Chapter 1
HUBRIS
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It was already noon in the city of Pella. The celebrations for Philip's daughter's wedding, Cleopatra, had already begun. The king desired to showcase the might and wealth of the Macedonian Kingdom, so he had prepared a grand celebration. This was his chance to show dominance over the other Greek clans and city-states. Servants were bringing an enormous amount of food and drinks, while the soldiers donned their finest armor. Philip was a proud man, and this day was particularly good for him. He had also arranged a parade, featuring a line of beasts from Anatolia, groups of his finest soldiers, all dressed up in golden cloaks and weapons made from great-quality metal and also polished, to make them brighter than the sun itself and the powerful Macedonian Phalanx, for all the people to witness the war machine that made him victorious in so many battles. The shields, swords, and spears of his troops shimmered under the sun's light. Everything was going to be perfect. Also, Phillip had arranged for thirteen statues to enter the stage: twelve of them representing the Olympian Gods, and the last one depicting Philip himself. He portrayed himself as a god, equal to the Olympians. Who could deny him this pleasure? He was the greatest general ever to walk the face of the earth. Even this Theban general, Epaminondas, who had Phillip captured in his youth, could not stand a chance against the feats of his time as king of Macedon.
He was the one who united Greece. Maybe those Spartans were stubborn but nowadays they were a footnote in the history of the world. A shadow of the great warriors they once were. They would not stand in his way. And then, his magnum opus. His dream of Asia. He wanted to cross Hellespont and march against those women-like soldiers and take revenge for the assaults they did against the Greeks, almost 100 years before his time. And he would do it, with his son by his side. Noone could touch him. Noone could ever deny his authority. The glory would be his. His name would be echoed in the centuries to come, alongside Achilles, the Demigod son of Thetis, and Hector, the Horse-Tamer.
As he observed the statues entering the stage, a smile adorned Philip’s face. It was his turn to make his appearance. He was supposed to enter the stage from a stoa, which led to the center of the stage, surrounded by soldiers, beasts, and gods. The plan was for the part of the stage where he stood to ascend into the air, displaying his superiority. Lost in his thoughts, he was brought back to reality by his son's voice.
“Father!” Alexander called out. “Father! It's time”.
Alexander would lead the Royal Bodyguards, as the youngest commander in the history of Greece. When he was 16, he managed to subjugate the rebellious Illyrians, as the regent to Phillip’s throne. Once he had 18 summers behind him, Phillip took his son on his campaign against the Greek City-States of the South, who had rebelled against the Macedonian hegemony once again. The United Hellenic Army would meet Phillip’s Army outside Thebes, at a location called Chaeronea. There Phillip gave command of the Companions, the best cavalry fighters in the whole kingdom, to his son Alexander. The young prince demolished the Sacred Band, the most experienced group of hoplites in all of Greece. Then he charged like a demon among the lines of the Athenians, breaking their spirits and declaring victory for his father.
The stories were doing justice to Alexander. He had earned this. He was only 21 and was already one of the most trusted advisors of his father. Now he was ready to accompany his father to the stage, in front of every important man of the Greek political and military landscape. Phillip was proud of his son and Alexander was pleased with the achievements he was able to complete beside his father. Now, he was standing overconfident, with a big smile on his lips, looking impressive in his father's armor. Philip gazed at him with affection and care.
“Well, you look quite good in my armor, son,” he chuckled. “The royal tunic suits you well”.
"I'm doing fine so far, thank you," Alexander replied.
Father and son laughed together.
“Are you ready for this father?”
“Of course, I am! And then, after all the Greeks realize the power of our civilization, they will have no choice than to obey me and follow me to the depths of the earth!”
“Me too, father! I will follow you and help you fulfill your dream of conquering Asia. And take revenge for the lives of those Greek who fought in Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis, and Plateau”.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Philip smiled. He could not be any prouder of his son. Although they might have their disagreements – they almost killed one another during the wedding of Phillip with Euridice, his last out of his seven wives – king Phillip had a soft spot for Alexander. He hugged him tightly.
“You know, everything I do, I do for you. For your future as the king of this land”.
“I know, father”.
They hugged for several moments and then they broke apart.
“Alright, son,” Philip said, adjusting his tunic. “Let's give them a show to remember”.
Alexander and the soldiers appeared first, greeted by cheers from the crowd. Everyone eagerly awaited the arrival of the king. However, Philip never made an appearance. As he was straightening his clothes and adjusting his golden crown, made from oil leaves, a cloaked figure emerged from the shadows like a ghost of the night. With nobody noticing, the figure swiftly struck Philip with a dagger, pressing it against the king's ribs.
“The Gods send their regards,” the figure whispered to him before disappearing into the darkness.
The hooded man approached a guard named Pausanias, handing him the bloodied knife. Then he ran away and vanished, climbing the stone structures of the theater. Pausanias hurried to the king's side, but it was too late. Philip lay there, blood pouring from his mouth.
Cleopatra was getting anxious and exchanged a look of worry with her brother. Alexander was nervous too. Something was off. Phillip should already appear on the stage. He nodded towards his best friend, Hephaestion, to follow him. Once they entered the stoa, Alexander realized what had happened.
“NO!” Alexander cried out.
He saw Pausanias with the bloodied dagger standing over his lifeless father. Alexander knew that man. He was known for his distaste of the king. But to murder him? Right here, right now? During a sacred festivity like this? This crime wasn’t going to remain unpunished. Other soldiers ran to Alexander's side upon hearing his cry.
“Seize that man! Seize him now!” he commanded.
Soldiers flooded the stoa, chasing after a fleeing Pausanias. He ran desperately, aware of the furious pursuit. He knew the rage that many times consumed the young prince. If he was caught, no matter what he said, they would have found him guilty of the murder of Phillip. Only if he could escape. He was heading to the stables in order to get a horse from there. If he was able, in moments he could disappear. However, an arrow abruptly ended his escape as it pierced his head, causing him to fall lifeless.
“Idiots! Stupid mongrels! I ordered you to seize him, not kill him!” Alexander exclaimed, appearing at the entrance of the gallery with red eyes filled with grief and anger. The men looked at each other in confusion.
“Who shot the arrow?” asked the king.
No one answered.
“I’ll ask for the last time, who shot the arrow?”
“But sir,” said one of the soldiers, “…none of us carried a bow or arrows. The one who killed Pausanias is not one of us”.
Alexander approached the dead body of Pausanias and removed the arrow. Then he took the dagger and gave it to Perdiccas, one of his friends who had just arrived on the scene.
“Give those to my teacher Aristoteles. He will manage to get information about the murder”.
“I think it is plainly clear that the bodyguard murdered the king. Why do you want to launch an investigation?” asked Hephaestion.
No one could hear the voice in Alexander’s mind, that was calling only one name.
“Zeus!”
The young soon-to-be king stood up.
“I believe that we are dealing with forces much greater than us! That’s why”.
He then turned to the stoa and stood above the body of Phillip, who was laying there, in a pool of blood.
“Take care of the king's body,” he ordered, more calmly this time. “Disperse the crowd and try to calm them. And call Eumenes, the state official. The show is over”.