The Relationship Between Alexander and the Great General Hephaestion
Describe the relationship between Alexander and the Great General Hephaestion
Alexander III of Macedon, or better known as Alexander the Great was king of Macedon, a state in northern Ancient Greece. He was born in Pella in 356 B.C. and was tutored by Aristotle until the age of 16. By the age of 30, he had created one of the largest empires of the ancient world, stretching from the Ionian Sea to the Himalayas. He was undefeated in battle and is considered one of history’s most successful commanders. Alexander was an outgoing charismatic man, who had many friends, but his dearest and closest friend and confidant was Hephaestion. Hephaestion, son of Amyntor, was a Macedonian nobleman and a general in the army of Alexander the Great. He was born in Macedonia in 356 B.C. He was a member of Alexander the Great’s personal bodyguard, which then he went on to command the Companion cavalry, and was entrusted with many other tasks through Alexander’s ten-year campaign in Asia. Apart from being a soldier, engineer and diplomat, he corresponded with the philosophers Aristotle and Xenocrates, and supported Alexander in his attempts to integrate Greeks and Persians. Their relationship lasted through Alexander’s becoming of king, through the hardships of campaigning and the flatteries of court life, and their marriages.
In all that Alexander undertook, Hephaestion was at his side making their friendship a working partnership. They worked well together making Alexander trust him and rely on him. When Alexander had to divide his forces he trusted Hephaestion with half of his men knowing that in him he had a man of unquestionable loyalty, who understood and sympathised with his aims, and above all, who got the job done. Hephaestion played a full part in Alexander’s regular consultations with senior officers, but he was also the one whom Alexander would talk to in private, sharing his thoughts, hopes and plans. Curtius states that Hephaestion was the sharer of all his secrets. At
Alexander III of Macedon, or better known as Alexander the Great was king of Macedon, a state in northern Ancient Greece. He was born in Pella in 356 B.C. and was tutored by Aristotle until the age of 16. By the age of 30, he had created one of the largest empires of the ancient world, stretching from the Ionian Sea to the Himalayas. He was undefeated in battle and is considered one of history’s most successful commanders. Alexander was an outgoing charismatic man, who had many friends, but his dearest and closest friend and confidant was Hephaestion. Hephaestion, son of Amyntor, was a Macedonian nobleman and a general in the army of Alexander the Great. He was born in Macedonia in 356 B.C. He was a member of Alexander the Great’s personal bodyguard, which then he went on to command the Companion cavalry, and was entrusted with many other tasks through Alexander’s ten-year campaign in Asia. Apart from being a soldier, engineer and diplomat, he corresponded with the philosophers Aristotle and Xenocrates, and supported Alexander in his attempts to integrate Greeks and Persians. Their relationship lasted through Alexander’s becoming of king, through the hardships of campaigning and the flatteries of court life, and their marriages.
In all that Alexander undertook, Hephaestion was at his side making their friendship a working partnership. They worked well together making Alexander trust him and rely on him. When Alexander had to divide his forces he trusted Hephaestion with half of his men knowing that in him he had a man of unquestionable loyalty, who understood and sympathised with his aims, and above all, who got the job done. Hephaestion played a full part in Alexander’s regular consultations with senior officers, but he was also the one whom Alexander would talk to in private, sharing his thoughts, hopes and plans. Curtius states that Hephaestion was the sharer of all his secrets. At