a Greek colony called Alexandroupolis. This event shows that Alexander had the skill to be a leader of people, but also had the knowledge and experience in the military arena. Alexander ascended to the throne after his father's death. Immediately after that, trouble started in the Greek states. Some of the states such, as Athens and Thebes, had pledged loyalty to Philip, not a 20-year-old boy. Also, the barbarians to the north were threatening to break away and create chaos in the northern part of Macedonia. His advisors told him to let Athens and Thebes go and negotiate with the barbarians to avoid a revolt. Alexander did the exact opposite; he attacked the barbarians swiftly, driving them beyond the Danube River and out of the picture. Then in Thebes, Alex marched right up to the gates in order to let them know it was too late to separate from him. The Thebans sent a small force of soldiers, who were easily repelled by Alexander. The next day, Perdiccas, Alexander's general, attacked the gates of the city and broke into it. Alexander moved the rest of his force in, to prevent the Thebans from cutting off Perdiccas. The city was stormed and the Macedonians slaughtered everyone in sight, women and children included. The plunderer, sacked, and burned Thebes, as an example to the rest of Greece. By showing this quick and decisive force, Athens rethought its decision to leave Alexander. If Alexander had waited or listened to his advisors, there would have been no empire or army, to carry out his conquest. He would be labeled as the Macedonian ruler who lost control of his land, not as a great conqueror. By showing the other city/states what would happen if they questioned his authority, he laid the idea of revolt quietly to rest. Alexander was driven to launch his Asia campaigns by his belief that he was invincible and godlike. His family was thought to be descended from Hercules and Alexander's hero was Achilles, who he tried to emulate. ...
