Alexander the Great

Kate: Hi Alexander, how has your rest been?

Alexander: Oh, much too long Kate, much too long.

Kate: Hah, well I’m glad we could get you out here. Could I ask you a couple questions on your rule?

Alexander: If you would like, shoot for the stars.

Kate: Oh hah, alright. What was your childhood like?

Alexander: Well, I was born in 356 bc. My sister was born a year later. We grew up in the royal court in Pella. Goodness that was an outstanding place.

Kate: That sounds like a nice beginning, would you mind telling me more?

Alexander: Of course not. In 336, my sister married over the summer. She married our Uncle Phillip in fact. He was the Molossian King. He was not well liked in Macedon. A little while later, my mother, Olympias, killed Phillip. Our people were so overcome with joy. It was like a great burden was lifted.

Kate: That sounds dreadful.

Alexander: Oh, it was much better after mother put an end to him. In 338, I lead the Companion Cavalry and helped my father. But, when my father died, I became the king of Macedon. I made plans quickly. I was a very fast moving, and fast conquering king. I soon went to Babylon to plan my way of conquering the northern part of Africa. While I was there, I also planned on my exploration of the Caspian Sea and Arabia.

Kate: It sounds like everything was going great, what happened? You died at such a young age.

Alexander: Oh, well that’s a very sad yet simple answer. While I was in Babylon, I got Malaria. I was diagnosed on June 2^nd. Then, *sniff sniff*, on June 12^th, only ten days later, I was dead. I was 32 when I died. The saddest part was that I didn’t die at home. I died as a foreigner.

Kate: I forget if you mentioned this earlier but, did you ever get married?

Alexander: Oh, yes! Yes I did! To a beautiful woman named Roxana. She had our son a few months after my death. Yet, he was sadly assassinated in 309 bc.

Kate: Oh, that’s awful. I’m sorry to hear that. But could you do me a favor and basically sum up your rule?

Alexander: No problem. I united the Greeks, my empire was stretched from the Balkans to the Himalayas, and I was an ambitious king. When I died, my empire fell apart. Alas, my great empire was easy to conquer. Soon, it was split up all over. Such a shame.

Kate: Thank you Alexander, but I must be off. Goodbye.

Alexander: Farewell darling Kate.