If military exploits and conquests is the criteria to honour a person with the title ‘The Great’, then President George Bush is not very far from it. After conquering Afghanistan and Iraq, invasion and victory over other countries seems to be no big deal for him. By the same criteria, Genghis and Halaku Khan, who conquered several lands, deserve the same honours. Why single out Alexander? What was so great about him that history honoured him with the title ‘The Great’?
Born in 356BC, in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia, to King Philip, and generally known as a handsome, god-like young man, the real Alexander was short and stocky, with a big nose, large chin and small eyes. Even as a boy, he was fearless, strong and full of ambitions. At the age of 20, in 336BC, as soon as he succeeded to the throne after his father’s assassination, he exhibited exceptionally strong leadership qualities by suppressing the restive cities of Greece. Two years later, in 334BC, driven by a passion and appetite for fame and glory, he set out on his military expeditions. He cared nothing for wealth and pleasure, but only for glory and valour.
Stretched over a period of the next ten years, his military expeditions began with an attack on Anatolia whereby he subdued not only most of Turkey and Greece but also laid the foundation of a beautiful city on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea which took his name, Alexandria. In 332BC he marched on toward Iraq. After conquering Babylon, he conquered the great empire of Persia, ruled by a very brave and rich king, Derius. There he married a Persian Princess Roxanne, whom he declared as the most beautiful woman of Asia.
The next phase took Alexander into Afghanistan and through Hindu Kush he entered Central Asia and then went as far as Bukhara, Merv and Caucus mountains. After subduing Central Asia he crossed Khyber Pass, the valley of Swat and occupied Taxila — a very prosperous city at that time. As he moved further he confronted a very brave and strong Punjabi Raja, Porus, near the town of Jalalpur on the River Jhelum. After defeating Raja Porus, Alexander moved on along River Chenab, subjugating numerous towns along the way and then finally he reached the Indus valley.
Travel, heat, disease and continuous battle fatigue for the last nine years, while covering about a total of 20,000 miles in different expeditions, had already eroded the morale of his army. Realizing the condition of his soldiers, he decided to return to Babylon, where he died in 323BC at the age of just 32. His legend spread far and wide. Some called him ‘the beast’, who unleashed a bloody tide on humankind but some regarded him as an invincible superhuman. Others looked at him as a saviour from the cruelties of local kings.
As his kingdom stretched from the Ionian Sea to northern India, he planned to make Asia and Europe one country. To this effect, he encouraged intermarriages and recruited soldiers in his army from all the conquered lands. His plan, however, could not succeed due to his early death and a short rule which preoccupied him with military expeditions. Eventually, he fell ill with malaria and died. Some believe that his men, frustrated from continuous travel and battles, poisoned him. His body was taken to Alexandria and buried in a beautiful tomb there.
Alexander was seen by the Europeans not only as an invincible warrior but also a great person for his deeds in the conquered lands, treatment to his opponents and his personal charisma and character. A glimpse of them is given here for which he was conferred with the title ‘The Great’.
When Alexander conquered the mighty kingdom of Persia, its king, Derius, escaped, leaving his wife and two unmarried daughters who were brought to him as prisoners. Seeing them in grief and tears, Alexander did not take any advantage but treated them with great respect, put them back in their palace and restored their full regalia and rights. He even provided them guard and protection of their life.
During the conquest of Bactria, he entered a desert where heat and thirst almost dehydrated his army. Some soldiers managed to bring a little water for their sons who were accompanying them. Knowing that their king was thirsty too, they first offered the water to Alexander, to which he said: “I cannot bear to drink water alone and it is not possible to share so little with everybody. Go quickly and give your sons what you have brought on their account.” He shared misfortune with his men and did not drink water until his army drank first.
The Persian princess, Roxanne, whom Alexander declared the most beautiful woman, was also brought to him as a prisoner. Instead of taking any advantage as the victor, Alexander proposed marriage to her.
After defeating Raja Porus, Alexander asked him: “What folly forced you to face me, knowing that Taxila had already surrendered to me?”
“I did not think there was anyone stronger than I. Though I knew my own strength, I had not yet tested yours, and now the outcome of the war has shown you to be the stronger. Even so, being second to you brings me no little satisfaction,” replied Porus.
Alexander then asked what his victor should do with him. “Do what this day tells you to do,” replied Porus. Impressed by his daring answers, Alexander treated him not only with respect and equality but tended to his wounds himself just as if Porus had fought on his side. He restored his kingdom and added a vast area to it as a gesture of friendship. He respected even his enemies for their human qualities, bravery and courage.
The Europeans claim that he was one of the most powerful personalities and greatest generals of all times, who accomplished more victories than anyone else before him. Brave and dauntless in front of dangers and fears, he had extraordinary skills to raise morale among his soldiers and to fill them with hopes and dispel their fear. He was highly knowledgeable in military strategy and planning.
If these qualities qualify Alexander for the title The Great, then there are quite a few Muslim heroes who not only possessed equally strong qualities but demonstrated much better virtues and character than Alexander. A couple of such examples are of Hazrat Umar bin Khattab, the second Caliph of Islam, and Sultan Salahhuddin Ayubi, who, despite fighting several battles and conquering a vast area of land, showed extraordinary human strength and character. After the conquest of Bait-ul-Maqades, they not only guaranteed the safety of the Christians who killed the Muslims brutally during the crusades, but treated them with kindness and compassion.
If Europeans lauded Alexander as ‘The Great’ and made him a legend, then one wonders what stopped them from recognizing such Muslim heroes whose achievements speak volumes! The only difference that apparently qualifies Alexander for the title is perhaps his achievement of glory in a short span of 10 years. n
