What Killed Alexander the Great?

[@erih2934]

Looking at the successors, their abilities and huge egos it becomes clear that Alexander must have been an extraordinary personality to have been able to lead them with as few rebellions as we saw. This probably impresses me even more than his military record.

[@swim2kill]

Very good point. When you evaluate their actions after he died. Yeah it becomes obvious he was more than just a nepo baby who inherited a great army. He really must have been a very strong, capable leader very good point

[@johnpats7024]

This is an extraordinarily good point, it can be very difficult to lead those who want to lead themselves.

[@Samuel-tc7nf]

And he was 5’5

[@secouepaslekombucha]

He was also pretty paranoid and never forgave nor forgot a slight, which probably helped keep everyone in line.

[@chastenjennings]

I think it’s because he put himself on the front line of almost every battle. So it earned the respect that you won’t get from being a faceless commander that protects himself above his people.

[@HistoryandHeadlines]

If Alexander the Great lived longer, would he have conquered more, eventually been defeated, or consolidated what he already had conquered? Also, would his empire have survived longer if he had an adult son to succeed him?

[@debbralehrman5957]

Interesting points🤔👍🏼

[@artawhirler]

He wouldn't have consolidated anything, because he had no interest in governing, only in fighting. If he had an adult son to succeed him, that might have been a different story. As for conquering more territory, the only places left to go were Europe and North Africa. I can't see the Macedonian phalanx working very well in dense forest against people like the Gauls and Visigoths. I don't know enough about North Africa at that time period to give a useful opinion.

[@verneymoyo5754]

Alexander had unfulfilled plans that were read allowed by Perdikkas to the royal army after his death. This was done so they could be safely discarded by the successors after his death, though some doubt the authenticity of the documents themselves. They included the building of grand temples dedicated to himself and Hephaistion, conquering the african coast all the way to the pillars of herakles (straits of Gibraltar), the massive expansion of the royal fleet so it could support this campaign (this had already began under Kleitos the White and Krateros in Cilicia when Alexander died), a mixture of ethinic populations and racial groups, doubtless the founding of more cities, and more immediately the conquest of the Arabian coast. The Achaemenids were an ailing super power when Alexander invaded. If he had gone west, I am almost certain he would have eventually lost his winning streak. Rome was slowly rising at this time, as well as Carthage. If he did have an adult son I rate the empire would have lasted much longer in an intact state, but the threat of collapse was never faraway as the near mutinies at Opis and on the banks of the Beas demonstrate. This is because the army placed an almost divine reverence upon the house of the Argeads. It is also important to keep in mind that the things that forced Macedon - and in turn its kings - to become great had been largely resolved (having a chip on your shoulder, fiscal challenges, and turbulent internal politics).

[@axlefoxe]

I agree with the fighting, but i think he was alienating his core leaders, i think he would have ended up assasinated if actually that isnt what happened (obviously no evidence, but not impossible

[@bavariancarenthusiast2722]

Well Alexander was driven by .... demons - there is nobody in history really to compare. He was conquering not only the known world - but also he built new cities anywhere, founded numerous places which seems to be impossible from today´s perspective

[@nubber04]

You guys should do one on Philip, about him coming to power, and then expanding Macedon and the military reforms he implemented

[@4gegtyreeyuyeddffvyt]

Zip it, twit!

[@juancana457]

21:31 As a retired clinician, I strongly assume someone in a coma, theoretically, for week in an arid climate and without being provided redehydration would very likely be dead from dehydration and hypothermia from the cool desert nights.

[@sap4596]

Alexander was Macedonian, not Greek.

[@DimitriMetaxas]

@@sap4596anachronistic observation.

[@juancana457]

@@sap4596 The following was copied from BBC's website: Macedonia has long existed as a northern region in Greece that includes second city Thessaloniki. Perform due diligence to prevent expressing oneself unwisely.

[@sap4596]

@@juancana457 The following is a fact: Greece is a relatively new country from 1830, the what they call Macedonia region is even newer, 1930s. They can name they regions like they want, like any other country. But ethnicity is a different thing. Perform due diligence to prevent expressing oneself unwisely.

[@monkeytennis8861]

​@@sap4596you're still chatting shite

[@TorvusVae]

If you haven't already, I'd love a video about the cult of Alexander in the Hellenistic era

[@anthonybomberry9935]

Thanks!

