Here are 10 dark facts that illuminate the shadowy circumstances surrounding the death of former Russian intelligence officer Alexander Litvinenko, a case that still haunts the corridors of power today.

10 Dark Facts Overview

In this rundown we will walk through each unsettling detail, from clandestine meetings to the lethal substance that sealed his fate, giving you a full picture of the intrigue.

10 Fatal Meeting With Former KGB Agents

On the day he first became ill, November 1, 2006, Alexander Litvinenko attended a prearranged meeting with two former members of the KGB, Andrei Lugovoy and Dmitry Kovtun. This would take place at the Pine Bar in the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair, London. Shortly afterward, while dining with a friend, Mario Scaramella, Litvinenko began to experience intense nausea and even the loss of the use of his legs. Knowing something was wrong, he would enter a London hospital, where severe burns in his throat were indicative of poisoning of some kind.

While we will look at it in more detail a little later, evidence at the scene of the meeting with Lugovoy and Kovtun would suggest a poison was administered in the Pine Bar. Although it is not entirely clear why the meeting had taken place, Lugovoy had known Litvinenko since the 1990s and had worked “advising” Russian investors interested in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, the eventually successful attempt on Litvinenko’s life by the agents was not the first. Investigations would reveal that they had attempted to murder him previously during a meeting in a casino boardroom by lacing a glass of water with polonium. On that occasion, Litvinenko declined the drink.

9 Boris Berezovsky

A person connected to both Litvinenko and Lugovoy was Boris Berezovsky, a Russian oligarch who also found refuge in the United Kingdom and had even sponsored Lugovoy upon his arrival. Litvinenko had crossed paths with Berezovsky during his time working for the FSB (Russian Intelligence following the “demise” of the KGB) and would claim that he received orders from his Russian superiors to murder the billionaire. When he refused and even told of the dark commands to the world’s press, he was fired and would ultimately seek sanctuary in the United Kingdom.

Berezovsky was the target of several assassination attempts, one of which was uncovered and documented by the BBC’s Newsnight program in 2008. He would, at least according to the official report, take his own life in March 2013, although many believed the circumstances surrounding his death to be suspicious at best and criticized the sheer quickness with which the verdict of suicide was reached.

8 False Flag Claims

Following his resettlement in the UK, Litvinenko launched several blistering attacks on the Russian regime and Vladimir Putin—among them accusations of organizing several false flag events for political gain. He did this in regular articles and Internet blogs, as well as in his book, Blowing Up Russia: Terror from Within.

Specifically, Litvinenko pointed to various bombings in apartment blocks in 1999. He was sentenced in absentia to three and a half years in prison following the claims, officially for “corruption.”

He would also claim the hostage situation in 2002 in a Moscow theater which ended in bloodshed when authorities stormed the building was a false flag, and he laid the Beslan school massacre in 2004 at the feet of the Russian authorities. He even made claims that Putin and other high‑ranking Russian officials were involved in the trafficking and smuggling of drugs. According to Litvinenko, all of these deadly situations and activities were planned, organized, and carried out by those loyal to Vladimir Putin.

7 Aerosol Device

A lot of information about the meeting attended by Litvinenko that fateful November day would come from the manager of Pine Bar, who we will look at in more detail shortly. Perhaps the most eye‑opening detail, and certainly one that would aid intelligence in the future, was the detection of a liquid residue on the wall behind where Litvinenko was sitting.

This would prove to be polonium (which we will look at later) and suggested that the poison was administered, at least in part, through some kind of aerosol device, possibly under the guise of something else. Such “radioactive aerosol devices” have been utilized in intelligence circles and result in a “large collective dose.” Assuming the poison was sprayed into the teapot, this collective dose would have been contained within. At the time he died, Litvinenko had almost 100 times the lethal dose of polonium in his system.

6 The Chilling Words Of Sergey Abeltsev

It is perhaps easy to see why people would automatically think Russia had been involved in the death of Litvinenko, even if all they had to go on was the words of Russian representative Sergey Abeltsev. Following the announcement of Litvinenko’s death, Abeltsev would state, in no uncertain terms, that, “The deserved punishment reached the traitor.” Furthermore, he would state it was his sincere hope that “this terrible death will be a serious warning to traitors of all colors.”

Perhaps most chilling were Abeltsev’s comments for Boris Berezovsky, especially given that he would die in what some believe to be suspicious circumstances seven years later. Abeltsev said, “In Russia, we do not pardon treachery. I would recommend citizen Berezovsky to avoid any food at the commemoration for his accomplice Litvinenko.” Whether Abeltsev was merely voicing his own personal opinions or whether the words were a genuine warning is open to interpretation.

