Alexander the Great 7
"Breakdown": A Family Falling Apart
by CTCWeb Editors
"We've Said All There Is To Say" - Tom Petty
Like sons in every era, Alexander set the standard of his future success as a man against the height of his father’s accomplishments. Naturally, this created antagonism between father and son. For example, when Philip expanded the Macedonian territory by conquest, Alexander was envious. He saw these lands as ones that would not be available for him to conquer later when he became king and commander. This competitive nature, tinged with jealousy and resentment, distanced Alexander from his father throughout most of his life.
Alexander’s mother Olympias fanned the flames of antagonism between father and son. She wanted Alexander to prefer her. Reputedly, Olympias was a jealous, fiery-tempered, and intelligent woman who insinuated herself into her son’s life at every turn, particularly in the politics of the king’s court. Modern readers should recognize that Olympias did this as much for her own protection as his. She had competitors. The king had more than one wife. Thus, Olympias’ status and wellbeing, even her life, depended on the political strength and stature of her son and his esteem for her. Luckily for Olympias, she had given birth to a man with whom no one would trifle, not even his fierce father – and Alexander loved his mother.
Tension in the family came to a head on the occasion of Philip’s marriage to a Macedonian woman named Cleopatra. Olympias, not a Macedonian, was never fully accepted by the Macedonian people as a legitimate mate for Philip. When Philip decided to marry Cleopatra, the general populace believed Cleopatra was a more appropriate wife for their king. Tension peaked at the wedding banquet, when Philip’s new father-in-law insulted Alexander. He boasted that, perhaps now that the king was married to a Macedonian, Philip could have a “legitimate” heir.
The implication that he was not a rightful heir to the Macedonian throne infuriated Alexander. In his pique, Alexander leapt from his seat and threw a drinking cup at the man. An infuriated and inebriated Philip rose from his seat to chastise his son but could manage only to fall on his face in a drunken stupor. In response, Alexander reportedly taunted is father by saying: “Here is the man who was making ready to cross from Europe to Asia, and who cannot even cross from one table to another without losing his balance.” Alexander left his father’s palace shortly after the incident. He took his mother back to Epirus and himself to Illyria. Alexander eventually returned to Macedonia, but the ire among family members never dissipated.
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Eponymous
In 340 BCE at the age of 16, Alexander briefly assumed power in Macedonia while Philip was away fighting at Byzantium. At that moment, the Maedi in the north staged a rebellion. Alexander, demonstrating political and military power, crushed the revolt. To leave a reminder of his strength, he founded a city named for himself: “Alexandropolis”.
Alexander named at least 16 cities after himself. Spread throughout the empire, these cities were variously dubbed either Alexandria or Alexandropolis. Some of these cities still retain their ancient names today, while others have been renamed.
A map showing the locations of different cities named for Alexander the Great.
Perseus Atlas Tool
For a larger version of this map, click here.
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