[@liamobrien4985]

"Tyrant they yell so easily, I laugh, no tyrant ever gave back so much."

[@Miodrag.Vukomanovic]

Are you talking about Putin the Great?

[@liamobrien4985]

@@Miodrag.Vukomanovic You're right, he is a great tyrant.

[@guntertorfs6486]

@@liamobrien4985 He's great at nothing but being a tyrant.

[@liamobrien4985]

@@guntertorfs6486 That's my point mate.

[@guntertorfs6486]

@@liamobrien4985 I know : just seconding it.

[@jordanB206]

If anyone has not yet heard Alexander the Great’s speech to his men when they wanted to disband. Then I highly suggest finding the time to listen to it. It’ll make you feel like you can conquer the world and more.

[@Alexander-kj1bk]

Make a documentary about Alexander the Great family after Alexander's death, including wife,mother,sister,children, and brother

[@epluribusunum1460]

Mary Renault wrote a wonderful novel about Alexander, called “The Persian Boy”.

[@annett9878]

Yes, wonderful indeed. I loved it too.

[@quintuscrinis]

I know its a small thing but thank you for using the historically recorded last words of Caesar in the Greek rather than the Shakeksperean. 10:39

[@bavariancarenthusiast2722]

Hang on - the ancient romans did not talk English? :)

[@quintuscrinis]

​@bavariancarenthusiast2722 no, they didn't. ;) But my actual point was the use of the Greek phrase translated as "and you child", while Shakespeare has him use a similar phrase in Latin translated as "you too, Brutus". Caesar wrote his auto-bigraphies in simplistic Latin, but this was the language of the commoners and Middle class. Caesar was very much upper class and would therefore have used Greek to show his intelect and status. Much the same way the nobility in England used to use French and later Latin over the common tongue of English.

[@artawhirler]

We don't even know what Jane Austen died from, and she was in an English speaking country just a couple of centuries ago.

[@joshuataylor3550]

Racist

[@PhyrexJ]

@@joshuataylor3550what’s racist about that? Moron

[@Mikejones011990]

Yep, people just "took a fever" and died. It's easy to take modern medicine for granted. A few pills might have saved Alexander.

[@G.G.276]

@@Mikejones011990Water would have Saved Him! He was Drinking Tainted Wine!

[@Mikejones011990]

@@G.G.276 I guess it depends on the water source and treatment. Seems like tainted wine would've tasted terrible enough to realize it was bad, maybe like vinegar. But maybe not. I guess it could've been methanol. Now diarrhea is mostly embarrassing and inconvenient, sometimes painful; but it has claimed a lot of lives through history. It's rough when replacing water with weak alcoholic drinks improves health. It's easy to take modern medicine for granted, but the human population trendline shows something interesting happened in the early 20th century. I'd have died at least 7 different ways before then.

[@pepper2304]

He drank wine and started choking his last breath. Poison imo

[@dirremoire]

Aspiration pneumonia.

[@luckyspurs]

1:19 Wow, that image really hammers it home in a way that's hard to picture or visualise sometimes.

[@Maccus1000]

Omg I love your videos I'm aiming to be a classical historian just like you. Thank you for sharing such precious knowledge about one of the greatest man in history

[@gonefishing167]

Really good, thank you. For all these years I thought I knew about Alexander and I never knew he was married! I knew he had ‘ companions’ amongst his soldiers but not the wife bit and not a child/ children bit! We really do learn something every day. What happened to his children . Ooh, I’ve been to Saqquara! I didn’t trip over him 🙏🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

[@G.G.276]

Those Men Are Always Betraying Each Other and The Silly Women who Trust them!

[@PakaBubi]

probably his body is under a carpark ...

[@rodeastell3615]

Great video and very interesting ... thanks for posting.

[@wilsontheconqueror8101]

By the time he reached India his with allied troops Alexander's army must have been massive! Still his battles there at the Hydapsis turned the soldiers against any further campaigning Eastward. His desire & drive to military campaigning was enormous! And his officers & soldiers were probably beginning to believe Alexander was a little yoo hoo in the head!😅 In Oliver Stones movie about Alexander he portrays his death as a result of his officer class & nobility poisoning Alexander because of his obsession with continuing expansion & the military campaigns it would require. I think Stones portrayal is a fair possibility. Or either Malaria. Or just a combination of infections from his wore out body. Alexander had a fair amount of battle wounds. Its not surprising he died at 32. What is surprising is that he made it to 32!

