Alexander the Great

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, by Harper & Brothers, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York.

Copyright, 1876, by Jacob Abbott.

PREFACE.

The history of the life of every individual who has, for any reason, attracted extensively the attention of mankind, has been written in a great variety of ways by a multitude of authors, and persons sometimes wonder why we should have so many different accounts of the same thing. The reason is, that each one of these accounts is intended for a different set of readers, who read with ideas and purposes widely dissimilar from each other. Among the twenty millions of people in the United States, there are perhaps two millions, between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five, who wish to become acquainted, in general, with the leading events in the history of the Old World, and of ancient times, but who, coming upon the stage in this land and at this period, have ideas and conceptions so widely different from those of other nations and of other times, that a mere republication of existing accounts is not what they require. The story must be told expressly for them. The things that are to be explained, the points that are to be brought out, the comparative degree of prominence to be given to the various particulars, will all be different, on account of the difference in the situation, the ideas, and the objects of these new readers, compared with those of the various other classes of readers which former authors have had in view. It is for this reason, and with this view, that the present series of historical narratives is presented to the public. The author, having had some opportunity to become acquainted with the position, the ideas, and the intellectual wants of those whom he addresses, presents the result of his labors to them, with the hope that it may be found successful in accomplishing its design.

CONTENTS.

Chapter Page

I. ALEXANDER'S CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH 13

II. BEGINNING OF HIS REIGN 36

III. THE REACTION 57

IV. CROSSING THE HELLESPONT 78

V. CAMPAIGN IN ASIA MINOR 103

VI. DEFEAT OF DARIUS 128

VII. THE SIEGE OF TYRE 147

VIII. ALEXANDER IN EGYPT 169

IX. THE GREAT VICTORY 189

X. THE DEATH OF DARIUS 213

XI. DETERIORATION OF CHARACTER 234

XII. ALEXANDER'S END 251

ENGRAVINGS.

Page

MAP. EXPEDITION OF ALEXANDER Frontispiece.

ALEXANDER AND BUCEPHALUS 27

MAP OF MACEDON AND GREECE 48

MAP OF MACEDON AND GREECE 58

MAP OF THE PLAIN OF TROY 88

PARIS AND HELEN 94

ACHILLES 97

MAP OF THE GRANICUS 104

THE BATHING IN THE RIVER CYDNUS 124

MAP OF THE PLAIN OF ISSUS 134

THE SIEGE OF TYRE 157

THE FOCUS 185

THE CALTROP 197

ALEXANDER AT THE PASS OF SUSA 211

PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT OF MOUNT ATHOS 261

[Illustration: MAP. EXPEDITION OF ALEXANDER.]

ALEXANDER THE GREAT.

CHAPTER I.

HIS CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH.

B.C. 356-336

The briefness of Alexander's career.--His brilliant exploits.--Character of Alexander.--Mental and physical qualities.--Character of the Asiatic and European civilization.--Composition of Asiatic and European armies.--King Philip.--Extent of Macedon.--Olympias.--The young prince Alexander.--Ancient mode of warfare.--Ancient and modern military officers.--Alexander's nurse.--Alexander's education.--Lysimachus.--Homer.--Aristotle.--Alexander's copy of Homer.--Alexander's energy and ambition.--The Persian embassadors.--Stories of the embassadors.--Maturity of Alexander's mind.--Secret of Alexander's success.--The story of Bucephalus.--Philip condemns the horse.--Alexander desires to mount him.--Bucephalus calmed.--An exciting ride.--Sagacity of Bucephalus.--Becomes Alexander's favorite.--Fate of Bucephalus.--Alexander made regent.--Alexander's first battle.--Chæronea.--Alexander's impetuosity.--Philip repudiates Olympias.--Alexander's violent temper.--Philip's attempt on his son.--Philip's power.--His plans of conquest.--Alexander's impatience to reign.