Arrian's
Campaigns of Alexander were written over four hundred years after Alexander's death, however he is the best source
of knowledge of the man and his exploits. Arrians factual tone records the remarkable career and paradoxical nature of
Alexander as a true historian, not a mere compiler of facts, providing a clear and fair report about a man who was worshipped as a God in his own lifetime.
The
Macedonian King Alexander campaigned the Persians at the battles of Granicus, Issus and Guagemela fully defeating Darius III and pursuing Bessus who imprisoned and killed Darius in order to exact revenge.
Alexander ruthlessly killed all the men and sold the women and children of cities and settlements who did not surrender to him on his campaigns. The peoples who yielded were often re-instated in their own kingdoms whilst providing levies of troops led by Macedonian officers which rankled with the Macedonian army.
The vast and varied terrain criss crossed by Alexander provided interesting descriptions of trees growing in salt water rather like laurel. This may have been the first European description of a mangrove swamp.
Alexander was given a helmet of water to drink in the desert which he poured into the ground because there was insufficient to provide for his troops.
Alexander was ruthless and fearless. Alexander was obliged to return from fully conquering India because his troops wanted to return to Macedonia. He died in Babylon probably of a fever due to a wound to his lungs.