Your ancestors came to Macedonia and the rest of Hellas (Greece) and did us great harm, though we had done them no prior injury. I have been appointed leader of the Greeks, and wanting to punish the Persians I have come to Asia, which I took from you...
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Alexander frames his invasion of Persia as justified retribution for past Persian aggression against Greece, casting himself as the leader tasked with punishing wrongdoers.
- In plain terms
- He came to Asia to punish Persians for harming Greeks earlier.
- What can you take from it?
- Use historical grievances to justify current military actions.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do leaders use history to justify war?
- When is retribution a valid cause for conflict?
Another view
It ignores Alexander’s own expansionist ambitions beyond mere retaliation.
More from Alexander the Great
So would I, if I were Parmenion.
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Permalink to quote #8 Our enemies are Medes and Persians, men who for centuries have lived soft and luxurious lives; we of Macedon for generations past have been trained in the hard…
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