alexander the great last speech

But for the purpose of making you understand when you take yourselves off, what kind of men you have been to us who have conferred such benefits upon you. In the first place, as is reasonable, I shall begin my speech from my father Philip. For he found you vagabonds and destitute of means, most of you clad in hides, feeding a few sheep up the mountain sides, for the protection of which you had to fight with small success against Illyrians, Triballians, and the border Thracians.

Instead of the hides he gave you cloaks to wear, and from the mountains he led you down into the plains, and made you capable of fighting the neighboring barbarians, so that you were no longer compelled to preserve yourselves by trusting rather to the inaccessible strongholds than to your own valor. He made you colonists of cities, which he adorned with useful laws and customs; and from being slaves and subjects, he made you rulers over those very barbarians by whom you yourselves, as well as your property, were previously liable to be carried off or ravaged.

He also added the greater part of Thrace to Macedonia, and by seizing the most conveniently situated places on the sea-coast, he spread abundance over the land from commerce, and made the working of the mines a secure employment. He made you rulers over the Thessalians, of whom you had formerly been in mortal fear; and by humbling the nation of the Phocians, he rendered the avenue into Greece broad and easy for you, instead of being narrow and difficult.

The Athenians and Thebans, who were always lying in wait to attack Macedonia, he humbled to such a degree, I also then rendering him my personal aid in the campaign, that instead of paying tribute to the former and being vassals to the latter, those states in their turn procure security to themselves by our assistance. He penetrated into the Peloponnese, and after regulating its affairs, was publicly declared commander-in-chief of all the rest of Greece in the expedition against the Persian, adding this glory not more to himself than to the commonwealth of the Macedonians.

These were the advantages which accrued to you from my father Philip; great indeed if looked at by themselves, but small if compared with those you have obtained from me. For though I inherited from my father only a few gold and silver goblets, and there were not even sixty talents in the treasury, and though I found myself charged with a debt of 500 talents owing by Philip, and I was obliged myself to borrow 800 talents in addition to these, I started from the country which could not decently support you, and forthwith laid open to you the passage of the Hellespont, though at that time the Persians held the sovereignty of the sea.

Having overpowered the satraps of Darius with my cavalry, I added to your empire the whole of Ionia, the whole of Aeolis, both Phrygias and Lydia, and I took Miletus by siege. All the other places I gained by voluntary surrender, and I granted you the privilege of appropriating the wealth found in them. The riches of Egypt and Cyrene, which I acquired without fighting a battle, have come to you. Coele-Syria, Palestine, and Mesopotamia are your property. Babylon, Bactra, and Susa are yours.

The wealth of the Lydians, the treasures of the Persians, and the riches of the Indians are yours; and so is the External Sea. You are viceroys, you are generals, you are captains. What then have I reserved to myself after all these labors, except this purple robe and this diadem? I have appropriated nothing myself, nor can any one point out my treasures, except these possessions of yours or the things which I am guarding on your behalf. Individually, however, I have no motive to guard them, since I feed on the same fare as you do, and I take only the same amount of sleep.

Nay, I do not think that my fare is as good as that of those among you who live luxuriously; and I know that I often sit up at night to watch for you, that you may be able to sleep.

But some one may say, that while you endured toil and fatigue, I have acquired these things as your leader without myself sharing the toil and fatigue. But who is there of you who knows that he has endured greater toil for me than I have for him? Come now, whoever of you has wounds, let him strip and show them, and I will show mine in turn; for there is no part of my body, in front at any rate, remaining free from wounds; nor is there any kind of weapon used either for close combat or for hurling at the enemy, the traces of which I do not bear on my person.

For I have been wounded with the sword in close fight, I have been shot with arrows, and I have been struck with missiles projected from engines of war; and though oftentimes I have been hit with stones and bolts of wood for the sake of your lives, your glory, and your wealth, I am still leading you as conquerors over all the land and sea, all rivers, mountains, and plains. I have celebrated your weddings with my own, and the children of many of you will be akin to my children.

Moreover I have liquidated of all those who had incurred them, without inquiring too closely for what purpose they were contracted, though you received such high pay, and carry off so much booty whenever there is booty to be got after a siege. Most of you have golden crowns, the eternal memorials of your valor and of the honor you receive from me. Whoever has been killed has met with a glorious end and has been honored with a splendid burial.

Brazen statues of most of the slain have been erected at home, and their parents are held in honor) being released from all public service and from taxation. But no one of you has ever been killed in flight under my leadership. And now I was intending to send back those of you who are unfit for service, objects of envy to those at home; but since you all wish to depart, depart all of you!

Go back and report at home that your king Alexander, the conqueror of the Persians, Medes, Bactrians, and Sacians; the man who has subjugated the Uxians, Arachotians, and Drangians; who has also acquired the rule of the Parthians, Chorasmians, and Hyrcanians, as far as the Caspian Sea; who has marched over the Caucasus, through the Caspian Gates; who has crossed the rivers Oxus and Tanais, and the Indus besides, which has never been crossed by any one else except Dionysus; who has also crossed the Hydaspes, Acesines, and Hydraotes, and who would have crossed the Hyphasis, if you had not shrunk back with alarm; who has penetrated into the Great Sea by both the mouths of the Indus; who has marched through the desert of Gadrosia, where no one ever before marched with an army; who on his route acquired possession of Carmania and the land of the Oritians, in addition to his other conquests, his fleet having in the meantime already sailed round the coast of the sea which extends from India to Persia - report that when you returned to Susa you deserted him and went away, handing him over to the protection of conquered foreigners.

Perhaps this report of yours will be both glorious to you in the eyes of men and devout I ween in the eyes of the gods. Depart!  

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The Greatest Speech in History? Alexander the Great & The Opis Mutiny

• Read Later  

Alexander the Great's achievements make him one of the most exceptional figures in history. He ascended to the throne of the small Greek kingdom of Macedonia at the age of just 20 in 336 BC. In the span of twelve years before his death, he established Macedonian overlordship on Greece, vanquished the mighty Persian Empire, and led his army into modern-day Afghanistan and the Indian frontier.

During his campaign, Alexander faced a mutiny by his Macedonian soldiers at the Babylonian city Opis. They were unhappy about his decision to send some of them back home while appearing to favor his new Asian subjects and adopting their customs. According to Roman historian Arrian's "The Anabasis," Alexander responded ruthlessly by dealing with the leaders before making a speech to his army in which he berated his troops for their disloyalty. Some say it is one of the greatest speeches in history.

Top image: Ancient Greek general Alexander the Great. Source:  Andrew Zimmerman / Adobe Stock.

By  Joanna Gillan

More romantic hokum.

We don’t know—can’t know—what Alexander or anyone else said before the age of mechanical or electronic recordings. Tradition be damned; I say this is made up nonsense.

Like Shakespeare, just out of some writer’s mind? 

