Afleveringen
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After conquering the Achaemenid Empire, Alexander the Great faced an even greater challenge: governing it. This episode dives into Alexander's controversial satrap appointments — the Persian nobles he kept in power, the Macedonians he installed, and the ruthless sack of Persepolis. We explore the administrative genius of Mazaeus, who was allowed to govern Babylon despite being a Persian general at Gaugamela; the tragic fate of Bessus, the satrap of Bactria who murdered Darius III and declared himself king; and the infamous case of Harpalus, Alexander's childhood friend turned embezzler. Lucas and Luna unpack how Alexander tried to blend Macedonian and Persian governance, and why that policy sowed the seeds of rebellion among his own men. They also examine the fate of the hundred Persian satrapies after Alexander's death, when the Diadochi turned his empire into a patchwork of warring kingdoms. This episode is for anyone who wants to understand Alexander not just as a conqueror, but as an administrator — and why his empire crumbled so fast after he died.#AlexanderTheGreat #PersianEmpire #Satrapies #Mazaeus #Bessus #Harpalus #Persepolis #Babylon #Bactria #Diadochi #Achaemenid #MacedonianEmpire #Administration #Conquest #AncientHistory #GreekHistory #FexingoHistory #HistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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When Alexander the Great defeated Darius III at Issus in 333 BCE, he captured the Persian royal family — including the king's mother, wife, and daughters. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore what happened to these women: their treatment at Alexander's hands, their political significance, and their tragic fates after Alexander's death. We follow the story of Stateira II (the younger), who became Alexander's bride at the mass wedding at Susa in 324 BCE, only to be murdered by Roxana shortly after Alexander's death. We also examine the fate of Sisygambis, Darius's mother, who reportedly starved herself to death upon hearing of Alexander's death, and Drypetis, who was married to Hephaestion and killed alongside her sister. Drawing on Arrian, Plutarch, and Curtius Rufus, we unravel the complex web of dynastic marriage, political calculation, and personal tragedy that surrounded these women — often overlooked in the epic of Alexander's conquest.#AlexanderTheGreat #StateiraII #Sisygambis #Drypetis #SusaWeddings #PersianRoyalFamily #Issus #Roxana #Arrian #Plutarch #CurtiusRufus #DariusIII #Hephaestion #MacedonianEmpire #Achaemenid #AncientHistory #FexingoHistory #HistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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In 328 BCE, Alexander the Great killed one of his most trusted generals in a drunken rage. Cleitus the Black had saved Alexander's life at the Granicus River, served as commander of the Royal Squadron, and was the brother of his wet nurse. But at a banquet in Maracanda, a bitter argument over Persian customs and Macedonian traditions ended in tragedy. Lucas and Luna explore the events of that night, the tensions between Alexander's adoption of Achaemenid court culture and his Macedonian veterans' resentment, and how the murder haunted Alexander for the rest of his short life. Drawing from Arrian, Plutarch, and Curtius Rufus, they discuss Cleitus's career, the role of flatterers like Anaxarchus, and the psychological aftermath—Alexander's three days of grief, his self-imposed isolation, and the political manipulation that followed. This episode examines a turning point in Alexander's character, where the conqueror began to lose the loyalty of his inner circle.#AlexanderTheGreat #CleitusTheBlack #Maracanda #Achaemenid #Macedonian #Proskynesis #Anaxarchus #Arrian #Plutarch #CurtiusRufus #Granicus #Purge #Assassination #AncientHistory #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #Mediterranean #MacedoniaKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Alexander the Great's controversial adoption of proskynesis—the Persian court ritual of bowing and blowing a kiss to the king. They trace its origins in Achaemenid ceremony, its clash with Greek and Macedonian norms of freedom, and the explosive moment at Bactra in 327 BCE when Callisthenes refused to participate. The conversation covers the ritual's political intent as a tool for unifying a multicultural empire, the resistance it sparked among Macedonians, and how Alexander's insistence may have contributed to the alienation of his generals. They also touch on the Conspiracy of the Pages and the later historical debate over whether proskynesis was a religious or political act. This episode draws on Arrian, Plutarch, Curtius Rufus, and modern scholarship to untangle one of Alexander's most divisive policies.