Leadership
is a vital trait for anyone who desires to be a leader. Alexander the Great led
a flourishing empire and became a dominant figure of history because of his
great ambitions and ingenuity. Alexander’s title is being dismissed because of
a modern public opinion of warfare, with his actual achievements being
overlooked. Alexander’s leadership was so prominent that other leaders took his
lead and were inspired by him. Though he experienced an untimely death, Alexander’s
natural, potent leadership and influence on history justifies his name.
Alexander
had distinguished, natural skills as a child before he was an empire ruler.
When Alexander was 11 to 12 years of age, Philip II purchased a horse named
Bucephalus, who “appeared to be savage and altogether intractable, neither
allowing any one to mount him, nor heeding the voice of any Philip’s
attendants… [Philip] believing him to be altogether wild and unbroken”
(Plutarch). Plutarch emphasizes the frustration that Philip and his attendants
had with the horse, using terms “wild” and “unbroken” to deem it untamable.
Plutarch then stresses how Alexander scoffs the elders for not being courageous
enough, saying “I could manage better than others have” (Plutarch), emphasizing
the greatness of him. Alexander is courageous enough to speak out and challenge
against his father, a must-need trait for a leader. He proceeded to tame the
horse out of disbelief of others, and his father remarks, “My son, seek thee
out a kingdom equal to thyself; Macedonia has not room for thee” (Plutarch).
Alexander has outsmarted his father, and he as a king commands Alexander to
find a larger empire than Macedonia - Philip believes his son is superior to
him. Alexander proved himself great during his youth.
Alexander’s
potent governance allowed him to triumph over his enemies at wartime. Found in
Sidon, Lebanon is “Alexander Sarcophagus”, (see image on the left) created in
the 4th century B.C.E. depicting Alexander the Great on a horse fighting
Persian soldiers. This crafting strategically exemplifies Alexander’s greatness
through his physical location in correlation to the other Persian soldiers.
Alexander’s horse is standing over another soldier, trampling him, and on its
hinds legs to gain an advantage on a Persian’s horse. Alexander being on the
upper part of the frame is a symbol of his dominance over his enemies, using
them as a platform to grow higher. While Alexander has his arm outstretched and
open, the soldier in front of him uses his arm to cover his head as he fears
the one chasing him. Even Alexander’s horse is glorified, being on its hind
legs to gain an advantage on a Persian horse that is mid-collapse. Though he
has yet to fight Alexander himself, the rightmost soldier faces away from him,
running for his life not daring to turn back or fight. Alexander was exalted by
his people as a noble and fearful leader.
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Modern
historians believe that Sundiata and the politics of his Mali empire were
directly influenced by Alexander the Great and that of his empire. From an
account of Alexander, when he was born, “... lightning flashed suddenly,
thunder began to rumble, the ground shook and all the heavens were moved.”
(pseudo- Callisthenes). Callisthenes observed that the birth of Alexander was
associated with nature, and from that he concluded that events were a signal of
his divinity with the gods. Similarly recorded in the Mali epic, at the birth
of Sundiata, “Suddenly the sky darkened… thunder began to rumble and swift
lightning rent the clouds. A flash of lightning accompanied by a dull rattle of
thunder burst out of the east and lit up the sky as far as the west…” In both
of these documents are recordings of lightning and thunder at their birth, with
both of their fathers receiving prophecies that their son would conquer the
world. These sovereigns also had a similar father-son relationship: Alexander
and Sundiata both fought in order to impress them. The record of Alexander,
“Then Alexander, eagerly longing to show off his valour to his father, since
his desire to distinction had no bounds… was first to break through the solid
front of the enemy lines...” (Diodorus, 16, 86, 3) is similar to the record of
Sundiata, “Moussa Tounkara was a great warrior and therefore he admired
strength, When Sundiata was fifteen the king took him with him on campaign.
Sundiata astonished the whole army with his strength and his dash in the
charge.” Alexander had a “desire for distinction” which “had no bounds” - he
aspired to be a great soldier for his father. Sundiata knew his father “admired
strength”, and so he attempted to earn his admiration through his valiant
actions in combat. With similar interests, modern historians believe
Alexander’s influence on Sundiata has destined Sundiata to a similar political
outcome as the empire of Alexander.
Alexander’s
is worthy of his title through his influence over succeeding empires with his
smart and tactical decision-making. Through his conquering, Alexander has
affected and changed most major civilizations in his time, reshaping the world
and its cultures to allow it to be the great distinction that is today. Though
not just limited to these points, Alexander should be continue holding his
current title that was given to him a long time ago. A great person has
ambitious goals, natural ingenuity, and a thriving outcome - Alexander the
Great is a prime example.
Works
Cited
“Alexander the Great in
Battle with Persians.” World History:
Ancient and Medieval Eras, ABC-CLIO, 2016, ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/2014839. Accessed
30 Sept. 2016.
Aristotle. “The Life of
Alexander.” Translated by Bill Thayer. Plutarch - Life of Alexander,
penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Alexander*/3.html.
Accessed 30 Sept. 2016.
Tronson, Adrian. “The ‘Life of Alexander’ and West Africa.” History
Today, Jan. 1982, www.historytoday.com/adrian-tronson/life-alexander-and-west-africa.
Accessed 30 Sept. 2016.
