Alexander The Great_ What is legend and what is truth_ Pt. 1 _ History Documentary

Alexander the Great, the shining light of ancient Greece. The prince from remote Macedonia would become the greatest conqueror of all time. He was the first European to establish an empire that stretched from the Mediterranean to the end of the known world. Fame on the battlefield was dearer to him than his own life. He turned his war into a holy mission. He entered the stage as a liberator. And he dreamed of an empire where the peoples lived together in peace. With him being at the top. Alexander's story starts with a legend. It is said that the gods announced his birth with natural phenomena. It must have been the night of July 20th, 356 BC, when Olympias went into labor. The royal family was hoping for a son. They needed an heir to the throne. Alexander was only the second born. But it was clear from the start that Olympia's son was destined to lead Macedonia into a bright future. In the 4th century BC, Greece was undergoing radical change. While some still believed in myth and divine providence, others were already seeking scientific reasoning. The big cities facilitated these new trends. Above all, Athens, which had established democracy. There, the citizens determined the politics. Alexander's home was far away from the modern centers. North of Mount Olympus, in a rural area. Macedonia had long been a simple peasant state. A kingdom that had long been economically irrelevant and politically in dire straits. Only Alexander's father, King Philip II, showed what he and his country were capable of. He reorganized his forces, developed new weapons, and turned the cavalry into his strongest attack formation. He extended his spear of power in several battles, and he forged alliances. However, the four biggest cities turned against the victorious leader. The heir to the throne enjoyed an elite education. On a daily basis, he practiced close combat and the handling of weapons. His education prepared him for a tough reality. Whoever wanted to rule, had to be able to fight. His father, Philip, lived by it. He was mostly at war, while Olympius took care of their son's upbringing. Come on, Alexander! Earn your companion's respect! You can't even defend yourself. Come here. Leave me alone! What's going on, son? I'm sorry, father. I... I have... Never show your weakness. You have to be the best. Always. Stop it. He's still a child. That's not your business. Macedonia needs warriors. And what do I get? My first son is a moron, and the second one a loser. You ridicule me. Alexander, show him what you have learned. I've seen enough for today. To understand the relationship between Philip and Alexander, it is important to take into account that although Philip was married to seven women, he only had two sons from these marriages. And his second son, Philip Aradias, didn't live up to his expectations. He might have had a physical impairment. Sometimes he's even characterized as moronic. Hence, Alexander was the only son that Philip could present to the world. Alexander not only had to live up to his father, but also to his divine descent. A mosaic from Pella shows him with a lion. He looks like Heracles, a son of Zeus. The lion symbolizes Alexander's royal descent, and Heracles symbolizes his godlike status. He was born into it. Alexander's parents also believed in their divine descent. This form of fictional pedigree wasn't uncommon in ancient times. Many royal families justified their claim to power with it. The belief in gods was taken seriously in Macedonia. No one doubted that the heir to the throne, Alexander, had inherent superhuman skills. But it was Olympia's religious beliefs that influenced Alexander. She engaged in religious rituals and kept telling the boy that he wasn't of this world. Come to me, my darling. Don't listen to your father. His heart is made of stone. I do as he wishes. Why is he always disappointed in me? Come on. No, he's not disappointed. He's jealous. Because your blood is more royal than his. Mother, please. You don't really believe that. I'll tell you a secret. The night you were conceived, I heard thunder, and I felt that lightning struck my body. But you're unharmed. Don't you understand? Zeus made you. Zeus is your father. Philip knows it and is jealous. The king's son was only 13 when Aristotle agreed to educate the prince in Pella. He taught Alexander everything about Greek culture. Drama, geography, sciences, as well as literature and philosophy. But most importantly, he studied Homer's Iliad. The story was compulsory reading. Every Greek knew it. Can you remember what Achilles' father told his son? He should always be the best and outdo everyone. My father could have said this. Your father might be wiser than many think. Did Achilles manage? Achilles' ambition is unlike normal people's ambition. He was driven by holy wrath. Because he took revenge for Patroclus and had his murderer dragged through the mud for days? That's right. But he also showed benevolence. In having him buried in dignity, Achilles had a choice. Between a long life that would sink into oblivion, or a short life and eternal glory. I will never achieve that. Why not? My