#AlexanderTheGreat #Proskynesis #PersianCustom #MacedonianCourt #Callisthenes #Bactra #Achaemenid #Arrian #Plutarch #CurtiusRufus #ConspiracyOfThePages #HellenisticEmpire #AncientGreece #PersianEmpire #CourtRitual #CulturalConflict #History #FexingoHistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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We often think of Alexander as a conqueror who swept through Persia, but his relationship with one woman—Ada of Caria—reveals a different side of the Macedonian king. Ada, the exiled queen of Caria, adopted Alexander as her son and in turn was restored to power. Their alliance was strategic, yes, but also deeply personal. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Ada's remarkable life: her rule in Halicarnassus, her overthrow by her brother, and her decision to side with Alexander. We discuss how Ada's adoption gave Alexander a legitimate foothold in Anatolia, how she helped him during the Siege of Halicarnassus, and what her story tells us about Alexander's approach to local governance. We also touch on the role of women in Alexander's empire, the Carian dynasty, and the city of Mylasa. It's a story of resilience, political savvy, and a bond that transcended conquest.#AdaOfCaria #AlexanderTheGreat #Halicarnassus #Caria #Mylasa #SiegeOfHalicarnassus #MemnonOfRhodes #AchaemenidEmpire #AncientGreece #MacedonianEmpire #WomenInHistory #QueenRegent #Adoption #Anatolia #Satrapy #AncientSiegeWarfare #History #FexingoHistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In 327 BCE, Alexander the Great faced one of his most daunting challenges: the siege of Aornos, a fortress perched atop a sheer mountain in present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Local legend said even Heracles had failed to take it, but Alexander was determined to prove the legends wrong. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Alexander used psychological warfare, relentless siege engineering, and the loyalty of local allies to achieve what seemed impossible. They unpack the strategic importance of the site, the clever use of native guides and timber for ramps, and the fierce resistance of the defenders. They also examine how the siege changed Alexander's approach to mountain warfare, blending Greek and Indian tactics, and reflect on the human cost of his ambition. Join them for a deep dive into one of the most remarkable military feats of the ancient world.#AlexanderTheGreat #SiegeOfAornos #AncientWarfare #SiegeTactics #MountainFortress #Heracles #KhyberPakhtunkhwa #MacedonianPhalanx #Arrian #CurtiusRufus #DiodorusSiculus #Ptolemy #Coenus #PsychologicalWarfare #AncientHistory #MilitaryHistory #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcastKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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Long before Hannibal crossed the Alps, Alexander the Great faced his own elephant threat at the Battle of the Hydaspes. But beyond that single encounter, Alexander's relationship with war elephants was complex: he captured dozens, incorporated them into his army, and even founded a specialized corps of elephant handlers. This episode follows the elephants from the Hydaspes to Babylon, exploring how Alexander learned to deploy them in siege and open battle, which Indian kings supplied them, and what happened to the elephants after his death. We also look at the logistics of moving these beasts across deserts and mountains, the role of mahouts, and the legacy Alexander left for the Successor kingdoms who would later wage entire wars with elephant armies. Specific sources include Arrian's Anabasis, Diodorus Siculus, and Curtius Rufus, with mentions of Porus, Taxiles, Chandragupta Maurya, and the Battle of Ipsus.#AlexanderTheGreat #WarElephants #Hydaspes #Porus #ChandraguptaMaurya #Arrian #CurtiusRufus #DiodorusSiculus #MacedonianArmy #Successors #AncientWarfare #IndianHistory #Seleucids #BattleOfIpsus #Mahout #History #FexingoHistory #AncientMilitaryHistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In 324 BCE, on the plains of Opis near modern Baghdad, Alexander the Great faced his greatest challenge yet — not from an enemy army, but from his own men. After years of conquest, the Macedonian veterans refused to march further. Alexander's response was swift and ruthless: he executed thirteen ringleaders, dismissed thousands of soldiers, and staged a dramatic reconciliation that reshaped his empire. This episode dives into the causes of the mutiny, from Alexander's adoption of Persian customs to the exhaustion of troops who had marched from Greece to India. We explore Alexander's speech recorded by Arrian, the role of Coenus as the soldiers' spokesman, and the political aftermath including the mass wedding at Susa and the creation of a mixed Persian-Macedonian army. The mutiny at Opis reveals the fragile bond between Alexander and his army, and the tensions that would explode after his death.