Prince Alexander of Macedon was just a boy when a magnificent horse named Bucephalus was offered to his father, King Philip II. The price was enormous, but no groom could manage the wild stallion. As they led it away, Alexander spoke up, claiming he could tame it. He had noticed the horse was afraid of its own shadow. Calmly, he turned Bucephalus to face the sun, soothing the animal before leaping onto its back. His father, watching with pride, reportedly told him, 'O my son, look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee.' Bucephalus would remain Alexander’s primary warhorse for nearly twenty years until its death in India.
Alexander the Great
The life of Alexander the Great in six episodes: taming Bucephalus, the Gordian knot, Gaugamela, the burning of Persepolis, the army's refusal at the Hyphasis, and his death in Babylon.
Chapter 1
The Untamable Horse
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Gordian Knot?
The Gordian Knot was an ancient, complex knot in the Phrygian capital of Gordium. A prophecy stated that whoever could untie it would become the ruler of Asia. In 333 BC, Alexander the Great solved the puzzle, either by cutting it with his sword or by removing a pin that held it together.
Why did Alexander the Great's army stop in India?
After nearly a decade of continuous campaigning, his Macedonian troops were exhausted, homesick, and weary of constant battle. At the Hyphasis River in 326 BC, they staged a mutiny, refusing to march further east. Alexander was forced to agree and turn the army back toward Persia.
What happened to Alexander's empire after he died?
Alexander died suddenly at age 32 without naming a clear heir. When asked who should rule, he allegedly said "to the strongest." This led his top generals, known as the Diadochi, to fight one another for control in a series of conflicts called the Wars of the Diadochi, which shattered the empire.
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