Chapter XCIV

MILITARY OPERATIONS AND CONQUESTS OF ALEXANDER, AFTER HIS WINTER
QUARTERS IN PERSIS, DOWN TO HIS DEATH AT BABYLON.

The first four Asiatic campaigns of Alexander — their direct
bearing and importance in reference to Grecian history. — His
last seven years, farther eastward, had no similar bearing upon
Greece. — Darius at Ekbatana — seeks escape towards Baktria,
when he hears of Alexander approaching. — Alexander enters
Ekbatana — establishes there his depôt and base of operations.
— Alexander sends home the Thessalian cavalry — necessity for
him now to pursue a more desultory warfare. — Alexander pursues
Darius to the Caspian Gates, but fails in overtaking him. —
Conspiracy formed against Darius by Bessus and others, who seize
his person. — Prodigious efforts of Alexander to overtake and get
possession of Darius. He surprises the Persian corps, but Bessus
puts Darius to death. — Disappointment of Alexander when he
missed taking Darius alive. Regal funeral bestowed upon Darius.
His fate and conduct. — Repose of Alexander and his army at
Hekatompylus in Parthia. Commencing alteration in his demeanor.
He becomes Asiatized and despotic. — Gradual aggravation of
these new habits, from the present moment. — Alexander conquers
the mountains immediately south of the Caspian. He requires the
Greek mercenaries to surrender at discretion. Envoys from Sparta
and other Greek cities brought to him — how treated. — March of
Alexander farther Eastward — his successes in Asia and Drangiana.
— Proceedings against Philotas, son of Parmenio, in Drangiana.
Military greatness and consideration of the family. — Revelation
of an intended conspiracy made by Kebalinus to Philotas, for
the purpose of being communicated to Alexander. Philotas does
not mention it to Alexander. It is communicated to the latter
through another channel. — Alexander is at first angry with
Philotas, but accepts his explanation, and professes to pass
over the fact. — Ancient grudge against Philotas — advantage
taken of the incident to ruin him. — Kraterus and others are
jealous of Parmenio and Philotas. Alexander is persuaded to put
them both to death. — Arrest of Philotas. Alexander accuses him
before the assembled soldiers. He is condemned. — Philotas is
put to the torture, and forced to confess, both against himself
and Parmenio. — Parmenio is slain at Ekbatana, by order and
contrivance of Alexander. Mutiny of the soldiers when they learn
the assassination of Parmenio — appeased by the production of
Alexander’s order. — Fear and disgust produced by the killing
of Parmenio and Philotas. — Conquest of the Paropamisadæ, etc.
Foundation of Alexandria _ad Caucasum_. — Alexander crosses the
Hindoo-Koosh, and conquers Baktria. Bessus is made prisoner.
— Massacre of the Branchidæ and their families, perpetrated
by Alexander in Sogdiana. — Alexander at Marakanda and on the
Jaxartes. — Foundation of Alexandria _ad Jaxartem_. Limit of
march northward. — Alexander at Zariaspa in Baktria — he causes
Bessus to be mutilated and slain. — Farther subjugation of
Baktria and Sogdiana. Halt at Marakanda. — Banquet at Marakanda.
— Character and position of Kleitus. — Boasts of Alexander and
his flatterers — repugnance of Macedonian officers felt but
not expressed. — Scene at the banquet — vehement remonstrance
of Kleitus. — Furious wrath of Alexander — he murders Kleitus.