#OpisMutiny #AlexanderTheGreat #MacedonianArmy #Coenus #Arrian #CurtiusRufus #SusaWeddings #PersianCustoms #MacedonianPhalanx #HellenisticEmpire #AncientHistory #MilitaryMutiny #AlexanderTheGreatPodcast #FexingoHistory #AncientGreece #Achaemenid #Diadochi #HistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In the winter of 329 BCE, Alexander the Great marched his army into the Hindu Kush mountains to found Alexandria-Kapisa, a city that would become a linchpin of his eastern empire. But the campaign nearly unraveled in the snow. This episode follows the grueling winter crossing, the founding of the city among the local Kamboja tribes, and the archaeological traces left behind. We explore what motivated Alexander to push into such hostile terrain, how his soldiers coped with frostbite and altitude sickness, and what modern excavations at Begram reveal about the fusion of Greek and Indian cultures. Along the way, we touch on the Bactrian rebellion, the role of local satraps, and Alexander's evolving strategy of consolidation. For anyone who thinks they know Alexander's story, this forgotten winter reveals a conqueror at his most vulnerable—and his most determined.#AlexanderTheGreat #HinduKush #AlexandriaKapisa #Begram #Kamboja #Bactria #AncientHistory #Hellenistic #MilitaryHistory #Archaeology #GreekHistory #IndianHistory #FexingoHistory #History #Podcast #AncientWorld #CityFoundations #WinterCampaignKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In 330 BCE, Alexander the Great ordered the execution of Parmenion, his most senior general and a man who had served Philip II for decades. This episode explores the Philotas affair — the accusation, trial, and torture of Parmenion's son — and the cold-blooded assassination of Parmenion himself at Ecbatana. We examine the political calculation behind Alexander's actions, the role of the army assembly in condemning Philotas, and the darker turn in Alexander's reign that followed. Drawing from Arrian, Curtius Rufus, and Plutarch, we ask: was Parmenion guilty by association or a strategic threat? And what does this purge tell us about Alexander's transformation from king to autocrat?#AlexanderTheGreat #PhilotasAffair #Parmenion #Ecbatana #MacedonianPhalanx #Arrian #CurtiusRufus #Plutarch #AncientHistory #Macedonia #PersianEmpire #HistoryOfWarfare #PoliticalPurge #Hephaestion #Craterus #Coenus #FexingoHistory #HistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Alexander the Great's audacious capture of the Sogdian Rock in 327 BCE. They discuss the fortress's impregnable reputation, Alexander's psychological warfare, the surrender of the local lord Arimazes, and the introduction of Roxana, the Bactrian princess who became Alexander's wife. The conversation delves into the strategic importance of the Sogdian Rock in securing the eastern frontier of the empire, the integration of local elites, and the legendary feat of the 300 Macedonian climbers that inspired Alexander's later exploits. Listeners will learn about the geography of Sogdiana, the role of Craterus and Hephaestion in the campaign, and how this victory shaped Alexander's policies of fusion with Persian and Central Asian cultures.#AlexanderTheGreat #SogdianRock #Roxana #Bactria #Sogdiana #Arimazes #MacedonianPhalanx #Hephaestion #Craterus #Arrian #CurtiusRufus #Plutarch #CentralAsia #AncientHistory #SiegeWarfare #History #FexingoHistory #MacedonianEmpireKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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This episode of Fexingo History dives into the life and legacy of Hephaestion, Alexander the Great's closest friend, general, and possibly lover. Famed for his unwavering loyalty and military skill, Hephaestion was the only man Alexander ever publicly called his 'second self.' We explore his early friendship with Alexander, his role in key battles like Gaugamela and the Persian Gates, and his command of the Companion cavalry. We also delve into his logistical brilliance, his rivalry with other generals like Craterus, and his emotional significance to Alexander — from the famous proskynesis incident at Opis to the lavish funeral games after his sudden death in Ecbatana in 324 BCE. Drawing on ancient sources like Arrian, Plutarch, and Curtius Rufus, we separate historical fact from romantic legend, and consider how Alexander's grief may have contributed to his own decline. If you've ever wondered about the man behind the conqueror, this is the episode for you.