[@shanch4055]

Alexander reached the western banks of the river Indus. On the other side of the river was the mighty kingdom of the Nanda Dynasty. Alexander's soldiers refused to become 'cannon fodder' under the giant feet of the elephants in the Indian army. Anyways, Alexander had to satisfy himself attacking the petty kings along the Indus. Now in India the rule then was no fighting in the night (something like the Geneva convention of today). But Alexander had no such rules. He attacked in the night and killed the king. The queen came out in defense and had thrown that spear from atop an elephant which punctured his lung. Wounded Alexander tried to return back by the sea route. But died en route or some time after reaching land. Thats the history which no western history book will tell.

[@Elmo914]

@@shanch4055 Utter bullocks, the Macedonians were not afraid of Indian armies beyond the river, they were tired of the Indian weather, terrain and diseases. No, Alexander had his lungs punctured when besieging a town, he was the first to climb the walls and was hit by an arrow.

[@olorin3815]

To be fair Macedonians must have been very very dissatisfied, he kept pushing east further and further and to sustain his conquest and prevent rebellions he had to placate all the conquered nobility and people which in turn meant Macedonians weren't rewarded as much as they wanted as Alexander had to honor local customs and maintain at least some power of local nobility and they went further and further from their homes and were in constant war. It wouldn't be surprising if he was poisoned

[@Tadicuslegion78]

And all the diseases, infections, war wounds, and physical exhaustion from nonstop war

[@G.G.276]

And Living Loose

[@npdcpa]

From a documentary that aired years ago, they suggested accidental poisoning from moonbeam, an herb commonly used to treat illnesses back then but easily over prescribed.

[@jonerlandson1956]

do you have any idea how long that guy partied?....

[@austin8775]

This is a much more interesting video than the title would lead you to believe

[@jedsmith111]

Agreed. Much better than a lame video with a misleading/catchy title

[@big1dog23]

Excellent, but the audio is a bit distorted.

[@michaelterry3885]

What would you guys say to, doing a comprehensive, if not moderately so, video on Pyrrhus of Epirus..? I would be very pleased to see this.. I think he was an absolutely fascinating character, and very much lost if not completely forgotten, hero and conqueror of historic renown and proportion...?!

[@GB-nu6ow]

always excellent from Tristan

[@silliaek]

Take a shot every time he says Alexander

[@eddiemawson2007]

The Iron Maiden song was not far wrong was it…Great explanation from HH as always

[@davidfigueroa6351]

..Somewhere in time..

[@debbralehrman5957]

Thanks this was very interesting.👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🎁🕯🌟🕯🎁

[@hagesum]

Alexander lost the battle to Porus in the haydaspes battle. An account of his loss is been hidden to showcase how great Alexander was.

[@JLJameson]

Could it be possible that Alexander died from sepsis or parircardial or brain abscess with an origin from an impacted wisdom tooth? Is there any reference you have seen to a facial or neck swelling? Some of the descriptions I have read of his pre-mortem course, if they contained a description of such swelling, would read like a chart from a couple of patients I have seen over the past forty years as an Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon.

[@johnirby8847]

Seems like someone would've mentioned that! Maybe that's why he drank so much! Cool comment! I personally believe he was poisoned by his own men...it kind of lines up after the failed mutiny and him taking the long way home as a sort of punishment to his men!

[@MilesCWard]

I always thought it was the esteemed James Bissonette who killed him

[@kathrynstemler6331]

I think it was either Kelly Moneymaker or Spinning Three Plates.

[@katherinecollins4685]

Great video

[@Werkschatz]

hi - is there a History Hit on Antiochus Epiphanes?

[@joancurran4897]

Excellent documentary! Many thanks. ❤

[@drimachuck]

8:04 who is that artwork by? I tried to reverse image search and didn't find any hits

[@senneschreurs9588]

Definitely buying that book!

[@zacharyhensley2939]

I swear if it was me back in those days nobody would ever handle my cup but me lol. I'd also never drink out of a wine bottle that I haven't opened myself.