5 Paul Joyal

Abeltsev’s words would take on an even darker tone when US analyst Paul Joyal declared on television that he believed the death of Litvinenko was down to Russian intelligence, who he believed had carried out a “professional assassination” in order to “silence its critics.” Joyal would also go on to remind his audience that Litvinenko was investigating the death of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was highly critical of Vladimir Putin. We will look more at her a little later.

Joyal stated that, in his opinion and expertise, “A message has been communicated to anyone who wants to speak out against the Kremlin: ‘If you do, no matter who you are, where you are, we will find you, and we will silence you—in the most horrible way possible.’ ” Shortly after voicing this view, whether or not it was pure coincidence, he was shot outside his Maryland home and severely injured.

4 Noberto Andrade

It was Noberto Andrade, the manager of the Pine Bar where Litvinenko and the two former KGB agents met, who first noticed strange goings‑on. He would claim to have found a “gooey, yellow” substance left in the bottom of the teapot the men had been using. Not suspecting anything untoward at the time, he scooped the substance out and flushed it down the sink. Only pure luck prevented Andrade from accidentally placing his fingers near his mouth. He was, however, quite sick for several weeks afterward with a severe throat infection and temperature. Quite ominously, doctors would also inform him that his likelihood of getting cancer later in life had increased.

Following the Pine Bar being a place of interest, Andrade unwittingly offered investigators a little insight into how the aforementioned aerosol device may have been used. The manager remembered a little bit of commotion shortly after the drinks arrived at their table. It is theorized this was likely a staged diversion to draw Litvinenko’s attention away from the table, during which time, the aerosol was utilized to place the poison in the teapot.

Incidentally, the substance was also found in the pipes, dishwasher, and sinks of the Pine Bar.

3 Polonium

The poison in question was eventually revealed to be polonium‑210. Investigators would trace the deadly substance to both of the agents who had met with Litvinenko in November 2006. Further investigations would reveal it had originated from a nuclear power plant in Ozersk in Russia.

After publicly offering their proof, the UK government would request that Lugovoy be extradited from Russia in order to stand trial for the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, which the Russians flatly refused. The second agent, Dmitry Kovtun, was in Germany at this time and was under investigation from the German authorities due to suspicion of smuggling plutonium. The UK authorities would wait for the German investigation to come to a close before requesting his extradition. However, by 2009, the potential charges had mysteriously vanished, and Kovtun was safely back in Russia.

Incidentally, Lugovoy would speak publicly from Russia in 2007, stating that he didn’t kill Litvinenko but also adding with no regret that, “He was a British spy.”

2 The Murder Of Anna Politkovskaya

Only a month before the poisoning of Litvinenko, respected Russian journalist and Putin critic Anna Politkovskaya was shot to death as she left an elevator in the reception area of the apartment block where she lived. Her death had all the hallmarks of a contract killing, and her family and colleagues were convinced that was what happened.

She had received numerous death threats following her many articles that were highly critical of Vladimir Putin as well as the Chechen wars, a subject on which she wrote several books. Perhaps it was her book Putin’s Russia that may have been the final straw, in which she made many of the same statements that Litvinenko had made previously.

Incidentally, three Chechens would eventually be arrested for the murder and found not guilty. However, the Russian authorities ordered a retrial, eventually striking a deal with former policeman Dmitry Pavliutchenkov, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for the murder in return for “exchanged evidence” for a lenient sentence. Five other men were also sentenced for their involvement in the killing in 2014. Many remain suspicious of the sentences, believing them to be a convenient “drawing of the line” under the authority’s involvement of Politkovskaya’s death.

1 Alexander Perepilichnyy

While there is no direct and specific connection to the Litvinenko case, the death of a Russian businessman, Alexander Perepilichnyy, shares some similarities, not least the fact that Perepilichnyy had ended up in the United Kingdom after disclosing alleged secret documents that put many high‑ranking Russian officials at the center of a grand fraud conspiracy. He would collapse and die while jogging in 2012, and due to his background, many people would urge the UK government to investigate his death despite it being ruled an unfortunate and sudden heart attack.

By early 2017, calls were growing for a second and fully transparent investigation to be conducted, with evidence offered to the court suggesting that Perepilichnyy may have been poisoned. It also came to light that in the months prior to his death, and following his claims linking Russian officials to fraud, he was assisting a private investment firm into their investigations into money‑laundering activities involving Russian suspects to the tune of over $230 million.

