Alex of Epir

[maciek]

Hello all!!
I don't remember where it was written that Alex of Epirus said that he has to fight against man while Alex of Macedon fights against weak woman in Persia... or something like that. I'm sure I red it but I can't find out where. Well interesting in this is that he (Alex of Epirus)fought against Samnites not against Romans like it's often claimed. I suppose that the main story about his conquest is written in:
Tytus Liwiusz History of Rome from its foundation (VIII, 24)
But I can't find a word about it there. Maybe it was in one of the sources about Alex?Maciek M

[marcus]

Hi Maciek,The reference is made during the argument between Alexander and Cleitus, in Maracanda. Unfortunately, I can't remember whether it's in Curtius, or Arrian, or both - but you'll find it in one of those two.All the bestMarcus

[smittysmitty]

Hi Maciek and Marcus,the reference is made by Curtius 8:1:37, not sure if it's mentioned by Arrian. It comes about during the Clitus episode where he states the following,.'The truth, I think lies in what your uncle is generally believed to have said in Italy, that he had faced men in battle and you had faced women.'
cheers!

[marcus]

Thanks, Smitty - well, there you go, Maciek.I didn't think it was in Arrian but wasn't sure.It's quite interesting, because *if* Cleitus knew that Al of Ep had said that (which we don't know, of course, because Curtius isn't exactly contemporary) then it points to a fair amount of communication between the Macedonians other than Alexander, and those left back at home.But, having said that, I think inserting that in Cleitus' speech was a construct by Curtius, rather than being actually what Cleitus said.All the bestMarcus

[smittysmitty]

Hi Marcus,just a further note on the matter, if Justin is to be believed, ATG had his army mourn the death of his brother in law/ uncle Al of Epirus for three days. cheer!

[ruthaki]

Yes, I thought Alexander of Epirus was already dead when Alexander the G. was on campaign. Or had died shortly after A. left????

[marcus]

I *think* Al of Ep died some time in 330BC - my Loeb edition of Arrian posits that Alexander will have heard about his death some time in 329BC.All the bestMarcus

[maciek]

Thank You guys!! I can always count on companions:-)) Titus Livy wrote most detailed about this campaign of Epirot. He states that they (bouth Alexanders)started almost in the same time,
it was a kind of rivalisation.
BTW Alexander of Epir was also very talented politic and commander.
Maciek M

[smittysmitty]

Hi all,
Odd that Alexander of Epirus was fighting in Italy, and a few decades later Phyrus takes an army from Epirus to Italy, yet a noticable absence of Epirot troops in ATG's army.Perhaps they were used in the home front, protecting Macedon and Epirus?what do you think?cheers!

[maciek]

I think that it was a kind of competition and Alex from Epir was very ambitious man. Reading about his campaign I think we can suspect that if not special circumstances he had much larger possibility to win whole Appenin Penisua then Pyrrhos.
I think in those time there was no real threat from west and they were much more affraid of south - Sparta and people in other citys.Maciek M