have given him white hellebore or hellebore to ease his first ailment, but in the end they only made matters worse. Even in Antiquity, there was a popular version about the poisoning of Alexander by his commander Antipater, who was threatened with removal from the post of governor in Macedonia.

323 BC e. (the year of the death of Alexander the Great) became mourning for the entire vast empire. While ordinary residents mourned the untimely death of the monarch, his close associates decided what to do with the body of the deceased. It was decided to embalm him.

In the end, the body was taken over by Ptolemy, who began to rule in Egypt. The mummy was transported to Memphis, and then to Alexandria, a city founded and named after the great commander. Many years later, Egypt was conquered by the Romans. Emperors considered Alexander the greatest role model. The rulers of Rome often made pilgrimages to the tomb of the king. The last reliable information about it dates back to the beginning of the 3rd century, when the emperor Caracalla visited this place, placing his ring and tunic on the tomb. Since then, the trail of the mummy has been lost. Today, nothing is known about her future fate.

Information about the last orders of the king, made before he finally fell into a coma, remains controversial. The empire of Alexander the Great after his death was to receive an heir. The monarch understood this and, sensing his approaching end, could appoint a successor. In Antiquity, a legend was circulated that a weakening ruler handed over his seal ring to Perdikka, a loyal military leader who was to become regent for Queen Roxana, who was in her last month of pregnancy.

A few weeks after Alexander's death, she gave birth to a son (also Alexander). The regency of Perdikkas was unstable from the very beginning. After the death of Alexander the Great, the power of the successor began to be challenged by other close associates of the deceased king. In historiography, they remained known as the Diadochi. Almost all governors in the provinces declared their independence and created their own satrapies.

In 321 BC. e. Perdiccas, during a campaign in Egypt, died at the hands of his own military leaders, dissatisfied with his despotism. After the death of Alexander the Great, his power finally plunged into the abyss civil wars where each contender for power fought with everyone. The bloodshed continued for twenty years. These conflicts went down in history as the Wars of the Diadochi.

Gradually, the commanders got rid of all the relatives and relatives of Alexander. The king's brother Arrhidaeus, sister Cleopatra, mother Olympias were killed. The son (formally named Alexander IV) lost his life at the age of 14, in 309 BC. e. The great monarch had another child. The illegitimate son Hercules, born of the concubine Barsina, was killed at the same time as his half-brother.

Babylon (the place of death of Alexander the Great) quickly lost its power over the provinces. After the death of Perdiccas important role on the ruins of a formerly united empire, the diadochi Antigonus and Seleucus began to play. At first they were allies. In 316 BC. e. Antigonus came to Babylon and demanded from Seleucus information about the financial costs of the war against his neighbors. The latter, fearing disgrace, fled to Egypt, where he found refuge with the local ruler Ptolemy.

The death of Alexander the Great, in short, was long in the past, and his supporters continued to fight against each other. By 311 BC. e. the following balance of power has developed. Antigonus ruled in Asia, Ptolemy in Egypt, Cassander in Hellas, Seleucus in Persia.

The last, fourth war of the Diadochi (308-301 BC) began because Cassander and Ptolemy decided to unite in an alliance against Antigonus. They were joined by the king of Macedonia, Lysimachus, and the founder of the Seleucid empire, Seleucus.

Antigonus was attacked first by Ptolemy. He captured the Cyclades, Sicyon and Corinth. For this, a large Egyptian landing force landed in the Peloponnese, where they surprised the garrisons of the king of Phrygia. Ptolemy's next target was Asia Minor. The king of Egypt created a powerful foothold in Cyprus. His army and navy were based on this island. Learning about the plans of the enemy, Antigonus regrouped his troops. His army left Greece for a while. This army on 160 ships headed for Cyprus. Having landed on the island, 15 thousand people, under the leadership of Demetrius Poliorcetes, began the siege of Salamis.

Ptolemy sent almost his entire fleet to the rescue of the fortress in Cyprus. Demetri decided to give naval battle. As a result of the collision, the Egyptians lost all their ships. Most of them were flooded, and the transport ships went to Antigonus. In 306 BC. e. isolated Salamis capitulated. Antigonus captured Cyprus and even proclaimed himself king.