[@adamtyson3962]

I always enjoy hearing about Alexander from Tristan Hughes; another excellent video! @16:55 I would be curious to know the source that claims Stateira was murdered by Roxana and also how this source compares to Plutarch's account of her dying in childbirth. The Netflix series relies on Plurarch heavily even though he's writing some 4 centuries later. I would love to see a video with Tristan evaluating the Netflix series and critiquing its sources!

[@c.r.i.s]

If I recall correctly what I read once, there were 2 women called Stateira: 1. Darius' wife who allegedly died in childbirth long after his husband's defeat and death (idk which source this comes from) and 2. Darius' daughter who went to marry Alexander and supposedly got murdered by Roxana following his death. (I havent yet watched the Netflix series so i'm not sure how much timeline it covers to know if it got mixed up or not, but i agree on wanting an evaluation/critique to see)

[@tatjanavelkova5814]

@@c.r.i.s you suppose..... who is murder ??

[@c.r.i.s]

@@tatjanavelkova5814 ??

[@erinaltstadt4234]

I would love to learn more about Alexander the Great

[@Miodrag.Vukomanovic]

Why do you type sheet just to hear yourself talk? You're watching a video learning about him right now aren't you?

[@annwilliams6438]

From his extremes in the way he treated conquered peoples, as well as from the written record of his drinking, I think he was a serious alcoholic. His liver was probably trashed even by this stage, so any illness or lingering injury (even if not major) could have caused his liver to shut down.

[@Catherine-pianoteacher]

Maybe he had cirrhosis? Sultan Murad IV, who was also a Leo like Alexander, who conquered Baghdad and made his subjects fear and kneel to him was also a heavy drinker who died from cirrhosis of the liver at age 27.

[@gonefishing167]

I’m no historian but I think the statues at Saquarra could have been a red herring. If control of Alexander’s body was paramount , I’d say it was shifted . The Potolomys ruled Egypt for a long time after he died and I’m sure they all would have been aware of the power of his body. Perhaps, like cleopatra’s tomb, under the sea when the coast line shifted ( earthquake I think). Perhaps he even got his wish finally and was quietly buried at the Oasis. Thanks, best I’ve ever heard. Oh, back in 2012 , just when the Arab Spring was happening and the threat of Isis was very real ( they’d destroyed historical buildings in Syria I think), there was an announcement that they had found both cleopatras tomb and Alexander’s. Nothing since because of the isis threat. That’s what I heard anyway. 🙏🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

[@josephpercente8377]

Malaria? Pneumonia? Typhoid? Could have been made worse by alcoholism and or chest wounds.

[@borismuller86]

Some sort of poison?

[@karin5831]

meningitis/encephalitis?

[@oneshotme]

I enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@austin8775]

Shoutout to Tristan Hughes

[@Major98]

People take credit from Alexander because of King Philip. While I think there is some merit that Philip provided a strong foundation for his heir to succeed, I think Alexander the Great rose to the occasion and purpose that he was "destined" for

[@Sardarkhan69]

Great video thankyou

[@KoriePrince]

If anyone is interested you should read Peter Green’s Alexander of Macedon. One of the most brilliant and exhaustive biographies on The Conqueror I’ve ever read.

[@pixelambience1767]

To be fair, if my father was a King, skilled politician and general who ensured i was educated by Aristotle, who also left me the most skilled and best equipped, professional, army of its time. And my neighbouring city states had recently finished tearing themselves apart in decades long wars, and my vanguard was already making inroads in Asia Minor. Given all of this i reckon i could probably make it into work on time, at least a couple of days a week.

[@rodrigofluhr]

I didn't know he had a favorite dog, awesome!

[@GodsOath_com]

A different tale than every other historian I've heard.

[@TihetrisWeathersby]

Alexander liked to live life on the edge in the fastlane, He lived like Larry

[@TihetrisWeathersby]

​@@DJay98the greatest man that ever lived

[@nickyfield137]

Yeah but was he as happy ?

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

It was an informative and wonderful historical coverage video👍🏻🙏. about Aleksandra great. His deathly circumstances . Aleksandra comrade Generals organized Salukis empire from hindokush to Asian minor territory .which was a powerful central government in Mesopotamia ,Syria, and Asian minor. But it was fragmented separated warlord castles 🏰 in Persia and central Asian territory...thank you ( history Hit) channel

[@kaloarepo288]

What is the Saluki empire? Do you mean the Seljuk empire of the Turks???

