Alexander the Great
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Caeli Higgins
Professor P. Dehne
Alexander the Great
9/14/07
Alexander the Great was considered to be great for many reasons, but there are three qualities which formed the basis of his capability and power, and which each of his biographers would certainly agree upon; his self-will, ambition, and determination. Arrian, Plutarch and Curtius all document his achievements with great respect to these qualities. From his early life, it seemed as if he was predestined to be ethereally powerful, and the strength and resolution of his qualities certainly support this concept.
Alexanders potential for greatness had always been evident. His birth coincided with three victories for his fathers kingdom, and the soothsayers predicted that such a coincidence would prove Alexander to be invincible. As a child, his exceptional self-will became apparent. “He showed little interest in the pleasures of the senses and indulged in them only with great moderation.”(4) Plutarch relates a story from Alexanders childhood, when the young boy observed a wild horse being broken in. The horse could not be tamed, and the king ordered it to be led away. Alexander bet the price of the horse that he could train it himself, stating “What a horse they are losing, and all because they dont know how to handle him, or dare not try!” (6) When Alexander cleverly gained control of the horse, his father “kissed him and said, my boy, you must find a kingdom big enough for your ambitions. Macedonia is too small for you.” (7) Such an exceptional display of determination and self-will demonstrated Alexanders potential for greatness.
He became king of Macedonia at the age of twenty, and swiftly established his power. When he became king, Macedonia was “beset by formidable jealousies and feuds, and external dangers on every side.” (12) Alexander quickly took control, ignored his advisers and chose his own way to deal with the crises: he decided to “act with audacity and a lofty spirit” (13), then began his campaign
across Macedonia, Greece and Northern Europe. As a military leader, Alexanders