Alexander and Julius?

[say1988]

Julius overthrew the Republic and founded the Empire.

Nope, Augustus established the Empire.

Julius, gets more than he deserves. He was a successful general and politician, but not deserving his place as one of the best known historical figures.

Alexander is also over-rated, and not Greek, but his empire was pretty good.

 

[mnOne]

True, Augustus was the more gifted politician - he knew exactly where he could go, whereas Caesar got stabbed by his own senators.

 

[donovant22]

He did untie the Gordian knot. By using his Sword.....

 

[donovant22]

Alexander conquered Persia in the name of Greece, and the part of Macedon he was from is technically in Greece. So he's Greek enough.

 

[Sisiutil]

Julius, gets more than he deserves. He was a successful general and politician, but not deserving his place as one of the best known historical figures.

I have to disagree with you there. Granted, Augustus established the Roman Empire, but his adoptive father laid the groundwork; Augustus could not have experienced the success he did had Julius not preceded him. Caesar was one of those rare, exceptional people who's good at just about everything he puts his mind to. This was his talent and also his tragic flaw: he was so much better at doing things than anyone else that he naturally became an autocrat. That, and the fact that it was hard to shine in the face of Caesar's brilliance, led to a lot of resentment in Republican Rome. Hence the Ides of March. But by then it was too late: Caesar had established, whether he intended it or not, the precedent of Rome having a single ruler holding the reins of power. Augustus took up where he left off and formalized the concentration of power in the hands of an emperor.

 

[Stratti]

Macedonian. Alexander was a Macedonian.

Macedonian in Ancient times was a region of Greece. Greeks were city states so they had no affiliation based on being Greek. In fact most of the place was at war consistently throughout the ages. Sparta V Athens ; Corinthian League V Others. Etc etc

Philip was King of Macedonia. Thessalonica today was part of his territory. He conquered the OTHER city states. When he died Thebes (another city state) rebelled believing Alexander to be weak (16yr old only). He led an army that completely obliterated the city-state the others fell into line pretty quickly

Where people today get confused is they hear Macedonian and mix it up with the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia

Without sparking the debate too much This slavic state at the fall of the Yugoslavia was desparate to find an identity. In fact many displaced GREEKS from the war had settled over into that part of the world

(I actually have relatives that call themselves Maco but they actually grew up in Slavic Macedonia not Greek Macedonia and speak a Slavic language different to us. My family is originaly from the same region as was called Macedonia in Ancient Greeks. You have no Idea how strange it is to meet a cousin whose family was displaced 500km away and she speaks a different language and calls herself Greek.)

So they used the name Macedonia. UN doesnt recognise the name hence FYR should be in front of it

As far as Alexander goes if you want to relate todays cultures to that time then you would need to consider the Slavic tribes to the north of Greece of which Alexander fought and conquered where actually the same tribes that eventually became Yugoslavia (thats if they werent displaced)

After a long winded post the bottom line is Alexander was Greek from the region of Greece known as Macedonia. Today there is a region further north than that called FYR Macedonia but with no geographical or historical connection save from having been attacked by Alexander

 

[say1988]

From what I recall, Macedonians were considered at least as much barbarian as Greek. Sure they may have originally been Greek, but by the time of Alexander, they had lived on the frontier long enough to not be considered true Greeks.

 

[Slobadog]

As far as Alexander goes if you want to relate todays cultures to that time then you would need to consider the Slavic tribes to the north of Greece of which Alexander fought and conquered where actually the same tribes that eventually became Yugoslavia (thats if they werent displaced)

I read that the slavs did not get anywhere near Macedon until after the BCs were over. Thus Alexander did not fight the slavs

 

[Mon Mauler]

From what I recall, Macedonians were considered at least as much barbarian as Greek. Sure they may have originally been Greek, but by the time of Alexander, they had lived on the frontier long enough to not be considered true Greeks.

This is at least partially true.

Amyntas I was the first ruler of an independent Macedon, who conducted foreign relations with other countries in the name of the region of Macedon, namely by vassalizing Macedon to Persia.

However, Amyntas was born of Hellenic blood. His son, Alexander I of Macedon was at least considered Greek enough to participate in the Olympic games. Moreover, he was athletically skilled enough to be successful in the Games.

Herodotus, in the Histories, paints the Macedonians as true Hellenes, several times tracing common ancestries of Athenian and Macedonian notables.

Of course, the independently-spirited Macedonians, at least by the time of Alexander III of Macedon (aka Alexander the Greek), had grown tiresome of the several generations of Athenian influence into Macedonian politics. By this time enough hostility had been built that the Greeks, by recognizing their common bonds to Macedon, probably saw them as only slightly better than the Barbarians. And Macedon had little love lost for Athens, as well.

Alexander decided the issue, at least for a little while.