[@olorin3815]

​@@kaloarepo288 nah he means Seleucid empire formed by Sleucus a general of Alexander he was one of the diadochi(inheritors of alexanders empire) he basically ended up with much of Asia minor, Syria, Mesopotamia and Persia like the op said, ptolemey obviously got egypt and there were some other diadochi but these 2 were most significant iirc

[@kaloarepo288]

@@olorin3815 Thanks! "Saluki" is also a breed of dogs - just imagine an empire run by dogs - would be interesting!

[@oneshotme]

Maybe some type of Staff infection from all of the injuries he had

[@christigoth]

@HistoryHit SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH THE AUDIO, IT SOUNDS VERY MUFFLED AND STRANGE.

[@geejackson5363]

Who is this guy, and where did he come across this history? This has never been mentioned in any of the other documentaries in detail.

[@bcvan9999]

In a way, Alexander was lucky to win in Persia. The other wars were rather small. The reason why he turned back from the Indus area was that he was injured in one of the fights and his mercenaries didn't want to fight any more. I wonder if he was as great as Genghis Khan.

[@pharaohpharaoh1008]

1 Maccabees 11:16-20 [16]So Alexander fled into Arabia there to be defended; but king Ptolemee was exalted: [17]For Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander's head, and sent it unto Ptolemee. [18]King Ptolemee also died the third day after, and they that were in the strong holds were slain one of another. [19]By this means Demetrius reigned in the hundred threescore and seventh year. [20]At the same time Jonathan gathered together them that were in Judea to take the tower that was in Jerusalem: and he made many engines of war against it.

[@AAAA-lt9hq]

Some thoughts from a former graduate student in history: 1) The death of Alexander and the indecision among his successors somewhat parallel the Biblical story of Christ and the Apostles after the Crucifixion and Resurrection in Christian theological canon. The fates of the individual Apostles seem uncertain and led to a variety of stories that arose during the Middle Ages, usually to give a place some sort of spiritual and political legitimacy (like the body of St. Andrew ending up in Constantinople). The Wars of the Diadochi also seem to parallel theological debates between influential Roman bishops in major cities and their disagreements over Christian theology during the late Western Roman Empire. Much like Christ, Alexander's ultimate motivations and plans in specific situations seem unclear, leading their followers to debate what Jesus and Alexander would have done in X situation down to this very day. 2) Alexander's empire laid the groundwork for the Roman Empire in much the same way the 19th century British empire laid the groundwork for the 20th century American empire. Alexander's most important contribution was not his empire, but his establishment of Greek as a lingua franca in the East that the Romans could use to (somewhat) tie their empire together in that region. Latin was never adopted as widely in the East as Greek, but the influence of Greek culture and language upon the Romans made it easier for the Greeks to exercise their power in the East with Hellenized natives as intermediaries. 3) It is ironic that the Romans spelled the end of the Hellenistic empires, and yet the last place Rome would live on would be in Byzantium before it fell to the Turks in 1453, not far from historical Macedonia where Alexander came to power as an outsider imposing his will on the southern Greek and then far Eastern worlds. 4) One should not romanticize Alexander overly much. His armies were not invincible. Yes, he was a brilliant tactician, but many of his victories were also luck due to his enemies being disorganized and weak after the Persian Wars. The Romans defeated the phalanxes by outflanking them when they conquered Greece. Phalanxes were formidable head on but could be easily outflanked because they were slow to turn while keeping formation. Alexander's effective use of cavalry protected these exposed flanks. The Romans would arguably not effectively use heavy cavalry until the Byzantine period, opting instead for heavy legionnaire infantry. So, I see Alexander's successes as more opportunistic than inherently superior due to technology, tactics, and institutions. Alexander conquered and moved on. The Romans came to stay. It is important to remember that the southern Greeks saw Alexander as a barbarian and an outsider, although a Greek-speaking one. Speculation about Alexander holding the empire together if only he had lived is a bit of wishful thinking. He probably would have had to put down rebellions and civil wars once the conquests stopped. It is one thing to conquer an empire. It is another to rule it. Divisions within the Greek world were always much deeper than within the Roman one. It is unfortunate that these divisions often plagued the Christian Roman empire as well as the Byzantine empire in terms of succession crises. 5) Constantine's fate mirrored Alexander's in that Constantine ushered in a new age, was buried in a city named after him, and his burial place was later destroyed. 6) Prime Julius Caesar vs. prime Alexander would have been an interesting tactical contest. Many Roman emperors made pilgrimages to Alexander's grave in order to legitimize their rule. Alexander certainly as a model for all of the pagan-era Roman emperors. 7) The Roman empire was built on the bones of the Hellenistic empires in the same way the Christian world was built on the bones of ancient Rome. Thank you for your excellent content.