When you hear the phrase 10 reasons alexander you probably picture a legendary conqueror whose name still echoes through the ages. Yet the story of Alexander the Great is riddled with shortcuts, lucky breaks, and a few questionable habits that make the “great” label worth a second look. Let’s walk through the ten most eye‑opening reasons why the ancient king’s reputation may be more myth than merit.

10 He Inherited Everything

10 reasons alexander: The Inheritance Factor

Born to King Philip II, Alexander didn’t have to start from scratch. Philip had already thrust Macedonia onto the world stage, engineering a brilliant blend of phalanx infantry and shock‑cavalry that would become the backbone of any future campaigns. He forged alliances, subdued rival Greek city‑states, and built a disciplined army that could outmaneuver both the Greeks and the Persians. In short, Philip handed his son a polished, battle‑ready machine and a throne already bathed in prestige.

When Alexander ascended the throne, he wasn’t a raw talent discovering his own path; he was stepping onto a stage set by his father’s hard‑won achievements. The political peace, military reforms, and diplomatic footholds Philip secured were the very platforms Alexander rode to fame. In many ways, his father was the real architect of Macedonian dominance, and Alexander simply rode the coattails of that legacy into the annals of history.

9 Conquering Greece Was Easy

Contrary to the epic battles that define other Greek heroes, Alexander didn’t have to wrestle with the mighty forces of Thermopylae or Marathon. By the time he took the reins, the Greek world was a patchwork of exhausted, war‑torn city‑states. The once‑formidable alliances that had repelled Persia were fractured, and internal rivalries left places like Athens and Sparta weakened and demoralized.

Thus, when Alexander demanded loyalty from the Greeks, they had little choice. Their armies were depleted, their politics in disarray, and the memory of Persian oppression still fresh. The conquest of Greece was less a dazzling display of military genius and more a straightforward imposition on a region that simply couldn’t resist any longer.

8 He Was Handed Much Of The Land He Conquered

Many of the territories that now proudly bear Alexander’s name were, in reality, handed to him on a silver platter. Take Egypt, for instance: the Egyptians, already aligned against Persia, welcomed Alexander as a liberator and essentially placed the throne in his hands without a fight. Their willingness was less admiration for Alexander’s prowess and more a strategic move to rid themselves of Persian rule.

Even against the Persians, Alexander’s reputation acted as a psychological weapon. Persian soldiers, already unnerved by his growing legend, often refused to follow orders, creating gaps in their lines that Alexander could exploit. The resulting chaos meant that many battles were won not through brute force alone but because the enemy’s morale had already crumbled under the weight of his fame.

7 He Cheated The Gordian Knot

The tale of the Gordian Knot has long been celebrated as a testament to Alexander’s boldness. Legend held that whoever could untie the intricate knot would rule all of Asia. Instead of painstakingly working the loops, Alexander drew his sword and sliced the knot cleanly in two, declaring the prophecy fulfilled.

While the story radiates ingenuity, some scholars argue that the act was more of a theatrical flourish than a genuine fulfillment of destiny. The ancient seers likely imagined a more conventional solution, and Alexander’s abrupt sword‑cut may have been a flamboyant shortcut designed to cement his image as a destiny‑defying hero.

6 He Was A Drunk

Behind the battlefield bravado, Alexander was also known for his prodigious love of wine. Contemporary accounts recount nights where he would down massive goblets, to the point where his physicians grew alarmed. He survived brutal front‑line combat, even once cracking his helmet with a single blow, yet his drinking habits were a ticking time‑bomb for his health.

The excesses may have contributed directly to his untimely demise. One evening, after downing a particularly large glass, Alexander reportedly shrieked in agony. His condition worsened rapidly, and within ten days the famed conqueror lay dead, his empire left to crumble under the weight of his own indulgence.

5 He Was An Egotistical Maniac

Success seemed to inflate Alexander’s sense of self‑importance to mythic proportions. After his troops mutinied in 326 BC, he declared he deserved divine honors, and many city‑states obliged, sending delegations to worship him as a god. He wasn’t content merely with being a great warrior; he wanted to be a deity on par with Zeus.

His vanity manifested in the sheer number of cities he founded—over 70, each bearing his name. By stamping his moniker across the map, Alexander ensured that his legacy would be omnipresent, a constant reminder of his perceived supremacy, even if the reality behind those foundations was far less glorious.