#Hephaestion #AlexanderTheGreat #MacedonianPhalanx #CompanionCavalry #Gaugamela #Opis #Ecbatana #Arrian #Plutarch #CurtiusRufus #Proskynesis #Craterus #Patroclus #AncientGreece #Macedon #Hellenistic #History #FexingoHistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In 323 BCE, Alexander the Great died in Babylon at age 32, leaving behind an empire that stretched from Greece to India. But what exactly killed him? In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the ancient accounts of his final days, from the fever that struck after a drinking party to the poisoned wine theories that swirled for centuries. They examine the conflicting testimonies of Arrian, Plutarch, and Diodorus Siculus, and consider modern medical diagnoses including typhoid fever, malaria, and even Guillain-Barré syndrome. The conversation also covers the immediate aftermath: the question of his successor, the division of his empire among the Diadochi, and the legendary story of his deathbed bequeathing his kingdom 'to the strongest.' With no clear heir capable of holding the realm together, Alexander's death set the stage for decades of warfare and the eventual rise of the Hellenistic kingdoms. This episode offers a fresh look at one of history's greatest mysteries — the end of a conqueror who shaped the ancient world.#AlexanderTheGreat #AlexanderDeath #Babylon #HellenisticPeriod #Diadochi #Arrian #Plutarch #DiodorusSiculus #TyphoidFever #GuillainBarre #AncientHistory #Macedonia #PersianEmpire #HistoryMystery #AncientMedicine #FexingoHistory #History #PodcastKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Alexander the Great's first major siege of his Asian campaign: the brutal, multi-front assault on Halicarnassus in 334 BCE. They unpack the city's formidable defenses, the role of Memnon of Rhodes as the brilliant Achaemenid commander, and Alexander's innovative use of siege towers, mines, and naval coordination. Discover how the siege foreshadowed later engineering marvels like Tyre, and how the Persian scorched-earth strategy nearly derailed the invasion before it began. Along the way, they discuss the tragic fate of the Carian princess Ada, Alexander's adoptive mother, and why the city's fall marked a turning point in the Greco-Persian wars. Filled with strategic details and human drama, this episode offers a fresh look at the crucible that forged a conqueror.#AlexanderTheGreat #SiegeOfHalicarnassus #MemnonOfRhodes #AdaOfCaria #AchaemenidEmpire #AncientSiegeWarfare #MacedonianPhalanx #Caria #Hecatomnus #Maussollos #PersianEmpire #334BCE #HellenisticHistory #MilitaryHistory #AncientGreece #FexingoHistory #SiegeTowers #MinesKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the founding of Alexandria in 331 BCE, a city that became the intellectual and commercial capital of the Hellenistic world. They discuss Alexander's strategic choice of location between the Mediterranean and Lake Mareotis, the role of the architect Dinocrates, the blending of Egyptian and Greek architectural traditions, the city's legendary lighthouse and library, and the multicultural society that thrived there. They also touch on the controversies surrounding Alexander's visit to the Oracle of Siwa and his claim to be the son of Zeus-Ammon. The episode reveals how Alexandria was more than a military base—it was a deliberate project of cultural fusion that would outlast the empire itself.#AlexanderTheGreat #Alexandria #AncientEgypt #Hellenistic #Dinocrates #OracleOfSiwa #ZeusAmmon #LighthouseOfAlexandria #LibraryOfAlexandria #332BCE #Macedonian #Ptolemaic #Hellenization #UrbanPlanning #AncientHistory #FexingoHistory #Mediterranean #CityFoundationsKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the story of Callisthenes of Olynthus, the official historian of Alexander the Great's Asian campaign. A relative of Aristotle, Callisthenes was tasked with recording Alexander's deeds for posterity, but his commitment to truth and his opposition to the introduction of proskynesis — the Persian practice of prostration before the king — led to a dramatic fall from favor. We examine Callisthenes' role in the 'Conspiracy of the Pages' (the Hermolaus affair), his probable death by torture or execution, and the subsequent suppression of his historical account. Along the way, we discuss the tension between court historiography and independent history, the Hellenistic blending of Greek and Persian court cultures, and the legacy of Alexander's self-deification. The episode also touches on the works of later historians like Arrian, Plutarch, and Curtius Rufus who used Callisthenes' lost writings as sources. A concise look at how one man's integrity cost him his life — and nearly his legacy.#Callisthenes #AlexanderTheGreat #Proskynesis #HermolausConspiracy #AncientHistoriography #Aristotle #MacedonianCourt #PersianCourt #HellenisticPeriod #Arrian #Plutarch #CurtiusRufus #ConspiracyOfThePages #Bactria #Sogdiana #AncientHistory #FexingoHistory #HistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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She was the woman who captured Alexander's heart in a remote Sogdian fortress—and who may have murdered his other wives to secure her son's throne. This episode follows Roxana from her Bactrian noble birth to her marriage at the Sogdian Rock in 327 BCE, through the Susa weddings, and into the bloody aftermath of Alexander's death. We examine the scant historical sources: Arrian's mention of her beauty and spirit, Plutarch's tale of her poisoning Stateira, and the grim end of her son Alexander IV. Did Roxana act out of love, ambition, or pure survival? We weigh the evidence from the Alexander Romance and the murderous court politics of Babylon. Along the way, we look at Bactrian culture, Zoroastrian wedding customs, and the fate of Alexander's only legitimate child. An episode about love, power, and the women who shaped the empire's final days.