[@binxbolling]

America doesn't have an Empire unless you count specks of land like Guam and Puerto Rico.

[@AAAA-lt9hq]

@@binxbolling America learned from the Victorian British that it is much easier to control the world with soft power all the time via host governments, then use military force when necessary to reinforce that soft power, versus actually conquering and controlling land. U.S. multinational corporations serve as the economic soft power. Everywhere the U.S. military has a base essentially is a colony that supports that soft power. The money made by the international corporations is then taxed and fed back into the military system, completing the cycle. In democracies, the entire point is not to have an empire in name, because this contradicts democratic consent. But in practice, it is very much an empire that took over for the British once their empire fell apart after World War II because they were bankrupt.

[@AAAA-lt9hq]

@@binxbolling My comment was removed because it was politically controversial. I suggest reading "American Empire" by Colonel Andrew J. Bacevich, since the video will not let me post what I want to say here. I think you will find reality is very different.

[@binxbolling]

@@AAAA-lt9hq The synopsis sounds like a description of the neo-conservatives, but I tend to associate "American Imperialism" as language from neo-Marxists, which I doubt KZbin has anything against.

[@AAAA-lt9hq]

@@binxbolling "The New American Militarism" is a bit more recent and on point. Just like countries don't formally declare war anymore, they don't call themselves empires even though they function as them.

[@premsot]

καταπληκτικό..well done!

[@marial8235]

If Alexander’s tomb is ever found, a lot of the questions may be answered.

[@harrygrewa4209]

Thanks

[@nicolawebb6025]

You say he controlled this empire, I've always wondered how that is possible, logistically and realistically?

[@Kenneth_Usher]

Malaria is number one suspect as he was campaigning in India at monsoon time.

[@drg598]

Indian king porus defeated him !

[@camille2881]

If Philip was not assassinated, how do you think the Persia war would have been with him and not Alexander at his head ?

[@citizenVader]

Maybe pancreatitis

[@eshaibraheem4218]

Ouch.

[@marshalmichelney-bc8qn]

I had gallstones that led into pancreatitis. Very very very painful few days in the hospital

[@citizenVader]

@@marshalmichelney-bc8qn I did not know it could come over like that. My pancreatitis was more in line with what Alexander was doing, but now it is even more plausible that he might have suffered from these attacks and responded to them like most men in his age and just drunk further..

[@citizenVader]

@eshaibraheem4218 Yes, it does hurt, but it's unfortunately also an illness that subsides in pain the more you get it. By my third time as a patient, I hardly had any pain, but I knew the symptoms, so I let myself undergo the detox, and after that, I had no more urge to do this kind of harm to my body again.

[@eshaibraheem4218]

@citizenVader So sorry you suffered, but glad you are more healthy now. Interesting that the pain diminishes with each bout. I'll be thinking of Alexander in a different way from now on.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