4 His Legacy Could Be Made Up

The surviving primary sources on Alexander were penned long after his death, often by authors with agendas beyond mere chronicling. Historians like Plutarch, Arrian, and Curtius Rufus crafted narratives that blended fact with moral lessons, political parallels, and literary flourish. Their works were as much about teaching and entertaining as they were about recording events.

Consequently, many of the speeches, heroic anecdotes, and dramatic battlefield moments attributed to Alexander may have been embellished—or entirely fabricated—to serve the storytellers’ purposes. The mythic veneer surrounding him could be more a product of later imagination than of his actual deeds.

3 He Didn’t Govern His Empire

While Alexander’s military conquests are undeniable, his administrative hand was largely absent. In newly subjugated territories, he preferred to keep existing bureaucratic structures intact, allowing local rulers to continue governing under his overarching authority.

A classic example is the Battle of the Hydaspes, where after defeating King Porus, Alexander not only allowed Porus to retain his throne but also granted him additional lands. By inserting Macedonian garrisons and founding cities, Alexander secured loyalty without directly managing day‑to‑day governance. This hands‑off approach suggests his political acumen was limited, relying instead on military might to maintain control.

2 He Didn’t Plan For The Future

Beyond his battlefield brilliance, Alexander showed little foresight for the empire he was building. He never secured a clear line of succession, nor did he establish a stable governmental framework to outlive him. On his deathbed, he famously declared that the strongest would inherit his realm, a vague proclamation that spurred endless conflict.

His lack of planning led to the rapid fragmentation of his empire after his death, with his generals carving out rival kingdoms that constantly warred over territory. The ensuing instability paved the way for a new power—Rome—to eventually dominate the Mediterranean world.

1 He Was Greedy

Even after amassing an empire that spanned three continents, Alexander’s appetite remained insatiable. He wasn’t satisfied with being king of Macedon, pharaoh of Egypt, or ruler of Persia; he yearned to be the undisputed master of the known world, aspiring to eclipse even the mythic heroes of Greek lore.

His relentless drive forced his troops into grueling marches, such as the infamous 70‑day trek through monsoon‑ravaged terrain, which ultimately sparked mutiny. Though he contemplated further invasions of Arabia and North Africa, his sudden illness and death halted any chance of realizing that ultimate conquest. In the end, his unbridled ambition burned him out, leaving a legacy that shines more for its excess than its sustainability.

Forest is an avid student. He enjoys taking time off hiking, hanging out at the beach, and generally enjoying the nice weather to finding more time to cram for his upcoming exam.

Alexander the Great is well known as one of the most successful warriors of all time. The question that remains is not if he was successful, but how.

Born in 356 BC, in Mesopotamia (modern day Greece), to king Phillip II, Alexander followed in his father’s footsteps and achieved success as a young warrior. Convincing many that he was the true son of the Greek god Zeus, he led the Macedonian army across the world. Conquering states along the way, he was extremely victorious and did not suffer a single loss.

There are many reasons why ‘Alexander the Great’ is still mentioned over 2000 years later. Read on to find out exactly what made the name of this young warrior, from a small town in Greece, go down in history.

Top 10 Reasons Alexander the Great Was Great!

1. He was Tutored by Aristotle

Alexander was personally tutored by one of the most famous philosophers of all time: Aristotle. His father, Phillip II, made a deal with Aristotle, offering to rebuild one of his houses in return for tutoring. Aristotle and Alexander had their lessons in the fitting location of the Temple of the Nymphs.

Under Aristotle’s wing, Alexander developed a love for literature, especially the classics. Throughout his life, Alexander kept a copy of the ‘Iliad’, a classical tale by Homer, under his pillow and read it for inspiration.

He was taught the basics of philosophy, medicine, morals, logic, ethics and art, with the help of one of the worlds most intellectual minds. As Alexander himself said: “I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well”. Furthermore, he always had Aristotle to go to for advice when he needed it, which was probably quite often, when he became ruler of the worlds biggest empire at the time.

2. Alexander Trained the Unruly Horse Bucephalus

When Alexander was just 12 years old, he taught himself many things through the art of observation. One day a beautiful, tall, black steed was brought into Macedonia and presented to king Phillip at a price three times that of ordinary horses. There was a catch though: the horse was wild and impossible to tame, although many had tried. Phillip straight away brought the horse to a stadium, to have attendants attempt to tame it.