But on Alexander, the man, how much do we really know?  They say he died young, early 30’s.  But how?  Complications of surgery to relieve his Gordian Knot, ...which his men knew, had to be untangled/reconciled the age-old way: slowly, with diligence, and righteous intent?  

Nobody gets paid to tell the truth.

Joanna Gillan is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. 

Joanna completed a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) degree in Australia and published research in the field of Educational Psychology. She has a rich and varied career, ranging from teaching... Read More

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World history

Course: world history   >   unit 2.

• Philip of Macedon unifies Greece
• Alexander the Great takes power
• Alexander the Great conquers Persia
• Diadochi and the Hellenistic Period

Alexander the Great

• Alexander the Great was famous for his military power and is a legendary figure in history.
• Much of what we know about Alexander the Great is unreliable and steeped in myth; a lot of these mythologies were used by Alexander’s successors.

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Arrian on the mutiny at Opis

In August 324, Alexander 's soldiers revolted: they were discontent because of their king's orientalism. The Greek author Arrian of Nicomedia describes this event in section 7.8-9 and 7.11 of his Anabasis .

The translation was made by M.M. Austin.

The Mutiny at Opis

[7.8.1]  On arriving at Opis , note [Not far south of modern Baghdad.] Alexander called together the Macedonians and declared that he was discharging from the campaign and sending back to their country those who were unfit for service because of age or wounds suffered. The presents he would give would make them an object of even greater envy at home and would encourage the other Macedonians to take part in the same dangers and hardships.

[7.8.2]  Alexander spoke these words with the clear intention of pleasing the Macedonians, but they felt Alexander now despised them and regarded them as completely unfit for service. It was not unreasonable for them to take exception to Alexander's words, and they had had many grievances throughout the expedition. There was the recurring annoyance of Alexander's Persian dress which pointed in the same direction, and the training of the barbarian "Successors" in the Macedonian style of warfare, note [This unit was created in 327 and had recently arrived at Susa .] and the introduction of foreign cavalry into the squadrons of the Companions.

[7.8.3]  They could not keep quiet any longer, but all shouted to Alexander to discharge them from service and take his father on the expedition (by this insult they meant Ammon ). note [The Egyptian god; Alexander believed him to be his father.]

When Alexander heard this - he was now rather more quick-tempered and eastern flattery had made him become arrogant towards the Macedonians - he leaped from the platform with the leaders around him and ordered the arrest of the most conspicuous troublemakers, indicating to the hypaspists the men for arrest, thirteen in all. He ordered them to be led off for execution, and when a terrified silence had fallen on the others he ascended the platform again and spoke as follows. 

[7.9.1]  "Macedonians, my speech will not be aimed at stopping your urge to return home; as far as I am concerned you may go where you like. But I want you to realize on departing what I have done for you, and what you have done for me.

[7.9.2]  Let me begin, as is right, with my father Philip . He found you wandering about without resources, many of you clothed in sheepskins and pasturing small flocks in the mountains, defending them with difficulty against the Illyrians , Triballians and neighboring Thracians . He gave you cloaks to wear instead of sheepskins, brought you down from the mountains to the plains, and made you a match in war for the neighboring barbarians, owing your safety to your own bravery and no longer to reliance on your mountain strongholds. He made you city dwellers and civilized you with good laws and customs.

[7.9.3]  Those barbarians who used to harrass you and plunder your property, he made you their leaders instead of their slaves and subjects. He annexed much of Thrace to Macedonia, seized the most favorable coastal towns and opened up the country to commerce, and enabled you to exploit your mines undisturbed.

[7.9.4]  He made you governors of the Thessalians , before whom you used to die of fright, humbled the Phocians and so opened a broad and easy path into Greece in place of a narrow and difficult one. The Athenians and Thebans, who were permanently poised to attack Macedonia, he so humbled (and I was now helping him in this task note [This refers to the battle of Chaeronea in 338.] ) that instead of you paying tribute to the Athenians and being under the sway of the Thebans, they now in turn had to seek their safety from us.

[7.9.5]  He marched into the Peloponnese and settled matters there too. He was appointed commander-in-chief of all Greece for the campaign against the Persians, but preferred to assign the credit to all the Macedonians rather than just to himself. note [This refers to the Corinthian league .]

[7.9.6]  Such were the achievements of my father on your behalf; as you can see for yourselves, they are great, and yet small in comparison with my own. I inherited from my father a few gold and silver cups, and less than 60 talents in the treasury; Philip had debts amounting to 500 talents, and I raised a loan of a further 800. I started from a country that could barely sustain you and immediately opened up the Hellespont for you, although the Persians then held the mastery of the sea.

[7.9.7]  I defeated in a cavalry engagement the satraps of Darius note [This refers to the battle of the Granicus river .] and annexed to your rule the whole of Ionia and Aeolis, both Phrygias and Lydia , and took Miletus by storm.

All the rest came over to our side spontaneously, and I made them yours for you to enjoy.

[7.9.8]  All the wealth of Egypt and Cyrene , which I won without a fight, are now yours, Coele Syria , Palestine and Mesopotamia are your possession, Babylonia and Bactria and Elam belong to you, you own the wealth of Lydia, the treasures of Persia, the riches of India, and the outer ocean. You are satraps, you are generals, you are captains. As for me, what do I have left from all these labors? Merely this purple cloak and a diadem ."

[7.11.1]  When he had finished Alexander quickly leaped down from the platform, retired to the royal tent and neglected his bodily needs. For that day and the day after he would not let any of his Companions see him. On the third day he invited inside the élite of the Persians, appointed them to the command of all the squadrons, and only allowed those who received the title of "kinsmen" from him to kiss him.

[7.11.2]  As for the Macedonians, they were at first struck dumb by his speech and waited for him near the platform. No one followed the departing king, apart from the Companions around him and the bodyguards , but the majority were unable to decide what to do or say or to make up their minds to go away.

[7.11.3]  When they were told what was happening with the Persians and Medes , that the command was being given to Persians and the oriental army was being divided into companies, that Macedonian names were being given to them, and there was a Persian squadron and Persian foot-companions and other infantry and a Persian regiment of Silver Shields, and a Companion cavalry together with another royal squadron, they could not endure it any longer.

[7.11.4]  They ran in a body to the royal tent, cast their weapons down in front of the doors as a sign of supplication to the king, and standing before the doors shouted to the king to come out. They were prepared to hand over those responsible for the present disturbance and those who had raised the outcry. They would not move from the doors by day or night until Alexander took pity on them.

[7.11.5]  When this was reported to Alexander, he quickly came out and saw their humble disposition; he heard the majority crying and lamenting, and was moved to tears. He came forward to speak, but they remained there imploring him.

[7.11.6]  One of them, whose age and command of the Companion cavalry made him preeminent (he was called Callines) spoke as follows. "Sire, what grieves the Macedonians is that you have already made some Persians your 'kinsmen', and the Persians are called 'kinsmen' of Alexander and are allowed to kiss you, while not one of the Macedonians has been granted this honor."

