Military aims

• Alexander wants to control Greece

  • Thebes
  • “the city was taken, plundered and raze to the ground“ (Plutarch)
  • Greece rebelling
  • “eager to throw off the Macedonian yoke” (Plutarch)
  • use of army
  • “accustomed them to respond readily to his command” (Plutarch)
• Alexander wants to expand into Persia

  • alexander asks League of Corinth “for command of the campaign“ (Arrian)
  • “he leapt ashore… and declared that he accepted Asia as a spear-won gift from the gods“ (Diodorus)
  • “i invaded Asia because i wished to punish Persia“ (Arrian)
• Alexander wants glory through his military achievements

  • “i will not steal my victory“ (Arrian)
  • “Named the city Alexanderopolis” (Plutarch)
  • while acting as regent for Philip and defeating the Maedi
• Alexander desires further expansion

  • “his plan was to get to the end of India“ (Diodorus)
  • “add the rest of Asia to what you already possess“ (Arrian)
• Philip wants to improve his army

  • “improved discipline in the ranks” “built up their morale, having improved the organisation of his forces and equipped men suitably“ (Diodorus)
  • Sarrisas, siege engines, infantry/phalanx (“Macedonian phalanx was his creation“ (Diodorus))
  • “there was a list made of the auxiliary forces to be supplied by each state“ to the League of Corinth (Justin)
• Philip defending Macedon

  • against Illyria
  • ”the Illyrian army was forced to take flight“ (Diodorus)
  • “bribery and generous promises“ (Diodorus)
  • ”when he realised that the sole object of all the Athenians‘ effort was the recovery of Amphipolis… he withdrew from the city of his own accord and left it independent“ (Diodorus)
• Philip conquering Greece/Persia

  • “he had also gone a long way towards laying the groundwork for the growth of his power“ (Diodorus)
  • “What he wanted was to be appointed general Plenipotentiary of Greece and such make war on the Persians“ (Diodorus0
  • “Philip launched an offensive attack against thrace hoping to earn the goodwill of the Greek cities there” (Diodorus)
  • Olynthus
  • Third Sacred War
• Philip‘s army

  • “standing army always with him“ (Demosthenes)