Alexander and his parents watched the ceremony from the side. After many failed attempts, young Alexander came to a realisation. Commenting that the trainers were ‘spineless’, he calmly got up and bet his father that he could train the horse better himself. Amidst much laughter and an initial rejection from Philip, Alexander smoothly jumped onto the horse’s back and took the reins. What the young boy had realised was that the horse was not simply badly behaved, but afraid of his own shadow. He proceeded to turn him to face the sun, whereby the shadow disappeared and the horse calmed down. The crowd cheered and Alexander triumphantly rode away. The steed was named Bucephalus, and it would accompany Alexander on all of his future exploits.

As Alexander left the stadium, his father wondered aloud whether there would ever be a kingdom great enough for his son. It its as though Phillip was anticipating his sons later success, as little did he know Alexander would go on to conquer, not only kingdoms, but most of the world.

3. By the Age of 16, he had Already Won his First Battle and Established his First City

When Alexander was only 16 he began to
lead his first military battles. Phillip had left to fight a war against
Byzantium and in his absence Alexander took over the kingdom. Meanwhile, the Thracian Maedi state had
began a revolt against Greece. Wasting no time, Alexander drove them out of
their city, crushing the revolt and declaring the land his.

The first thing the young warrior did, following his first victory, was to establish a city, which he aptly named Alexandropolis. So at the youthful age of 16, Alexander had won his first battle and built a new city which he named after himself. This determined warrior made it pretty clear from the outset who was going to inherit the throne. 

Alexandria quickly became the centre of
the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the most prominent city in the world. It remained so
up until 30 BC when the city of Rome, finally, overtook it.

4. He Implemented One of the Most Successful Army Tactics in History

Alexander’s father, Phillip II, was also an extremely
successful warrior, some say more successful than Alexander himself. Before
Alexander was born Philip had already conquered all the states surrounding
Greece and dissolved them into the empire. He did this using a battle tactic he
himself invented: the phalanx.

Alexander was 20 years old when Phillip was assassinated, after which he inherited not only his father’s army and empire, but also his knowledge and skills on the battlefield. Philip had invented the Sarissa spear, which was 12-21 feet long, significantly longer than they had previously been. This invention enabled the Greek soldiers to overlap their spears in a phalanx formation, and provided a barrier of spikes against any approaching enemy.

It was thus not only the tactics the
Macedonians used but the actual technology they possessed, which made them such
a powerful force. Using these advantages, throughout his numerous military
campaigns Alexander never once lost a battle, and went undefeated for an unprecedented
period of over 15 years.

5. With his Mother’s Help, he Convinced Many People That he Was a God

Alexander’s mother, Olympias, had a dream whilst she was pregnant that her womb was struck by a thunder bolt which ignited a huge flame. Phillip also had a vision, and dreamt himself inscribing the image of a lion onto his wife’s womb. These divine messages began the idea that they were giving birth not to an ordinary child, but to the son of Zeus. After Alexander was born Olympias began to spread this idea.

Alexander was born with a strong charisma and one vital characteristic; confidence. As such he created an aura of divinity around himself, which defined how others treated him. He cleverly applied the ancient Persian tradition ‘proskynesis’. ‘Proskynesis’ describes the act of recognising someone in public as having divine status (being god-like, or having descended from a god). His courageous personality also meant that he never backed down and was ferocious in battle. The mere assumption made by Alexander, and quickly understood by those around him, was that he was unconquerable- and so it became. This came to be an extremely valuable asset when it came to fighting the biggest army in the world, the Persians.

6. He Defeated the Worlds Biggest Empire at the Time: the Persians.

Alexander did what many, including the
Athenians and the Spartans, had failed to do before: he defeated the massive
Persian Empire.

 In
300 BC, the Persian Empire was the greatest force in the world, and as such
Alexander fantasised about conquering them and killing the Persian emperor, Darius
III. Although the Greek army was greatly outnumbered when it came to men, they
had one thing which proved stronger than the Persian force: determination and a
desire for victory.

The Greeks conquered the Persians in three major battles: The Granicus River (334 BC), the Battle of Issus (333 BC) and the Battle of Gaugamela (331 BC). During the Battle of Issus, in the south of Turkey, Darius fled the town when his troops began to look defeated. His mother, Sisygambis, was disappointed at being left behind. She soon met Alexander, however, and was so impressed by his charm that, in a great act of irony, she adopted Alexander as her son.