[7.11.7]  Alexander then interrupted him and said "I make you all my 'kinsmen' and henceforward that shall be your title." At this Callines stepped forward and kissed him, and so did everyone else who wished. And thus they picked up their arms again and returned to the camp amid shouts and songs of triumph.

[7.11.8]  Alexander celebrated the occasion by sacrificing to the gods he normally sacrificed to, and offering a public banquet. He sat down and so did everyone else, the Macedonians around him, the Persians next to them, then any of the other peoples who enjoyed precedence for their reputation or some other quality. Then he and those around him drew wine from the same bowl and poured the same libations, beginning with the Greek seers and the Magians .

[7.11.9]  He prayed for other blessings and for harmony and partnership in rule between Macedonians and Persians.  It is said that there were 9,000 guests at the banquet, who all poured the same libation and then sang the song of victory.

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The three final wishes of alexander the great.

Alexander was a great Greek king. As a military commander, he was undefeated and the most successful throughout history. On his way home from conquering many countries, he came down with an illness. At that moment, his captured territories, powerful army, sharp swords, and wealth all had no meaning to him. He realised that death would soon arrive and he would be unable to return to his homeland. He told his officers: “I will soon leave this world. I have three final wishes. You need to carry out what I tell you.” His generals, in tears, agreed.

The Three Wishes

• The best doctors should carry my body.
• All the wealth he had accumulated (money, gold, precious stones) should be scattered along the procession to the cemetery; and
• his body should be covered in a shroud with only his hands visible, swinging in the wind, palms up, carrying dust.

One of his generals who was surprised by these unusual requests asked Alexander to explain. Here is what Alexander the Great had to say:

• I want the best doctors to carry my coffin to demonstrate that, in the face of death, even the best doctors in the world have no power to heal.
• I want the road to be covered with my treasure so that everybody sees that material wealth acquired on earth, stays on earth.
• I want my hands to swing in the wind, so that people understand that we come to this world empty handed and we leave this world empty handed after the most precious treasure of all is exhausted, and that is TIME.

TIME is our most precious treasure because it is LIMITED. We can produce more wealth, but we cannot produce more time. When we give someone our time, we actually give a portion of our life that we will never take back. Our time is our life.

Which power do you truly seek? That which involves you with the snarling dogs of the world? Or the power of peaceful tranquillity which draws people to you? Which love do you really wish for? The phantom love of wealth and riches or ego and its control of others? Or the infinite power of the heart? Do you wish to succeed by competing against the lines drawn by others? Or do you wish to blaze forth in the creative expression of your own eternal genius? Do you wish to conquer the world and gain only ashes? Or the enduring powers of self-conquest and of one who has served? Do you wish to create and live in fear of the ghosts of past and future? Or to dwell in the city of clarity of the moment?

If you seek conquest, seek first the power of self conquest. Then seek that power which is service to others. Seek the power to benefit and comfort the many. For only such a power will be remembered. And even if you yourself do not gain from this power, be sure that generations of people to come will benefit from it, and you will be truly blessed.

Wish for, strive for, the true powers of tranquillity, love, inner genius, service and clarity of each moment.

May you have plenty of TIME.

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Alexander the Great

By: History.com Editors

Updated: February 5, 2024 | Original: November 9, 2009

Alexander the Great was an ancient Macedonian ruler and one of history’s greatest military minds who, as King of Macedonia and Persia, established the largest empire the ancient world had ever seen. By turns charismatic and ruthless, brilliant and power hungry, diplomatic and bloodthirsty, Alexander inspired such loyalty in his men they’d follow him anywhere and, if necessary, die in the process. Though Alexander the Great died before realizing his dream of uniting a new realm, his influence on Greek and Asian culture was so profound that it inspired a new historical epoch—the Hellenistic Period.

Where Was Alexander the Great From?

Alexander III was born in Pella, Macedonia , in 356 B.C. to King Philip II and Queen Olympias—although legend had it his father was none other than Zeus, the ruler of the Greek gods .

Philip II was an impressive military man in his own right. He turned Macedonia (a region on the northern part of the Greek peninsula) into a force to be reckoned with, and he fantasized about conquering the massive Persian Empire .

At age 12, Alexander showed impressive courage when he tamed the wild horse Bucephalus, an enormous stallion with a furious demeanor. The horse became his battle companion for most of Alexander’s life.

When Alexander was 13, Philip called on the great philosopher Aristotle to tutor his son. Aristotle sparked and fostered Alexander’s interest in literature, science, medicine and philosophy.

Alexander was just 16 when Philip went off to battle and left his son in charge of Macedonia. In 338 B.C., Alexander saw the opportunity to prove his military worth and led a cavalry against the Sacred Band of Thebes—a supposedly unbeatable, select army made up entirely of male lovers—during the Battle of Chaeronea.

Alexander put his vigor and bravery on display, and his cavalry decimated the Sacred Band of Thebes.

Ancient Empires

Watch the three-episode documentary event, Ancient Empires . Available to stream now.

Alexander Becomes King

In 336 B.C., Alexander’s father Philip was assassinated by his bodyguard Pausanias. Just 20 years old, Alexander claimed the Macedonian throne and killed his rivals before they could challenge his sovereignty.

He also quashed rebellions for independence in northern Greece. Once he’d cleaned house, Alexander left to follow in his father’s footsteps and continue Macedonia’s world domination.

Alexander appointed the general Antipater as regent and headed for Persia with his army. They crossed the Hellespont, a narrow strait between the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara, and faced Persian and Greek forces at the Granicus River. Victory went to Alexander and the Macedonians.

Alexander then headed south and easily took the city of Sardes. But his army encountered resistance in the cities of Miletus, Mylasa and Halicarnassus. Under siege yet not beaten, Halicarnassus held out long enough for King Darius III, the newest Persian king, to amass a substantial army.

Gordian Knot

From Halicarnassus, Alexander headed north to Gordium, home of the fabled Gordian knot , a group of tightly-entwined knots yoked to an ancient wagon. Legend had it whoever unwound the knot would conquer all of Asia.

As the story goes, Alexander took on the challenge but was unable to unravel the knot by hand. He took another approach and sliced through the knot with his sword, claiming triumph.

Battle of Issus

In 333 B.C., Alexander and his men encountered a massive Persian army led by King Darius III near the town of Issus in southern Turkey. Alexander’s forces were greatly outnumbered in men but not in experience or the determination for revenge and to claim Persia’s great wealth, much of it plundered.

As it became clear Alexander would win the Battle of Issus, Darius fled with what remained of his troops, leaving his wife and family behind. His mother, Sisygambis, was so upset she disowned him and adopted Alexander as her son.