A few months after this success, the diadochus decided to deal a crushing blow to Ptolemy on his own land and equipped an expedition to Egypt. However, the satrap's army was unable to cross the Nile. In addition, Ptolemy sent agitators to the enemy's camp, who actually bought out the opponent's soldiers. Discouraged, Antigonus had to return home empty-handed.

For a few more years, opponents attacked each other at sea one by one. Antigonus succeeded in driving Lysimachus out of Phrygia. At the same time, Demetrius finally ended the campaign in Greece and went to Asia Minor in order to unite with his ally. There was no general battle. It happened only 8 years after the start of the war.

In the summer of 301 BC. e. The Battle of Ipsus took place. This battle was the final chord of the wars of the Diadochi. Antigonus's cavalry, led by Demetrius Poliorcetes, attacked the allied heavy cavalry, led by Seleucus' son Antiochus. The fight was fierce. Finally, the cavalry of Demetrius defeated the enemies and rushed after them in pursuit. This move turned out to be a mistake.

Pursuing the enemy, the cavalry broke away too far from the main forces of Antigonus. Seleucus, realizing that the enemy had made a miscalculation, introduced elephants into the battle. They were not dangerous for the Macedonians, who had learned to use combustibles and boards studded with nails against huge animals. However, the elephants finally cut off the riders from Antigonus.

The heavy phalanx of the Phrygian king was surrounded. It was attacked by light infantry, as well as mounted archers. The phalanx, unable to break through the blockade, stood under fire for several hours. Finally, the soldiers of Antigonus either surrendered or fled the battlefield. Demetrius decided to leave for Greece. 80-year-old Antigonus fought to the last, until he fell, struck down by an enemy dart.

After the Battle of Ipsus, the allies finally divided the former empire of Alexander. Cassander left Thessaly, Macedonia and Hellas behind him. Lysimachus received Thrace, Phrygia and the Black Sea region. Seleucus got Syria. Their opponent Demetrius retained several cities in Greece and Asia Minor.

All the kingdoms that arose on the ruins of the empire of Alexander the Great adopted their cultural basis from it. Even Egypt, where Ptolemy reigned, became Hellenistic. Numerous countries of the Middle East have a link in the form of the Greek language. This world existed for about two centuries until it was conquered by the Romans. The new empire also absorbed many features of Greek culture.

Today, the place and year of the death of Alexander the Great are indicated in every textbook of ancient history. The premature departure from the life of the great commander became one of the major events for all contemporaries.

Alexander the Great (born July 356 BC - death 323 BC) - the great commander of antiquity, the king of Macedonia from the Argead dynasty. The death of Alexander the Great overtook suddenly, when he was at the peak of his fame, heading the colossal Greco-Macedonian-Persian power.

In the struggle for power against Alexander, conspiracies were drawn up more than once, including among the inner circle. For these reasons, the great commander executed the naval commander Philot and killed his personal friend Cleitus, who was involved in the so-called "conspiracy of pages." By the will of Fate, having managed to avoid death from the sword and poison, he fell victim to the disease.

fatal feast

It happened in 323 BC. e., when the king stood with his army in Babylon, preparing for new campaigns. Along with military preparations, Alexander had fun at friendly feasts, indulged in unrestrained drunkenness. Orgy followed another orgy, feast after feast.

Most of all, he trusts his beloved Admiral Nearchus and Mediah of Larissa, the cupbearer. And those with might and main are pushing their sovereign to excesses. After one of these feasts ended, returning to the palace in the morning, the king felt a heat. He wanted to bathe, but he was so weak that he had to lie down right there in the bath.

Attacks of the disease

On the evening of the next day he had a second attack of the disease. Some historians believe that it could be pneumonia, others believe that the king fell ill with tropical malaria.

On the third day of his illness, according to the researcher, “Macedonsky was able to take a bath and make a sacrifice to the gods ... After that, he received the naval commander Nearchus and confirmed that everything remained in place, as was decided earlier: in three days the fleet should leave the harbor. Nearchus sat for a long time with the great commander, but they did not play dice. They talked about their common plans, about exploratory expeditions in the ocean. The strength of the spirit was supposed to help Alexander overcome bodily weakness and a terrible illness.

