Independent study project Alexander the Great magazine profile interview

Independent Study Project

Alexander the Great Magazine Article

Introduction

In this edition of Macedon Monthly we have the highly anticipated exclusive interview and profile of
none other than Alexander III of Macedon. Five years after the death of his father Philip II of
Macedon we caught up with Alexander and his Macedonian army just outside of Gaugamela (we
did not receive permission from Alexander and his inner circle to disclose the exact location of the
interview for security purposes) where he was preparing to face the Persian forces led by King
Darius III. We were able to touch on plenty of topics throughout the interview such as; his
complicated relationship with his father, his abrupt rise to power and the immediate challenges
that came with this and his ambitions for the future of the Macedonian Empire. These are just a
few of the topics discussed throughout the extensive interview, including our highly requested
Q&A segment where we asked King Alexander himself questions that were sent in by you, the
readers!

Hello King Alexander III of Macedon, thank you very much for taking time out of your Battle
preparations to talk to (Magazine name). King Alexander III of Macedon is quite a mouthful,
I’ve heard rumors that there are growing calls from within your camp for you to adopt the
official title of Alexander the Great, what do you make of this and what should we call you ?

Firstly, it is a pleasure to be talking to you ahead of what will be a famous victory for myself and
the empire I am building. Alexander the Great, hmm, I like how that sounds, it is of no surprise to
me that my men see me in this regard, we have done and will continue to do great things together.
However, although it is my destiny to, I have not achieved all I want as of yet and therefore I will
not proclaim myself to be great until I have achieved my destiny, so for now, King Alexander is just
fine.

Just a couple of minutes into the interview and the charisma and confidence that has become
closely associated with the character of King Alexander can already be felt. His intimidating
presence is softened by a boyish charm that represents his age because let us not forget, for all
the victories on the battlefield and the hype that surrounds him he is still only twenty- five years of
age. The combination of the king’s youthful exuberance and ruthless ambition is to be expected
when we consider his upbringing and his early influences. His father King Phillip II of Macedon
hired the famed philosopher and scholar, Aristotle to be his tutor. Under his tutelage Alexander
was trained and educated for the day he would become King and part of his education meant
studying and following the Homeric notions of personal success for the sake of honour and glory.
Combined with the fact that his childhood heroes were Heracles and Achilles, it is no coincidence
that his striking ambition and charisma is evident as soon as I am in his presence. When
mentioning Alexander’s role models growing up it is imperative for us to acknowledge that he
idolised no one more than his own father Phillip II of Macedon.

So, King Alexander, it is common knowledge that the well-known philosopher and scholar
Aristotle had a significant role in your education as a youth. Looking back, what more can
you tell us about your childhood, upbringing, and relationship with your father?

My childhood cannot be compared to that of any common child even one who belongs to a family
of nobility and high rank. From a young age my father ensured that I was prepared for kingship

and the challenges that come with it. Looking back I think my father understood that being King
and growing the Macedonian empire, there would always be enemies who wanted him dead and
this definitely influenced his decisions in regards to my childhood as I could have been named his
successor at any time. My father did not trust a normal teacher to guide me, so he struck a deal
with one of the most renowned philosophers in Greece, Aristotle. I owe a great deal to Aristotle
and love him dearly, like I have said before thanks to my father I have life and thanks to Aristotle I
know how to live well. I have especially fond memories of Aristotle’s revised version of the Iliad,
which is possibly my favourite piece of literature ever, I even used to keep it under my bed when I
slept! Aristotle always supported my interest into eastern conquest and encouraged me to free the
Greek slaves in Persia when the time was right and look where we are now, days away from
defeating the man who leads all of Persia and toppling the Achaemenid Empire. As for my father, I
wish things could have ended differently between us, but his recklessness and the decisions he
made were inexcusable. I grew up idolising him, learning how he transformed the Macedon
threatened with dissolution and crippled by military defeat at the hands of the Illyrians into the
Macedon that became a political and military superpower by the end of the 340s BC really lit a fire
within me to be great and continue my father’s legacy. Fighting alongside him in 338 BC at the
Battle of Chaeronea when he gave me command of the Macedonian left flank was one of the
proudest moments of my career so far, it meant so much to me to share the battlefield with my
father and be victorious.