By now it was clear that Alexander was a shrewd, ruthless and brilliant military leader—in fact, he never lost a battle in his life. He would build an empire on the back of his motto, “there is nothing impossible to him who will try.”

Battle of Tyre

Next, Alexander took over the Phoenician cities of Marathus and Aradus. He rejected a plea from Darius for peace and took the towns of Byblos and Sidon.

He then laid siege to the heavily fortified island of Tyre in January 332 B.C., after the Tyrians refused him entry. But Alexander had no navy to speak of and Tyre was surrounded by water.

Alexander instructed his men to build a causeway to reach Tyre. All went well until they came within striking distance of the Tyrians. Again and again, Tyrian forces thwarted Alexander’s clever attempts to gain entry, and he realized he needed a strong navy to penetrate their defenses.

He amassed a large fleet, finally breached the city’s walls in July 332 B.C. and executed thousands of Tyrians for daring to defy him; many others were sold into slavery.

Alexander Enters Egypt

After rejecting another peace offer from Darius, Alexander set out for Egypt . He was sidelined at Gaza, however, and forced to endure another lengthy siege. After several weeks, he took the town and entered Egypt where he established the city that still bears his name: Alexandria.

Alexander traveled to the desert to consult the oracle of Ammon, a god of supposed good counsel. Legends abound about what transpired at the oracle, but Alexander kept mum about the experience. Still, the visit furthered speculation Alexander was a deity.

Alexander Becomes King of Persia

After conquering Egypt, Alexander faced Darius and his massive troops at Gaugamela in October 331 B.C. Following fierce fighting and heavy losses on both sides, Darius fled and was assassinated by his own troops. It’s said Alexander was sad when he found Darius’s body and he gave him a royal burial.

Finally rid of Darius, Alexander proclaimed himself King of Persia. But another Persian leader, Bessus (also thought to be Darius’s murderer), had also claimed the Persian throne. Alexander couldn’t let the claim stand.

After relentless pursuit by Alexander, Bessus’s troops handed Bessus over to Ptolemy, Alexander’s good friend, and he was mutilated and executed. With Bessus out of the way, Alexander had full control of Persia.

Proskynesis

To gain credibility with the Persians, Alexander took on many Persian customs. He began dressing like a Persian and adopted the practice of proskynesis, a Persian court custom that involved bowing down and kissing the hand of others, depending on their rank.

The Macedonians were less than thrilled with the changes in Alexander and his attempt to be viewed as a deity. They refused to practice proskynesis and some plotted his death.

Increasingly paranoid, Alexander ordered the death of one of his most esteemed generals, Parmenio, in 330 B.C., after Parmenio's son Philotas was convicted of plotting an assassination attempt against Alexander (and also killed).

Alexander Kills Cleitus

In 328 B.C., Cleitus, another general and close friend of Alexander, also met a violent end. Fed up with Alexander’s new Persian-like persona, a drunk Cleitus continually insulted Alexander and minimized his achievements.

Pushed too far, Alexander killed Cleitus with a spear, a spontaneous act of violence that anguished him. Some historians believe Alexander killed his general in a fit of drunkenness—a persistent problem that plagued him through much of his life.

Alexander struggled to capture Sogdia, a region of the Persian Empire that remained loyal to Bessus. The Sogdians found a refuge at the pinnacle of a rock and refused Alexander’s demand to surrender.

Not one to take “no” for an answer, Alexander sent some of his men to scale the rock and take the Sogdians by surprise. Supposedly, one of those on the rock was a girl named Roxane.

As the story goes, Alexander fell in love with Roxane on sight. He married her despite her Sogdian heritage and she joined him on his journey.

Alexander Enters India

In 327 B.C., Alexander marched on Punjab, India. Some tribes surrendered peacefully; others did not. In 326 B.C., Alexander met King Porus of Paurava at the Hydaspes River.

Porus’s army was less experienced than Alexander’s, but they had a secret weapon—elephants. Even so, after a fierce battle in a raging thunderstorm, Porus was defeated.

One event took place at Hydaspes which devastated Alexander: the death of his beloved horse, Bucephalus. It’s unclear if he died from battle wounds or of old age, but Alexander named the city of Bucephala after him.

Alexander wanted to press on and attempt to conquer all of India, but his war-weary soldiers refused, and his officers convinced him to return to Persia. So Alexander led his troops down the Indus River and was severely wounded during a battle with the Malli.

After recovering, he divided his troops, sending half of them back to Persia and half to Gedrosia, a desolate area west of the Indus River.

A Mass Wedding

In early 324 B.C., Alexander reached the city of Susa in Persia. Wanting to unite the Persians and Macedonians and create a new race loyal only to him, he ordered many of his officers to marry Persian princesses at a mass wedding. He also took two more wives for himself.

The Macedonian army resented Alexander’s attempt to change their culture and many mutinied. But after Alexander took a firm stand and replaced Macedonian officers and troops with Persians, his army backed down.

To further diffuse the situation, Alexander returned their titles and hosted a huge reconciliation banquet.

How Did Alexander the Great Die?

By 323 B.C., Alexander was head of an enormous empire and had recovered from the devastating loss of his friend Hephaestion—who was also reputed to be one of Alexander’s homosexual male lovers.

Thanks to his insatiable urge for world supremacy, he started plans to conquer Arabia. But he’d never live to see it happen. Some historians say Alexander died of malaria or other natural causes; others believe he was poisoned. Either way, he never named a successor.

His death—and the bloody infighting for control that happened afterwards—unraveled the empire he’d fought so hard to create.

How Old Was Alexander the Great When He Died?

After surviving battle after fierce battle, Alexander the Great died in June 323 B.C. at age 32.

Why Was Alexander the Great ‘Great’?

Many conquered lands retained the Greek influence Alexander introduced, and several cities he founded remain important cultural centers even today. The period of history from his death to 31 B.C., when his empire folded, would come to be known as the Hellenistic period , from “Hellazein,” which means, “to speak Greek or identify with the Greeks.” Alexander the Great is revered as one of the most powerful and influential leaders the ancient world ever produced.

Alexander the Great. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Alexander the Great. Livius.org. Alexander the Great of Macedon Biography. Historyofmacedonia.org . Alexander of Macedonia. San Jose State University . Bucephalus. Ancient History Encyclopedia. The Battle of Issus. Livius.org. The Sacred Band of Thebes, from Plutarch, Life of Pelopidas . Fordham University . The Siege of Tyre (332 BCE). Livius.org.

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Classical Education , Classical Studies , Famous Men of Virtue , Greek

The lasting courage of alexander the great.

In the autumn of 324 BC, Alexander stood up and looked at the faces of his Macadonian army. He had seen these faces many times before. Seven years earlier before the battle of Gaugamela, Alexander saw in the faces of these same men a fierce love and a resolute spirit that led to a decisive victory for his army against the Persian king. But on this crisp autumn day in the year 324, Alexander did not see those same warmhearted expressions; instead he saw the fomenting glances of mutiny. 