However, the next day the king had a third attack of incredible strength. He probably became decisive for the outcome of the disease. Being in the heat, he took a bath, made a sacrifice, again called the military leaders to him. Despite the chills and fever, he declared that the deadlines must be respected and everything should be prepared for the troops to march tomorrow. By evening, the commander was brought to the bathhouse. The attack passed, but the general health of the patient did not improve. The next night was especially difficult.

Last Order

By morning the fever had returned. In order to somehow moderate him, the king was transferred to the gazebo on the shore of the pond. Gathering all his iron will, he again made a sacrifice. After the fever subsided, he called the military leaders to him, gave the order to march, and even talked about new appointments in the army. However, the next day the great commander felt very bad, and after that the attack of fever began again. With difficulty, Alexander was able to perform another sacrifice. However, the king was still thinking about starting the campaign, although the scheduled dates were violated. He wanted to return to the palace and ordered that the highest commanders should come there. This was his last order. Macedonian still commanded, as he was accustomed to, in accordance with his boundless will and power.

Was not the will and power of this man, now struggling with death, always unlimited? Wasn’t he able to defeat the Persians with their help, didn’t he force his associates and the military assembly to obey? Did not the Pythia of Delphi praise him as an invincible god? Was he not the ruler of the world and the son of Ammon? And although now he was fighting the disease like any mortal person, is it really not possible for him to emerge victorious in this fight? ...

On deathbed

As you can see, Alexander's body, greatly weakened by everyday bouts of malaria, could not resist two diseases at once; the second disease was either inflammation of the lungs, or malaria-induced transient leukemia (leukemia). Therefore, the heat that constantly tormented the commander did not stop. The next day, the king's forces completely left. The great commander was transferred to the palace, where he dozed off, but waking up, he could no longer speak from weakness. He could still recognize his associates. Perdiccas (the royal bodyguard) did not leave the bed of the dying man, and Alexander handed him the royal ring with a seal.

Every day in the royal chambers it became quieter, and around the palace, anxiety and excitement increased. Until that time, until the orders to start the campaign were canceled, the army did not lose hope and faith in the strength of its all-conquering sovereign. However, when all the appointed dates passed, and the news about the tsar's well-being became less and less comforting, when the military leaders began to talk to each other only in a whisper, a gloomy suspicion arose, then turned into confidence: the beloved tsar had already died, and they are trying to hide it. Macedonian soldiers demanded to see his body. They were allowed to see the dying man. And they passed one by one, without weapons, stepping carefully and quietly, past the king, who was no longer able to speak and greeted them only with a movement of his eyes. Miraculously, it seemed that he was still alive; the last thing he saw in his life were his loyal warriors.”

Death of Alexander

The Greek gods did not help the king, and then several of his associates decided to ask for help from the local Babylonian god-healer. According to the old Greek custom, they lay down to sleep in the temple of Serapis, waiting to see if the deity would bring their sovereign to the temple. They were assisted by the priests of the temple. As the legend says, the answer of the Babylonian god was tacit: "It is better for the king to remain where he is now."

Alexander the Great died between the evening of June 10 and the evening of June 11, 323 BC. e. He was 32 years old. Death came quietly, like a dream, in an instant destroying the plans for world domination, the empire, claims to a divine origin ... Through the bronze face of the king, the features of a simple mortal man appeared, as helpless before fate as the last of his subjects.

Versions about the poisoning of Alexander

It should be noted that none of the companions of the great commander died of an infectious disease.

In our time, researchers have paid attention to the symptoms that accompanied the king's illness. He had convulsions, frequent vomiting, muscle weakness and an irregular pulse. All this may indicate poisoning. In addition, the versions of the death of Alexander the Great also include a theory about the improper treatment of the sovereign.

Even in ancient times, the version about the poisoning of Alexander by his commander Antipater, who was threatened with removal from the post of governor in Macedonia, was popular.