"There is a beautiful story: When Alexander the Great was coming to India, he met one strange man, Diogenes, on the way. Diogenes is one of the rare flowerings of human consciousness. Alexander was interested in the man; he had heard many stories about him. He was afraid to go to him. It was below him, it was against his ego. But when he was coming to India, on the way he heard that he was living just by the side of the river. Then he could not resist the temptation and he said, “Nobody will know back home that I had gone to see Diogenes. And I can always say that I was just passing and I met him by accident.” He went to see Diogenes. It was a winter morning, a cool breeze was blowing and Diogenes was lying on the river-bank, on the sand, taking a sunbath naked. He was a beautiful man. When there is a beautiful soul, a beauty arises which is not of this world - which is illogical. If Alexander looks beautiful, it is logical, remember, because he has all that you think one should have. He has power, money; he has all that one can think or imagine to have. His beauty is that of possessions. Now, here was a man lying naked, with nothing - he had nothing, not even a begging-bowl. Buddha at least had a begging-bowl. Diogenes didn’t have a begging-bowl, because one day when he was walking and going towards the river with his begging-bowl to get some water to drink, he saw a dog rushing to the river. Of course the dog reached first and the dog jumped in the river and drank. Diogenes laughed and he said, “This dog has taught me a lesson. If he can live without a begging-bowl, then why can’t I?” He threw the begging-bowl, he also jumped like the dog in the river and drank. Since then he had had nothing. And this dog must have felt something for Diogenes, because they became friends; they lived together. Alexander came. He could not believe the grace of the man. He had never seen such a graceful man, such utter beauty, something from the unknown, something illogical… because there is no reason! You cannot pin it down, where it is coming from. He was in awe and he said, “Sir…” He had not said “Sir” to anybody in his life. He said, “Sir, I am immensely impressed by your being and I would like to do something for you. Is there something that I can do for you?” Diogenes said, “Just stand to the side, because you are preventing the sun - that’s all. Nothing else do I need.” Alexander said, “If I have another chance to come to the earth, I will ask God, instead of making me Alexander again, to make me Diogenes.” Diogenes laughed and he said, “That you won’t ask for, because who is preventing you right now? You can become Diogenes. Where are you going? For months I have seen armies moving and moving - where are you going? and for what?” And Alexander said, “I am going to India to conquer the whole world.” “And then what are you going to do?” Diogenes asked. And Alexander said, “Then I will rest.” And Diogenes laughed again and he said, “You are mad - because I am resting now; and I have not conquered the world. I don’t see the necessity of it. If just in the end you want to rest and relax, why not now? How are they related? Who has told you that before resting, you have to conquer the world? And I tell you: if you don’t rest now, then never. You will never be able to conquer the world, because something or other will always remain to be conquered… and life is short and time is fleeting. You will die in the middle of your journey - everybody dies in the middle of the journey.” Alexander said, “I will keep it always in mind, but right now I cannot do it. But many many thanks for your advice.” And Alexander died in the middle. He never reached back home, he died on the way. When he was moving back from India, he died on the way. And that day he remembered Diogenes. Only Diogenes was in his mind - he could never rest in his life… and that man rested. And then a strange story has been known down the ages, that Diogenes also died on the same day. And they met on the way towards God, just crossing the border river. Alexander was ahead, a few feet ahead, when he heard somebody behind. He looked back and he was surprised - surprised and ashamed. It was Diogenes, the same beautiful man. Alexander tried to hide his shame. He said, “So again, again we are meeting, the emperor and the beggar.” And Diogenes said, “That is true. But you misunderstand one thing: you don’t know who is the beggar and who is the emperor. You are the beggar, I am the emperor, because I lived my life totally, I enjoyed it. “And I can go to God, I can face him. You will not be able to face him, because I can see: you cannot even face me! You are trembling, you are ashamed. You cannot look into my eyes - what will happen to you when you have to face God? Your whole life has been a wastage."

[@ty9884]

The Baktrians who got him hooked on that 80 proof wine.

[@karebushmarebu233]

I’m 27 and whenever I see my Uncle he asks what I’ve been up to before saying “you know Alexander the Great had created an empire by your age”

[@kohinarec6580]

You could reply "And dead in five years time".

[@-dirk-65]

That was excellent. No wonder I'm a Sub. Now proving such with my fat thumb up.

[@Mj-hl9dl]

Lead poison from the metal cups ..he wasn't the first ...A True Visionary Leader ...💔...

[@Herschel-kk6wr]

When arsenic was discovered as a poison isn't clear. However Napoleon"s body was found to be amazingly preserved when his coffin was later opened, supposedly because of arsenic in its tissues.

[@stt5v2002]

Tough to know what killed him. Possibly alcohol induced pancreatitis or a ruptured gastric ulcer given the oblast after heavy drinking and eating. Typhus or another food borne illness is also possible.

[@williamberven-ph5ig]

History records that his breath was sweet. An odd fact to record so it must have been pronounced. What produces a sweet smelling breath? Diabetes. Extremely high blood sugar gives you a breath smelling, ( as contemporarally ) described as Juicy Fruit gum. He may have slipped into a diabetic coma. The physicians believed him to be dead. His divinity was confirmed when he didn't decay. He was finally killed with his embalming although he likely wouldn't have recoverd anyway. Just a theory but it follows the events.

[@sjl197]

What killed him? Ambition.