In just under 13 years, Alexander the Great changed the shape of the known world. When he toppled the Persian Empire, he brought Greek language and culture into the East, which culminated in the establishment of Greek cities all throughout the western world.

But what was the source of his greatness? This question reveals a heated debate among the Greco-Roman philosophers: Did Alexander achieve greatness because he was virtuous, or because he was fortunate? Did Tyche, the goddess of fortune and destiny, bestow greatness upon Alexander, or did Alexander, by nature of his virtue, secure for himself the heights of glory? Although Tyche might try to claim Alexander as her chief masterpiece, Plutarch observed that a proper philosopher must acknowledge the many virtues of Alexander himself, especially the greatest of his virtues: courage. For it was courage, more than wisdom, justice, or temperance, that turned a young Macedonian prince into Alexander the Great, King of the Greeks and King of Asia. 

The story of Alexander the Great comes from our classical studies course, Famous Men of Greece , a collection of stories gathered from the annals of history and myth; it’s perfect for any student or teacher of classical history from 5th -7th grade. 

Before Alexander was a king, he was a student. When Alexander turned 13, Philip sent his son to learn from Aristotle. Under this capable tutor, Alexander learned about medicine, philosophy, morals, logic, and art. Above all, he learned to love the works of Homer and in particular the Iliad . Through the influence of this ancient Greek story, the young Alexander came to idealize the mighty Achilles, the perfect embodiment of a courageous warrior-king. Unsurprisingly, then, Alexander adored this hero, and the life of Achilles became a paradigm for Alexander.

In May of the year 334 BC, Alexander arrived at the banks of the Granicus river, where he would confront the Persian army for the first time. The Macadonian nobleman had declared Alexander king just two years earlier at the age of 20, but having just crossed into Asia, he was eager to test the Persian resolve. As he approached the Granicus, he saw the impressive Persian horde on the adjacent bank. Although his second in command recommended that he delay the attack and make camp, Alexander saw a unique opportunity to strike a crippling blow to the Persian Empire early in his campaign. But more importantly, unlike his seasoned generals, Alexander had the courage to take advantage of this opportunity. 

When Alexander ordered his Macadonians to cross the river, he led the charge with his elite Companion Cavalry, called the hetairoi (ἑταῖροι). Alexander plunged headlong into the vanguard of the Persian army. This daring act of courage caused the Persian center to collapse, and provided the Macadonian infantry enough time to cross the river and envelop the Persian forces. Alexander was a military genius, but it was his courage that won the battle.

This bravery won the loyalty and affection of his men, but this virtue was a double edged sword. As one Roman historian explained, “He demanded that his men should enter battle bravely” because he himself “set an example to the rest in valour” ( History of Alexander 4.6). Alexander’s men repeatedly took great casualties when they accompanied him into battle, so perhaps at times the courage of Alexander descended into reckless disregard for the men that loved him. At these times, vice was confused with virtue, and Alexander’s men often paid the price. 

However, Alexander also bore the wounds and scars of his courageous accomplishments. When Alexander spoke to his troops before the Battle of Gaugamela (Γαυγάμηλα), it was sa id that he didn’t even need words because “so many scars spoke up for him–as so many ornaments to his body” ( History of Alexander 4.6). Plutarch said the wounds of Alexander were practical evidence of his courage: the gash on his head from a scimitar at the Granicus (I.7-8); the arrow wound on his ankle at the siege of Gaza (I.10-11); the dislocated shoulder; another arrow through the shin at Maracanda; and many more (I.7-11). Alexander would call on these scars as witnesses in his defense: Fortune had not made him great, courage had won for him an empire. 

But on this cold autumn day in 324 BC, Alexander’s men were mutinous. After 13 years of conquest and victory, Alexander’s army was defiant and traitorous. Once again, Alexander required courage to stand up to his army.  History records the brave, almost audacious, speech Alexander gave to his men:

“I defeated in a cavalry engagement the satraps of Darius and annexed to your rule the whole of Ionia and Aeolis, both Phrygias and Lydia, and took Miletus by storm. All the rest came over to our side spontaneously, and I made them yours for you to enjoy. All the wealth of Egypt and Cyrene, which I won without a fight, are now yours, Coele Syria (Κοίλη Συρία), Palestine and Mesopotamia are your possession, Babylonia and Bactria and Elam belong to you, you own the wealth of Lydia, the treasures of Persia, the riches of India, and the outer ocean.” In short, Alexander had conquered the world and given it to his people. He continued, “You are satraps, you are generals, you are captains. As for me, what do I have left from all these labors? Merely this purple cloak and a diadem.”

When Alexander finished, he went back to his tent. His men, moved by his courage and reminded of their love for him, pleaded with Alexander for forgiveness. Alexander’s courage had once again saved his army. 

One year later, Alexander died from an unknown illness before he had the opportunity to continue his conquests. And perhaps the obscurity of his death should only further turn our attention to the virtues of Alexander’s life and the courage that made him great. The life of Alexander illustrates a central classical virtue: courage. Courage compelled him to advance when others retreated. Courage drove him to act when others could not or would not for fear of failure. In other words, the life of Alexander demonstrates the near limitless potential of a courageous life. As Christians, Thomas Aqui nas reminds us that courage is not only reserved for battlefield aggression. Rather, courage is an internal disposition of the soul that compels one to act with bravery and endurance. Through this Christian lens, Alexander becomes a model of courageous activity and a warning about excesses of reckless behavior.

J. Shane Saxon

Shane Saxon is the director of trademark schools and wholesale distribution at Memoria Press. He has a Bachelor of English, a Master of Divinity, and a Master of Theology in Old Testament.

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Who was Alexander the Great?

The son of a king, Alexander was a brilliant military leader who conquered most of the known world—but he wasn't much of a diplomat.

Alexander the Great slices the Gordian Knot with his sword in 333 B.C. The legend—depicted in this painting by Jean-Simon Berthelemy—has it that the knot  in the city of Gordium (present-day Turkey) was only to be untied by the future conquerer of Asia.

The vast Eurasian empire that Alexander the Great (356–323 B.C.) forged was not long-lasting, but his heroic deeds were legendary. Alexander was the son of King Philip II of Macedonia , a realm north of Greece. When Athens was left unstable by the interminable Peloponnesian War, Philip saw an opening and took it; he subdued Greece around 339 B.C.

While Philip was at war, Alexander studied math, archery, and other subjects with tutors, including the renowned philosopher Aristotle. According to Greek author Plutarch, Alexander kept a copy of Homer’s   Iliad,   annotated by Aristotle, “with his dagger under his pillow, declaring that he esteemed it a perfect portable treasure of all military virtue and knowledge.” ( Were Alexander the Great and Hephaestion more than friends? )

The precocious Alexander was already a seasoned commander in the Macedonian army when he became king at the age of 20 in 336 B.C., after his father’s assassination. In one of his most decisive moves, the young monarch forcefully proved his authority over rebellious Greeks by storming the defiant city of Thebes, slaughtering thousands of residents and enslaving the rest.

