Comparison Of Alexander And The Diodorus After Philip II

Following the death and reign of Philip II, ruler of the Macedonian Empire, there was a period of deep transformation. It was a period where one of the largest empires in the ancient world was established in an astonishingly short amount of time. While Philip II was in power, he was able to lay the foundations for what his son, Alexander, would later achieve for the empire. By examining the Arrian on Alexander and the Diodorus on Philip, it is clear that the period after Philip II was defined by the legacy Alexander carved for himself and his vast empire. Because of his military achievements, how far he was able to push the borders of the Macedonian Empire, and the cultural impact he had, this period would better be described as ‘The Age of

The fact that Alexander was able to more than double the size of the empire validates why this time period is better defined as ‘The Age of Alexander.’ It wouldn’t make sense to name this time period after Philip II, but it is important to acknowledge that he laid the foundation for his son to achieve the empire’s expansion. In a speech given to his men, Alexander speaks about the political achievements of his father, however, “they appear small when compared with the benefits I [Alexander] have conferred” (Arrian 7.9.6). While it is true that Philip II gained military power and put in place an army that mastered the Macedonian phalanx, Alexander is the one who took what his father gained and took it to new heights. He far surpassed his father in terms of military

Philip innovated and created the Macedonian phalanx which was greatly successful in battle. “He devised the compact order and the equipment of the phalanx…and was the first to organize the Macedonian phalanx” (Diodorus 16.3). Philips’ creation and mastery of the phalanx and his well trained army acted as a huge stepping stone for Alexander to completely reshape the empire. However, what sets Alexander apart from his father was the fact that he was a genius at military strategy and he possessed the ability to inspire his soldiers and not only lead them, but lead alongside them. After the Battle of Granicus, “Alexander visited the wounded, and when the corpses had been gathered, he honored them with splendid funeral rites” (Arrian 2.12.1). This illustrates the respect and appreciation that Alexander possesses for his men. His ability to stand equally with his men during and after battle creates a sense of loyalty and unity among the army. This ensures that his troops will follow Alexander and fight with him anywhere he sets his eyes on to conquer next. Alexander’s ability to inspire his soldiers and foster unity allows him to expand his powerful empire which highlights his skills as a leader and ruler, making ‘The Age of Alexander’ a much better descriptor of the time