[@PortsladeBySea]

Greed. Many a good leader has been killed as a result of greed and over ambition.

[@androz8362]

Any one can inherit a great army but be a useless leader and commander and cause the collapse or near failure of a kingdom by weakness and incompetence. Alexander on the other hand not only realised his father's dream to liberate the greek cities in persia but he also inspired great loyalty from his army and incalculable strategic intelligence and prowess both on the battlefield and politically. He was not merely a warlord. He was a man of his times and attempted to retain intact most of the kingdoms that he conquered but dealt harshly and mercilessly with betrayal and rebellion. Testament to this were the marriages of his senior officers to Persian women in order to cement bonds and increase the strength of his armies through even more loyalty from new concripts from the occupied lands. His ingenuity and achievements through his short reign not only arguably shaped western society but also remains to this day again arguably unequaled. Even Julius Caesar stood in awe of Alexander's achievements. Other genuinely disorganized hordes and vandals have swept through Asia and Europe but they have very rarely laid an almost everlasting foundation for future thought and civilisation. Even though his empire fell apart after his death his influence in those area, Egypt, Greece and the Greco Indian empires lasted for eons. Again as I said he was a man of his times in terms of the inevitable brutality of that era but there was also mercy and integration. So in my humble opinion, a student of Aristotle always leading from the front shoulder to shoulder with his men made him a king greater than the likes of others who came after him and most certainly not just a warlord.

[@Ep0nz]

Son: “Can we have Simon Whistler?” Mom: “We have Simon Whistler at home” Simon Whistler at home:

[@janeceeastwood8035]

So how was Alexander killed, then? Wasn’t that the title!

[@PortsladeBySea]

Fascinating film. It's shocking how aggressive, destructive, and greedy mankind can be. Now that there are over 15,000 nuclear warheads, located in at least 11 counties across the world, I wonder how things will turn out for us.

[@DapperDill]

*The Humidity*

[@towerofghenjei]

Three hundred twenty three. Smh just say it. Saying “three two three” repeatedly really grated on me.

[@johnhubert3875]

Also been argued that it may have been CTE

[@louisquatorze9280]

Malaria weakened his liver, along with heavy drinking as was customary.

[@johnirby8847]

All the Indians in the comment section: He lost to Porus 😂

[@vga-t7m]

the west has always had excellent storytellers. and the world has to listen to them. the english ensures it.

[@markdubois3614]

Alexander's general's at the time of his death were wealthy men .But they certainly were very ambitious. None were nearly as talented as history shows.

[@jaggy-snake]

Being mortal

[@VintageYakyu]

Oliver Stone's writing and directing?

[@PSMCR69]

Bucephalus Horse Grave filled with Diamonds and Gold still not found -------------------- ( buried near Jalalpur Sharif Punjab region Pakistan country )

[@MrDeengels]

The symptoms sounds like sepsis

[@jaspertickler1831]

There is a story that Caligula visited his tomb in Egypt and stole his armour from his corpse ..but Caligula was know for bs

[@helenamcginty4920]

Hmm conquered a huge empire. Ran a huge army. Went into battle himself (that should be brought back for any politician declaring war.) And died too young, at 33 too young to be president of the US.

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

I thought this was a video about how Alexander died, not a brief history lesson on Macedonian culture and arms.

[@ashleylaflor22]

Anyone else feel like they have a crush on teacher? 😅😍

[@jordanbolm8517]

Whats up with this guys shirt?

[@plurplursen7172]

I bet his body was destroyed at some point. Because he was a symbol of power, and the first famous human being on the globe, the worst people would seek out his grave, and there would be constant conflict and death. Shame he died. Or there would have been Pax Alexandria.

[@amycantwell8715]

Syphilis

[@BryantBrothers-gm1qx]

How do u explain a death none of us were there for??

[@LASHANDIAJULIAN-j3r]

Do you think he was poisoned?

[@kanwarjitsidhu8678]

Amazing how u completely missed issues with his health. when returning from India they passed through a small city called Multan. there he was wounded by a spear thrust into his armpit. his wound healed on the surface ( common before antibiotics ) but made him weak. he still got drunk and could not even get up. after some delay they got going and as afternoon heat increased he fainted upon his horseback in desert not in a palace. i have read this in magazine called Military history and is similar to accounts in history books in India

[@drg598]

Indian king porus defeated him !