Persian conquest

In 334 B.C., Alexander set out to conquer the Persian Empire, which had waned in power but remained a behemoth. Alexander’s army numbered fewer than 40,000 men, mostly Macedonian and fiercely loyal. The versatile force included cavalry and heavily armed foot soldiers, who wielded spears and formed a phalanx, advancing relentlessly behind raised shields. Alexander deployed his troops with great skill and earned their devotion by leading them in battle and suffering several wounds.

Alexander visited the fabled city of Troy as he crossed the Bosporus into Asia Minor and routed the Persian forces there. Greek cities in Asia Minor that had been under Persian control welcomed his rule. At the Gulf of Issus in 333 B.C., Alexander soundly defeated Persian emperor Darius III, who retreated so hastily, he left behind family members to be taken hostage.

Refusing to make peace unless Darius yielded to him as emperor, Alexander swept south along the sea toward Egypt. He seized strategic ports, including the defiant Phoenician port of Tyre. He met with more reverence in Egypt, where he was honored as a god-king like the pharaohs of old—veneration he considered his due.

From the Mediterranean, Alexander advanced east into Mesopotamia and engaged Darius’s replenished troops on the plain of Gaugamela in 331 B.C. Once again, Alexander demonstrated that a small army acting in concert was superior to a sprawling, disorganized one. When a gap opened in the Persian ranks, he and his elite cavalrymen dashed into the breach, splitting the opposing army in two. He had conquered the Persians at last.

Alexander the Great's fall—and death

By adding the vast Persian realm to his Balkan kingdom, Alexander forged a Eurasian empire of unprecedented scope. Yet that wasn’t enough. He didn’t heed the Greek lesson about the danger of hubris , striving arrogantly for more than any man could realistically achieve. He subdued Bactria (in modern-day Afghanistan) and wed Roxana, the daughter of a Bactrian chief. He then invaded India in 327 B.C. and crossed the Indus River, the farthest frontier of the old Persian Empire. But monsoons made his troops feverish and mutinous; in 325 B.C., they turned back.

( How suspicion and intrigue eroded Alexander's empire .)

Alexander’s genius was military, not political or diplomatic. He made fitful efforts to organize his huge empire in the style of the Persians; he hired Persian officials and wed Persian princesses (as did dozens of his commanders). Many Macedonians felt he placed too much trust in people they still viewed as enemies, and Greeks consented only reluctantly to his demand to be recognized as divine like some Near Eastern monarchs. “If Alexander wishes to be a god,” Spartans observed skeptically, “let him be a god.”

The mortal Alexander died suddenly (perhaps from typhoid fever) in Babylon in 323 B.C. His empire fractured after his death, but those lands were forever changed, infused with the culture and cosmopolitan spirit of a larger Greek world that Alexander brought into being.

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Rafael Nadal loses in French Open first round to Alexander Zverev, waving goodbye to Roland Garros for likely the final time

Sport Rafael Nadal loses in French Open first round to Alexander Zverev, waving goodbye to Roland Garros for likely the final time

The tennis career of the greatest clay court player the sport has seen may well be over after Rafael Nadal was beaten by Alexander Zverev in the first round at the French Open.

The 6-3, 7-6(7/5), 6-3 loss to the fourth seed was only the second time in 19 attempts that Nadal lost a match at Roland Garros before the quarterfinals.

The 14-time champion was watched on Court Philippe Chatrier by fans from around the world and tennis royalty including Novak Djokovic, Iga Świątek and Carlos Alcaraz, waving goodbye for what is likely the final time.

"If it's the last time that I played here, I am at peace with myself," Nadal said.

The noise on the court was loud and relentless, a chorus of thousands belting out "Ra-fa! Ra-fa!" whenever he found the occasional moment of brilliance to remind them of any of his 14 runs to the crown in Paris.

The 15,000 or so on hand roared their support when Nadal stepped out onto the court and continued to do so for every act thereafter, no matter how mundane or regulation.

It is the first time in his long and illustrious career that Nadal has been beaten in two consecutive matches on clay courts — he lost to Hubert Hurkacz at the Italian Open on May 11 — and the first time he has dropped a match earlier than the fourth round at the French Open (he exited in the third round due to walkover in 2016).

He had indicated 2024 likely would be his last season before retirement, but said before the match he is not 100 per cent sure he will not play again at the French Open . And he reiterated that after Monday's defeat, only his fourth in 116 career matches at the place.

"It's difficult for me to talk," said the Spaniard, whose young son, Rafael Jr, sat on his mother's lap in the stands.

"I don't know (if) it's going to be the last time I am here. I am not 100 per cent sure."

While Nadal said it is doubtful he will enter Wimbledon, which he won twice and starts on July 1, he did note that he hopes to return to Roland Garros later that month when the Paris Olympics' tennis competition will be held at the French Open's site.

The 22-time grand slam champion was simply unable to play at his usual level after 18 months of hip and abdominal injuries as evidenced by the match ending, in anticlimactic fashion, with a trademark lasso forehand flying wide and long.

"I tried everything to be ready for this this tournament for almost 20 years and today," he said.

"The last two years I have been going through probably the toughest process in my tennis career with the dream to come back here and at least I did.

"I mean, I lost, but that's part of the business."

That has historically not been the case for Nadal in France, but on this day it was.

Nadal, who turns 38 next week, has been limited to 16 matches and an 8-8 record since the start of last year.

His infrequent play dropped his ranking to 275 in the world and he was unseeded for the French Open for the first time; indeed, he'd never been anything worse than the sixth seed in 18 previous appearances, going back to his days as a teenager when he kicked off his first run of four straight crowns from 2005 to 2008.

That is why Nadal ended up facing the fourth-seeded Zverev, the runner-up at the 2020 US Open, a gold medallist at the Tokyo Olympics and the only man to reach the semifinals in Paris each of the past three years.

Nadal's other on-court losses at Roland Garros came against Robin Soderling in 2010 and against Novak Djokovic in 2015 and 2021.

"At least I was able to play four tournaments; that means a lot to me," he said.

"I mean, it doesn't matter. I don't need to talk about how tough everything was because if we balance out all the things that happened in my tennis career or in my life, the positive moments are much heavier.

"I enjoyed everything because of tennis. I lived experiences I never could imagine without playing this beautiful sport. And I had much more success than I ever could dream of.

"I had injuries, yes. I had tough moments, yes. But on the other hand, I enjoyed incredible emotional and positive moments that I am so grateful and I feel very lucky for all of that."

Occasionally, when Nadal was able to come up with the goods and get the better of Zverev, he would yell "Vamos!" and throw that celebratory uppercut that became so familiar.

