In a shocking revelation, the brutal legacy of Alexander the Great has resurfaced, exposing a darker side to the famed conqueror that history has long sought to obscure. Known as a visionary military strategist, Alexander’s relentless ambition wrought devastation across empires, leaving a trail of war crimes that demand urgent scrutiny.
Recent historical analyses have unearthed grim accounts of Alexander’s merciless campaigns. In 335 BCE, the city of Thebes defied his rule, and within days, his forces encircled and obliterated the city, resulting in the deaths or enslavement of approximately 30,000 inhabitants. This swift act of terror was not merely a tactical victory; it was a calculated move to instill fear across the Greek city-states.
The siege of Tyre in 332 BCE marked another chilling chapter, where after months of relentless assault, Alexander executed about 2,000 surviving defenders by crucifixion—a brutal spectacle that silenced any notions of resistance. Thousands more, including women and children, were sold into slavery, illustrating the catastrophic costs of defiance.
Further atrocities unfolded during Alexander’s return from India in 325 BCE, where he led his troops through the unforgiving Gedrosian Desert. Tens of thousands perished not in battle, but from dehydration and starvation—an unnecessary toll fueled by his unyielding quest for glory.
In Gaza, the city’s entire population faced enslavement as punishment for resistance, while Persepolis, the heart of Persian culture, was set ablaze in a drunken act of vengeance, erasing centuries of history and heritage.
These grim accounts challenge the glorified narrative of Alexander the Great, portraying him not just as a conqueror but as a tyrant whose ambition exacted a staggering human cost. As the historical dust settles, one question looms large: can the glory of conquest ever outweigh the inhumanity it inflicts? The legacy of Alexander, steeped in both greatness and ruin, continues to echo ominously through time.