After the Battle of Gaugamela was won, Darius escaped the battlefield yet again. Alexander then became completely obsessed with capturing him, and chased him across modern day Iraq and Iran. The Greek king marched through Egypt, where ravens (huge black birds) flew over him in the desert in order to lead him to his enemy. This added to the popular belief that he was a god and of superior status to mortals. Although Alexander didn’t manage to kill Darius himself, he did the next best thing and killed the man who had killed Darius. Clearly sympathy wasn’t one of his strong points.

7. He Formed One of the Largest Contiguous Empires in History

Alexander and his troops finally reached
India in 326 BC. The last country the soldiers would march to, it was also the
spot where Alexander would face his death. The motivation for ending in India
was to take over the entire world, which the Greeks saw as ending in India.

After defeating king Porus and
an army five times greater than their own, victory was won. The Mesopotamian
empire that had begun in Greece now spanned Asia Minor, Egypt, Persia and
India. The total ground covered is estimated to have been over 2 million square
miles.

Aristotle said to Alexander, shortly before he reached India, “if you destroy the people of the Fars (Indians), you will have overthrown one of the greatest pillars of excellence in the world”.  Later on, Alexander called the battlefield ‘the Mountain of Victory’, just to make his triumph as obvious as possible. He was now king of the world, or of his world, at least. He didn’t actually take over the whole entire world, but it would have seemed to him that he had.

8. He was a Thousand Times Richer than any Other Man in the World

After conquering around 25 countries, you
can imagine that Alexander was pretty rich. Not just a bit rich, in fact, but a
thousand times richer than any other man on earth.

Alexander’s war profits alone added up to an estimated 17,000,000 pounds of silver. To put it into perspective, a carpenter living at the time of Alexander would have to have worked every day for 2,484,018 years to gain the equivalent silver. In India, Alexander spent 95 pounds of silver on a dog, which pretty much speaks for itself.

One way Alexander gained so much wealth
was by selling women from captured towns into slavery (another example of how
his greatness was in strength, not ethics). In 335 BC, for example, Alexander auctioned 30,000 Greek captives for 25 tons of
silver. Often when war is won or new territory is conquered the newfound wealth
is invested back into society, but this wasn’t so much the case for Alexander,
who kept most of the money for himself.

Despite the immoral means by which Alexander gained his money, there are still fans of Alexander the Great in wall street today, who model their work on Alexander’s entrepreneurial style. Alexander minted so many coins that many are left all over the world, and it’s actually difficult to find a place where there are not a few coins lying around with Alexander’s face on them.

9. He Spread Greek Culture Throughout the World

If military success wasn’t enough,
Alexander’s ‘hellenisation’ technique has helped shape the world that is today.
Unlike other military commanders, Alexander decided not to wipe out the culture’s
he colonised, but to integrate them. As such the Hellenic culture became a
pillar of modern civilisation, and can be found at the root of art, language,
and so on.

An example of hellenisation is the way Alexander encouraged the Greeks and Persians to intermingle. He hosted ceremonies,
in which Greek officials married Persian brides, to symbolise the two cultures
coming together. Alexander himself married a Persian princess, Roxana, as well
as a woman who attended the Persian king Darius, Bagoas.

In this process the Greek language was spread far and wide. Years after Alexander’s death, for example, Greek remained the common language of Israel. It is likely to have been the language that Jesus spoke, and was what the New Testament was originally written in.

Alexander connected the world,
establishing trade routes and greater communication than had previously been
thought possible. This is, quite possibly, the truly greatest thing Alexander
ever accomplished.

10. As one of History’s Most Influential People, His Legacy Lives on 2000 Years Later

Perhaps Alexander’s true greatness existed not when he was alive, but rather after his death. He died rather mysteriously, in 323 BC, India, at the early age of 32, perhaps of a fever. After his death, he became a role model for leaders throughout history.

Napoleon was completely obsessed with Alexander the Great. The same way Alexander inspired himself by reading Homer’s Iliad, Napoleon drew inspiration by reading tales of Alexander the Great. In 1798 the French King invaded Egypt, for the main reason that Alexander had done it. Thus, Alexander became ‘the great’, not only through actions, but because other people decided that he was.

It’s always important to put things into
context. It’s clear that Alexander did some great things, but for a long time
history was all about ‘great’ men, rather than men and women and all the
less prestigious people who make up the world. Now, this has changed and we
study history from many different perspectives, and realise that not all hero’s
wear capes (or in Alexander’s case, armour). Still, things certainly not have
happened the way they did without Alexander and his will and determination to
conquer the world.

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