His numerous and vocal supporters would respond in kind, thrusting their fists in the air right along with him, or shaking their red-and-yellow Spanish flags or clapping to the beat of a drum.

If Nadal put a ball into the net or sailed one wide or long, the groans of disappointment filled the chilly air.

"The amount of feelings I had on this amazing court during my entire tennis career is amazing. But now I'm 28," Nadal said, then paused and corrected himself with a chuckle: "Well, no, 38. I would love to be 28."

Addressing the fans directly, Nadal said: "The feelings that you made me feel here are unbelievable. I really hope to see you again, but I don't know. Merci beaucoup."

The ABC of SPORT

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Katy Perry edits Harrison Butker speech into pro LGBTQ lecture

Katy Perry celebrated the beginning of Pride month with a not-so-subtle social media jab at Harrison Butker.

Butker, who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs , caught heat last month for a commencement speech delivered at Benedictine College which covered a wide range of topics, including abortion, COVID, President Biden, and remarks about women's choices.

Perry shared an edited clip of Butker's speech with her 200 million social media followers, and offered the caption, "Fixed this for my girls, my graduates, and my gays – you can do anything, congratulations and happy pride."

PATRICIA HEATON DEFENDS CHIEFS KICKER FOLLOWING GRADUATION SPEECH BACKLASH: ‘HE’S NOT A MONSTER'

"For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud on all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives," Butker said in the edited clip shared on Perry's account. "How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you're going to get in your career?"

"I would venture to guess the women here today are going to lead successful careers in the world. I say all of this to you because I have seen it firsthand. How much happier someone can be supporting women and not saying that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world."

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CHIEFS' TRAVIS KELCE DEFENDS HARRISON BUTKER AS 'A GREAT PERSON AND A GREAT TEAMMATE,' DESPITE DIFFERING VIEWS

He continued in Perry's edited clip, "The road ahead is bright. Things are changing. Society is shifting, and people young and old are embracing diversity, equity and inclusion. With that said, I want to say Happy Pride Month to all of you and congratulations Class of 2024!"

APP USERS CLICK HERE TO VIEW POST

Perry opted out of receiving any praise or criticism, and turned off comments on the Instagram post. The longtime "American Idol" staple announced earlier this year that she was hanging up her judging hat after seven seasons once Season 22 wraps.

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Butker's speech last month sparked outrage for a number of reasons, but one paragraph where he called out the graduating women in the class and asked them to embrace their "vocation" as a "homemaker" appeared to strike a chord for many.

One portion of Butker's speech that caught heavy attention was a call to women in the graduating class to embrace the "most important titles of all: homemaker."

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"For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives. I want to speak directly to you briefly, because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you: how many of you are sitting here now about to cross the stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career," he said.

"Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world. I can tell you that my beautiful wife, Isabelle, would be the first to say that her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother."

He continued, "I’m on this stage today and able to be the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation. I’m beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me. But it cannot be overstated, that all of my success is made possible because a girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker." 

Original article source: Katy Perry edits Harrison Butker speech into pro LGBTQ lecture

Alexander Zverev put ‘hands around neck’ of girlfriend ‘during heated argument’ court hears

Opening statements in domestic abuse case heard in Berlin as world No.4 prepares for French Open third-round match

While German tennis star Alexander Zverev prepared for his third-round match at Paris’s French Open, a judge in Berlin was hearing the opening statements of his appeal against domestic abuse allegations.

Zverev, 27, has not been required to attend the hearing in person, but his legal team – which is led by an eminent defence specialist named Alfred Dierlamm – described how they intended to refute the claims of Zverev’s former girlfriend, the actress and model Brenda Patea.

According to court reports published by the German title DW, public prosecutor Philipp Zündorf began the session by reading out the charges against Zverev. They state that after a “heated argument”, he placed his hands around Patea’s throat with such force that she was unable to swallow without pain for several days.

In October, the Berlin criminal court issued a penalty order against Zverev in connection with Patea’s allegations, fining him around £384,000, but the defendant has the right to contest the order.

During his opening address at Friday’s heading, Dierlamm suggested that Patea had ulterior motives for making these accusations. “Above all, [her behavior] was to increase her followers on Instagram and TikTok, and live a jet-set lifestyle,” he said.

The defence also said that they would reveal inconsistencies and contradictions in Patea’s account over the course of the trial. As part of this strategy, they proposed to call on a speech specialist to demonstrate that Patea’s claims have been copied from earlier allegations levelled by Olga Sharypova, another of Zverev’s ex-girlfriends.

Sharypova accused Zverev of domestic violence in 2020, but did not press charges, and a two-year investigation set up by the Association of Tennis Professionals was shut down in 2023 on grounds of “insufficient evidence”.

When Zverev was asked about Patea’s claims at January’s Australian Open, he called them “bulls---” before adding “anybody that has a semi-standard IQ level knows what this is all about.”

Returning to the court hearing in Berlin, Dierlamm requested that the trial be held behind closed doors to protect Zverev’s privacy. The rest of the day’s proceedings were adjourned while the judge considered the request.

When asked about Dierlamm’s defence strategy, Patea’s lawyer Michael Nitschke told DW : “You’re not surprised, they are good lawyers. Their goal is to undermine her credibility.” Nitschke added: “It’s definitely not about the money. It’s about justice. That’s what she hopes for.”

Zverev is due to play the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor on Saturday in the third round at Roland Garros. He has already scored victories over David Goffin and 14-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal .

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Bronx cheers: Donald Trump promises to make New York great again with spending

NEW YORK — Upon exiting the closest subway station to former President Donald Trump's campaign rally in the Bronx Thursday evening, the only signs of anything unusual were the NYPD officers at the turnstile with bomb-sniffing dogs and a helicopter buzzing overhead. There wasn't a single piece of Trump paraphernalia on the New Yorkers filing out of the station.

But upon arriving at Crotona Park, a sprawling green expanse in the impoverished borough, red "Make America Great Again" hats and all manner of Trump-emblazoned apparel covered the bodies of thousands — even "Team Trump" cowboy hats. And in his address to the mostly non-white audience, Trump showed that he will readily depart rhetorically from Republican orthodoxy to find common ground.

Across the street, vendors hawked shirts with slogans such as "Women for Trump," "Latinos for Trump," "God, Guns & Trump," and a few that insulted prominent Democrats.

Outside the park, a small band of protesters sporting Palestinian and Puerto Rican flags chanted "All the people from the Bronx say, 'F--- Trump!'" But their signs also proclaimed "F--- Biden!"

They refused to answer who, if anyone, they were supporting.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

The snaking line to enter the area cordoned off for the rally by police barricades was filled with enthusiastic Trump supporters, who cheered and gaped when they spotted his motorcade. Once he took the stage, the crowd went up on their tippy toes, arms upright with cellphone cameras aloft, hoping to catch just a glimpse of him.

