Alexander the Great never set his sights on Rome. Why did this legendary conqueror ignore the future power of the West? The answer lies in his inherited ambitions, strategic priorities, and the historical context of his time.
Alexander the Great’s decision not to conquer Rome was influenced by various factors, including a lack of knowledge about Rome and his focus on Eastern conquests.
Alexander’s lack of knowledge and interest in conquering Rome
During Alexander the Great’s lifetime, the idea of conquering Rome would have been met with confused expressions on people’s faces. “Why that insignificant city?”
The city had only just begun its conflicts with neighboring Etruscan towns and had not yet become a significant power in the Mediterranean.
The Greeks, including Alexander the Great, had limited knowledge of Rome.
The Greek world was centered around the Aegean Sea, and their interactions were primarily with the eastern Mediterranean, the Near East, and Egypt.
Rome, located far to the west, was outside the central sphere of Greek influence and interest.
Moreover, the Greek historians and geographers of the time did not consider Rome important enough to document extensively.
Inherited mission from his father to conquer eastward
Philip II, Alexander the Great’s father, was a brilliant strategist and statesman who transformed Macedon from a peripheral kingdom into a dominant power in Greece.
One of Philip’s primary goals was to unite the Greek city-states under Macedonian hegemony and lead them in revenge against the Persian Empire, which had invaded Greece earlier in the 5th century BC (notably during the Greco-Persian Wars).
To achieve this goal, Philip formed the Corinthian League, a coalition of Greek states under Macedonian leadership, to launch a Pan-Hellenic crusade against Persia.
This mission was deeply rooted in the desire to avenge the Persian sack of Athens and to assert Greek dominance over their old enemy.
Alexander’s commitment to conquering the East, not Rome
Upon Philip’s assassination in 336 BC, Alexander the Great inherited his father’s throne and his plans.
Alexander understood that his legitimacy as a ruler, especially in the eyes of the Greek states, was tied to fulfilling Philip’s mission.
Attacking Persia was not only a military objective but also a political necessity to maintain Greece’s unity under Macedonian rule.
The Persian Empire was the largest and most powerful empire in the world at the time, stretching from the Balkans and Eastern Europe to the Indus Valley.
Conquering Persia promised immense wealth, glory, and control over vast territories.
The empire’s wealth was legendary, with its satrapies (provinces) producing vast amounts of gold, silver, and other resources.
Alexander’s campaigns in the East
In 334 BC, Alexander the Great crossed the Hellespont (modern-day Dardanelles) into Asia Minor with an army of about 40,000 men.
Over the next several years, he won a series of decisive battles against the Persian forces, including the Battle of Granicus (334 BC), the Battle of Issus (333 BC), and the Battle of Gaugamela (331 BC).
Each victory brought him closer to the heart of the Persian Empire, and by 330 BC, he had captured the Persian capital of Persepolis.
Conquests beyond Persia
After securing the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great continued his campaigns further east into Central Asia, including present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan, and eventually into India.
His invasion of India culminated in the Battle of the Hydaspes (326 BC) against King Porus, one of his most challenging opponents.
These campaigns demonstrated Alexander’s ambition to expand his empire as far as possible, but they also exhausted his army and strained his resources.
Internal Challenges in Persia
Even after Darius III’s defeat, the Persian Empire was not entirely pacified. Several Persian satraps (provincial governors) and military leaders continued to resist Alexander the Great’s rule.
Notably, Bessus, a Persian nobleman who had proclaimed himself king after Darius’s death, led significant resistance in the empire’s eastern provinces.
Alexander the Great faced the immense challenge of governing the vast and culturally diverse Persian Empire.
He adopted several Persian customs and incorporated Persian officials into his administration, which led to tensions with his Macedonian and Greek officers.
Additionally, numerous revolts and uprisings occurred in various parts of the empire, particularly in the far eastern provinces, which required Alexander’s personal attention to quell.
Integration of Cultures
Alexander the Great also sought to integrate Greek and Persian cultures, promoting marriages between his soldiers and local women and encouraging the spread of Greek culture throughout the empire.
The progeny of this period of cross-cultural marriages would later go on to inhabit the Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek kingdoms that influenced Gandharan Buddhist Art.
This policy of fusion was controversial among his Macedonian followers and added to the internal complexities of managing his empire.
Premature Death
In 323 BC, Alexander the Great fell ill in the city of Babylon, the administrative center of his empire, and died at the age of 32.
The exact cause of his death remains a matter of historical debate, with theories ranging from poisoning to natural causes such as typhoid fever or malaria.
Potential plans to conquer Rome
Before his death, Alexander the Great had plans for further conquests. There are indications that he intended to campaign into Arabia and possibly even the western Mediterranean.
Some sources suggest that he might have eventually turned his attention to Carthage and other western territories, which could have brought him into conflict with Rome. However, these plans were never realized due to his sudden death.
The fragmentation of his empire prevented any conquest of Rome
Alexander the Great’s death without a clear successor led to the fragmentation of his empire. His generals, known as the Diadochi, divided the empire among themselves, forming several Hellenistic kingdoms.
This division of power made any unified effort to expand further westward, including an invasion of Rome, impossible.
Why didn’t Alexander the Great conquer Rome?
Alexander the Great’s focus on the East, driven by inherited goals, the allure of Persian wealth, ongoing military campaigns, and internal challenges, meant that he never turned his attention to Rome. His untimely death further prevented any potential Western ambitions from being realized.