father won't leave anything to me. Before I can prove myself, he'll have conquered all of Greece. Come here, I'll show you something. Come on. Let him have Greece. You've got the whole world left. From the Persian Empire, all the way to India. Hundred years ago, their king attacked Greece. He destroyed our cities and burned the Acropolis of Athens. What happened then? The Greeks united and drove the Persians out. What is left for me then? The Persians are still a constant threat. Their soldiers are stationed across the Hellespont. They are right at our doorstep. Even Achilles' grave is in the hands of these barbarians. Do you want eternal glory? Unite the Greeks and lead them against the Persians? That would indeed be a heroic act. After three years, Alexander was ready for being a sovereign. Most of his preparation came from Aristotle. They didn't always agree, but the scholar remained one of his closest advisors. The best-known legend from Alexander's childhood is the taming of Bucephalus. What's your father doing here? He's looking for horses for the royal guards. I can't wait for us to fight by the king's side. Maybe, but I don't think my father wants to have me by his side. What have you got today? A horse befitting only a king. This is Bucephalus, my best horse. But Bucephalus means ox-head. Some think it's because of his branding. Others think it's because he is stubborn, like an ox. A proud horse. What does it cost? Thirteen talents. That's a high price. Let me have a look at it. According to the sources, many tried, but nobody could ride the stallion. Only Alexander understood why the horse was in a panic. I know why Bucephalus is nervous. Why? Wait! I've got enough wild mares. I don't need a stubborn stallion. Father, I can ride him. Don't be too sure. If a grown man can't do it, why should you? Let me try it. Please. If I can't tame him, I'll pay you back. Okay, I'm offering six talents. I don't want my son to be heavily indebted so young. Don't be afraid. You're afraid of your own shadow, right? Turn around. Calm down. Look at him. That's my son. Look for a suitable kingdom, my son. Macedonia is too small for you. With this story, Alexander's conquests became providential, and his horse became the most famous animal of ancient times. The connection between the stallion and the prince was unique. No one but him was ever able to ride Bucephalus, they say. At that time, the end of the known world was believed to be in India. The exotic country was said to border the world ocean that surrounded the globe. But the earth is larger than ancient scholars suspected. Allegedly, 135,000 volunteer soldiers dared to make the journey across the dangerous Khyber Pass to India. The corps army was more than twice as large as it was at the beginning of the conquest. In the spring of 326 BC, they reached the Indus Valley in today's Pakistan. The army fought heat and humidity. The fauna was exotic and full of mosquitoes. The monsoon had turned the soil into impassable marshland. But nature wasn't the only challenge. At the river Hadaspes, the Indian king Poros attacked Alexander. With an equally strong army and with war elephants. It was a bloody battle, evenly balanced for long periods. But in the end, the conquerors from the west succeeded. It was the last big battle they fought. Alexander's army was at the end of its forces. And it is said that he faced the greatest loss of his life. Bucephalus, his beloved horse, died from exhaustion. His death allegedly broke Alexander's heart. The Macedonian conquered the big coastal cities within a few months. And he had large parts of Turkey under his control. When he chose Gordian to be his winter quarters. In the temple, he discovered Phrygian King Gordius' famous card. And this is supposed to be a card for a king? It belonged to Gordius, king of Phrygia. When the Phrygians looked for a king, the Oracle told them to choose the first man they saw on a cart. And by chance that was Gordius? Is that how quickly you can become king? Yes, but that's not the whole story. Do you see this knot? What about it? It says whoever can untie this knot will reign the Persian Empire. The knot doesn't seem to have a beginning or an end. The story of the Gordian knot is just a legend. And it was clever propaganda. Like all Greeks, Alexander admired high culture. Rule over pharaonic Egypt would be highly regarded back home. After taking power, he offered sacrifices to the gods and consulted the Oracle. He got what he had hoped for. Alexander was made a god-like pharaoh. His portrait was even carved into stone as an acknowledgement that he was the rightful son of the highest god, Amun-Re. Shortly after, the new pharaoh set a sign. He founded Alexandria, modeled on Greek cities. It was a symbol of his passion for establishing his own culture in the conquered territories. All in all, Alexander founded at least ten cities with his name. But the metropolis by the Mediterranean was the most important one. We can see that very clearly with the foundation of Alexandria, he had the vast resources in mind that Egypt and the Middle East offered. Economic resources. He planned a big seaport that would connect Egypt with the Mediterranean like a hub.