Leadership of Alexander the Great Essay - 3102 Words

Leadership of Alexander the Great â€Å"Noble indeed was his power of inspiring his men, of filling them with confidence and in a moment of danger, of sweeping away their fear by the spectacle of his own fearlessness† (Arrian, Anabasis 7.29) Having studied Alexander’s reign and scrutinised the various great successes he achieved in his short life as king, his â€Å"power of inspiring his men† becomes blatently obvious. Thus, even on the rare occasion that Alexander deserves to be criticised there is no doubt that the†¦show more content†¦Arrian is also quick to criticise Alexander when it is deserved, this is indicated by the disgust that he felt at the â€Å"servile behaviour† that Alexander allowed many of his followers to indulge in. This not only indicates how impartial and genuine Arrian is also greatly strengthens the reliability his opinion, in turn helping to justify the praise he adorns upon Alexander. In comparison to the other four surviving sources on Alexander, it is easy to understand why Arrian’s is considered the most accurate. Plutarch, like Arrian portrays Alexander in a favourable light, however, some of it verges on the romantic, thus dismissing it as bias. Justinà ¢â‚¬â„¢s work is widely regarded as unreliable and Curtius is also considered somewhat suspect. Although Diodorus contains valuable material, his dates are confused and his geography is inaccurate, thus respectively making Arrian’s the most effective account of Arrian’s expeditions The origins of Alexander’s excellent skills as a leader can be traced right back to his impressive upbringing. Sharing many of his fathers traits, it is obvious that Philip bestowed upon Alexander a phenomenal personal courage, a sharpness in decision making, intellectual perception and firm leadership skills all of which aid in verifying Arrian’s appraisal of Alexander’s leadership. Inheriting a vivid, romantic imagination and a strong will from hisShow MoreRelatedAlexander the Great: His Influence on Future military Leadership and Tactics2411 Words   |  10 PagesGreat men have lived on the face of the earth and left marks of their prowess and legacy that men of the present and even the future find it hard to emulate; a good example of such men is Alexander the Great. This paper seeks to explain further Alexander’s military genius and its positive impact on military impact over the past centuries. The paper also gives a well thought analysis why Alexander was so much successful in his wars and conquests. His big empire spread all the way from Gibraltar toRead MoreThe Military Leadership By John Keegan1443 Words   |  6 Pagesï ¿ ½Mask of Commandï ¿ ½ is a far-reaching study of the military leadership through history. 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