#Roxana #Bactria #SogdianRock #AlexanderTheGreat #AncientHistory #MacedonianEmpire #Stateira #AlexanderIV #Arrian #Plutarch #Zoroastrianism #MassMarriageOfSusa #HellenisticPeriod #AncientQueens #FexingoHistory #Podcast #History #AlexanderRomanceKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In 325 BC, Alexander the Great ordered the construction of a massive fleet on the Hydaspes River, launching an unprecedented voyage down the Indus and across the Indian Ocean to the Persian Gulf. This episode follows the harrowing journey of Nearchus, Alexander's admiral, as he navigated monsoon storms, encountered mysterious tribes like the fish-eaters of the Makran coast, and confronted a sea filled with whales and pirates. We explore Alexander's strategic motive to link his empire by sea, the logistical nightmare of building a navy from scratch with local timber, and the shocking moment when Nearchus's fleet nearly mutinied. Along the way, we meet the Gedrosian desert—a coastal wasteland where the crews suffered thirst, starvation, and the loss of many ships. Lucas and Luna also examine how this voyage reshaped Greek geographical knowledge, paving the way for later Hellenistic exploration. Finally, we consider the legacy: the discovery of the monsoon winds, the founding of ports like Alexandria on the Indus, and the shadow this expedition cast on the later Indo-Roman trade. A tale of ambition, survival, and the limits of one man's empire.#AlexanderTheGreat #Nearchus #IndianOcean #Hydaspes #IndusRiver #Gedrosia #MakranCoast #HellenisticNavy #Monsoon #FishEaters #AlexandriaOnTheIndus #WorldExploration #AncientMaritime #MacedonianEmpire #AncientHistory #FexingoHistory #Podcast #HistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Alexander the Great's lesser-known battle on the Acesines River (modern Chenab) in 326 BCE, where his army faced stiff resistance from the Cathaean and Oxydracae tribes. Lucas explains how Alexander's forces besieged the stronghold of Sangala, a fortified town defended by joint tribal coalitions. The episode highlights the tactical challenges of Indian warfare, including the use of war elephants and mounted archers, and discusses Alexander's controversial decision to continue eastward despite growing exhaustion among his troops. The hosts also delve into the cultural tensions between Greeks and Indians, including the encounter with the naked ascetics (gymnosophists) at Taxila. Key figures include Alexander, Porus, and the commander Coenus, whose death shortly after the battle marked a turning point. The episode also touches on the geopolitical aftermath, including the establishment of satrapies in the Punjab and the foundation of the city of Alexandria on the Acesines. The conversation ends with a reflective discussion on the limits of conquest and the sustainability of Alexander's empire.#AlexanderTheGreat #BattleOfAcesines #Sangala #Cathaei #Oxydracae #IndianCampaign #WarElephants #Gymnosophists #Coenus #Porus #Taxila #Punjab #AncientHistory #MilitaryHistory #ChenabRiver #MacedonianPhalanx #Hellenistic #FexingoHistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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Stateira II, daughter of Darius III, was married to Alexander at the Susa weddings in 324 BCE as part of his grand experiment in Persian-Macedonian fusion. But what happened to her after? While Alexander's other wife Roxana is famous for her political machinations, Stateira vanished from the historical record with suspicious speed. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace her short life from captive princess at Issus and Gaugamela to her education in Greek ways under Alexander's tutelage, her marriage, and her probable murder by Roxana after Alexander's death. We examine the competing accounts of Arrian, Plutarch, and Diodorus Siculus, the silence of Curtius Rufus, and what Stateira's fate tells us about the brutal dynastic politics of the Successor kingdoms. We also discuss her sister Drypetis, married to Hephaestion, and the grim pattern of elimination that followed the king's death. A story of a woman caught between empires, whose life was a political tool and whose death was an afterthought.#StateiraII #AlexanderTheGreat #SusaWeddings #Roxana #PersianPrincess #AchaemenidEmpire #MacedonianEmpire #Hephaestion #DariusIII #Drypetis #Arrian #Plutarch #DiodorusSiculus #SuccessorKingdoms #AncientHistory #DynasticPolitics #History #FexingoHistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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