— Intense remorse of Alexander, immediately after the deed. —
Active and successful operations of Alexander in Sogdiana. —
Capture of two inexpugnable positions — the Sogdian rock — the
rock of Choriênes. Passion of Alexander for Roxana. — Alexander
at Baktra — marriage with Roxana. His demand for prostration
or worship from all. — Public harangue of Anaxarchus during a
banquet, exhorting every one to render this worship. — Public
reply of Kallisthenes, opposing it. Character and history of
Kallisthenes. — The reply of Kallisthenes is favorably heard by
the guests — the proposition for worship is dropped. — Coldness
and disfavor of Alexander towards Kallisthenes. — Honorable
frankness and courage of Kallisthenes. — Kallisthenes becomes
odious to Alexander. — Conspiracy of the royal pages against
Alexander’s life — it is divulged — they are put to torture, but
implicate no one else; they are put to death. — Kallisthenes is
arrested as an accomplice — antipathy manifested by Alexander
against him and against Aristotle also. — Kallisthenes is
tortured and hanged. — Alexander reduces the country between the
Hindoo-Koosh and the Indus. — Conquest of tribes on the right
bank of the Indus — the rock of Aornos. — Alexander crosses the
Indus — forces the passage of the Hydaspes, defeating Porus —
generous treatment of Porus. — His farther conquests in the
Punjab. Sangala the last of them. — He reaches the Hyphasis
(Sutledge), the farthest of the rivers of the Punjab. His army
refuses to march farther. — Alexander returns to the Hydaspes.
— He constructs a fleet and sails down the Hydaspes and the
Indus. Dangerous wound of Alexander in attacking the Malli. —
New cities and posts to be established on the Indus — Alexander
reaches the ocean — effect of the first sight of tides. — March
of Alexander by land westward through the desert of Gedrosia —
sufferings and losses in the army. — Alexander and the army come
back to Persis. — Conduct of Alexander at Persepolis. Punishment
of the satrap Orsines. — He marches to Susa — junction with
the fleet under Nearchus, after it had sailed round from the
mouth of the Indus. — Alexander at Susa as Great King. Subjects
of uneasiness to him — the satraps — the Macedonian soldiers.
— Past conduct of the satraps — several of them are punished
by Alexander — alarm among them all — flight of Harpalus. —
Discontents of the Macedonian soldiers with the Asiatizing
intermarriages promoted by Alexander. — Their discontent with
the new Asiatic soldiers levied and disciplined by Alexander. —
Interest of Alexander in the fleet, which sails up the Tigris to
Opis. — Notice of partial discharge to the Macedonian soldiers
— they mutiny — wrath of Alexander — he disbands them all. —
Remorse and humiliation of the soldiers — Alexander is appeased
— reconciliation. — Partial disbanding — body of veterans
placed under command of Kraterus to return — New projects of
conquests contemplated by Alexander — measures for enlarging
his fleet. — Visit to Ekbatana — death of Hephæstion — violent
sorrow of Alexander. — Alexander exterminates the Kossæi. —
March of Alexander to Babylon. Numerous embassies which met him
on the way. — Alexander at Babylon — his great preparations
for the circumnavigation and conquest of Arabia. — Alexander
on shipboard, on the Euphrates and in the marshes adjoining.
His plans for improving the navigation and flow of the river.
— Large reinforcements arrive, Grecian and Asiatic. New array
ordered by Alexander, for Macedonians and Persians in the same
files and companies. — Splendid funeral obsequies of Hephæstion.
— General feasting and intemperance in the army. Alexander is
seized with a dangerous fever. Details of his illness. — No hope
of his life. Consternation and grief in the army. Last interview
with his soldiers. His death — Effect produced on the imagination
of contemporaries by the career and death of Alexander. — Had
Alexander lived, he must have achieved things greater still. —
Question raised by Livy, about the chances of Alexander if he
had attacked the Romans. — Unrivalled excellence as a military
man. — Alexander as a ruler, apart from military affairs — not
deserving of esteem. — Alexander would have continued the system
of the Persian empire, with no other improvement except that of
a strong organization. — Absence of nationality in Alexander —
purpose of fusing the different varieties of mankind into one
common type of subjection. — Mistake of supposing Alexander to
be the intentional diffuser of Greek civilization. His ideas
compared with those of Aristotle. — Number of new cities founded
in Asia by Alexander. — It was not Alexander, but the Diadochi
after him, who chiefly hellenized Asia. — How far Asia was ever
really hellenized — the great fact was, that the Greek language
became universally diffused. — Greco-Asiatic cities. — Increase
of the means of communication between various parts of the world.
— Interest of Alexander in science and literature — not great.
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