"Hello to all the strong, hard-working American patriots right here in the Bronx," Trump said, after bragging about the long lines to get in. "Who would think?"

A pitch for New York's votes, with Democratic talking points

New York City itself was a major focus of Trump's remarks, which included extended reminiscence about his renovations of a local skating rink and a golf course.

Trump frequently depicts New York as suffering from criminality unleashed by progressive governance. But he combined those talking points with an olive branch, of sorts, to the city he so frequently bashes.

If he retakes the White House, he promised: "I am going to pick up the phone and I'm going to call your mayor and your governor, and I'm going to say, 'this is President Trump and I want to come back and help.'" 

New York City's murder rate dropped by 11.9% last year when its 386 homicides were roughly one-seventh of its 1990 peak . And its astronomical cost of living indicates robust demand to live there.

But one wouldn't know it from Trump's remarks, which repeatedly cast the city as beset by an unprecedented crime wave and general deterioration.

"Sadly, this is a city in decline," he declared. "I've never seen it like this. We have filthy encampments of drugged-out homeless people living in our places where we spent so much time with our children that they used to play, lunatics killing innocent bystanders by pushing them on the railroad tracks."

To address that, he promised to deliver results that could just as easily have been offered by a Democrat.

"We are going to turn New York City around," Trump said. "We're going to bring safety back to our streets, we're going to bring success back to our schools. We're going to bring prosperity back to every neighborhood in every borough of the greatest city of our land."

"We're going to make New York bigger, better and more beautiful than ever before, and that includes right here in the Bronx and it's going to be done and funded, starting on Jan. 20, directly from our great and beautiful White House," he added.

Later, Trump lamented that "our subways are squalid and unsafe," and pledged to "make it beautiful again." He also added: "We're going to do what it takes to fix our roads and bridges."

The Biden administration, which enacted a $1.2 billion infrastructure law that included money for the subway system, clapped back on X , saying that Biden is already doing what Trump proposes.

But the audience, many of whom said that Biden has done nothing in office, cheered Trump's lines with enthusiasm.

More typical Republican positions were left mostly undiscussed. There was no mention of abortion, just one passing reference to tax cuts, and no discussion of Trump's openness to cutting Social Security and Medicare .

An unlikely location for a Republican rally

The Bronx would not seem like hospitable territory for Trump, who won just 14% of its votes in 2020. It is 28% Black and 56% Latino — two groups that have historically favored Democrats by wide margins.

Nor is it in a swing state. New York favored President Joe Biden over Trump 61% to 38% in the last election.

But Trump is trying to squeeze in campaigning during his criminal hush money trial in neighboring Manhattan, so he has been making campaign appearances in his former hometown, such as stopping at a Harlem bodega to attack Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg over crime last month.

There are signs that Trump has some potential to improve his standing. His 2020 performance was an improvement from 2016, when he won just 10% in the Bronx. That was similar to shifts nationally that showed movement toward Trump among voters of color, particularly Latinos and especially Latino men . This year, polling has shown Trump with a greater share of Latinos and young voters than he had in previous elections, although there are also signs that support is slipping .

The crowd seemed to reflect those demographic changes: It skewed young and heavily male, and while it was much more white and less Black than the Bronx, Hispanics were very well-represented.

Pedro and Gina Dominguez, Dominican immigrants who live in New Jersey, came to show their support for Trump. Like every other attendee interviewed, their reasons for backing Trump were based more on personality than policy.

"The United States needs a strong man to command our country and I believe Trump is the person," Pedro Dominguez said. Gina Dominguez added that many of her friends who criticized her for supporting Trump in 2020 are leaning towards voting for him now because of inflation.

How it fits into Trump’s campaign strategy

Throughout his remarks, Trump tied his typical talking points to his appeal to the local market. When inveighing against migrants, for example, Trump argued that the groups hurt most by immigration are Blacks and Hispanics.

Trump also sharply criticized the Iraq invasion, which he falsely claimed to have opposed before it began.

And he predicted that he would successfully win over New Yorkers.

"Who said we're not gonna win New York?" Trump asked rhetorically. "We're gonna win New York City. If we win New York, we win the whole thing."

But while Trump's advisors might know better than to think he can win the Empire State or Black and Latino voters outright, the image of him campaigning there could still help him among swing voters.

In what pundits sometimes refer to as a “ricochet pander,” reaching out to inner-city voters of color could benefit Trump among white suburban moderates by softening his image as racially divisive. According to National Review’s Ramesh Ponnuru , the classic example of this tactic is "when Republicans put a lot of black people on stage at their conventions in the expectation not that many black voters will join the GOP as a result but that some white voters will vote GOP because they see an effort being made."

Election 2024: Trump, Biden spar over whether Trump's 30-second pause was intentional or a 'glitch'

Local elected officials react negatively

Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., represents the congressional district in which Trump’s rally was held, the poorest in the country . Young, gay, Afro-Latino, and a self-identified progressive, he is seemingly Trump’s polar opposite.

On Thursday morning, Torres held a news conference in which he assailed Trump as a "fraud."

"The South Bronx has no greater enemy than Donald Trump, who is on a mission to dismantle the social safety net on which Bronx families depend for their survival," Torres said in a statement. "The South Bronx—the most Democratic area in the nation—will not buy the snake oil that he is selling."

A counterrally was held at the same time in the same park, organized by Bronx Democratic state Assembly Member Amanda Septimo, civil rights activist Kirsten John Foy, and labor unions.

"I'm trying to talk some sense into these idiots," said Rick Caballero, a Bronx resident and counter-protester. "Donald Trump is only for white people."

Limited local support

The only elected official to share the stage with Trump was Rep. Byron Donalds , a Florida Republican who grew up in Brooklyn.

But Ruben Diaz, Sr., a conservative Democrat from the Bronx who represented the borough on the City Council and in the state Senate, came up onstage to laud Trump after his speech. Diaz has stirred controversy in New York with homophobic remarks and by welcoming Sen. Ted Cruz to the borough in 2016.

"As a Puerto Rican, as a Hispanic, I want to apologize to you for the conduct of Judge Juan Merchan," Diaz told Trump, referring to the judge in Trump's trial for allegedly falsifying business records to cover up payments to porn star Stormy Daniels. (Trump attacked Merchan as "crooked" and "conflicted" during his speech, although he didn't specify what was "crooked" and the New York State Advisory  Committee on Judicial Ethics found  Merchan has no conflict of interest.)

Diaz concluded his remarks with an endorsement, which Trump said was unexpected.

"This Democrat, this Black Puerto Rican, with kinky hair and broken English: please accept my endorsement for president," Diaz declared.

"He can't even speak right, and he's got millions and we're broke," joked Joe Walsh, a middle-aged attendee, in response to Diaz.

But, Walsh later added, "He's probably the smartest Democrat because he's for Trump."