pothos.org

The most complete work today on Alexander the great is the original version of Sir William Tarn's book in which it is clearly described that Alexander the Great was Illyrian (Albanian).

There have been plenty of 'complete' works on Alexander since Tarn's book. Also, the scholarship since he published has shown there to be many slips (intentional or otherwise) in his work. That isn't to say that it isn't still valuable in many ways, but to rely on Tarn would be short-sighted.As to Alexander's background ... I haven't read Tarn for many years, due to the problem with getting copies, but I don't recall that he ever said that Alexander was Illyrian. His grandmother appears to have been Illyrian, true, but that doesn't make him so. Anyway, 'Illyrian' doesn't mean 'Albanian', any more than being English makes one Saxon.All the bestMarcus

It seems that Tarn is an excellent source on Alexander but the book is near impossible to get. Having not read it, I can only say that JFC Fuller, whose Generalship of ATG I'm now reading, goes to him a lot but, in doing so, corrects many errors in Tarn's battle analyses. I don't know about his being Albanian, but recent finds in an extensive tomb complex in Macedonia is shedding new light on that kingdom'a royalty circa 900-500 BC. There's a write up of it in Archaeology Today or some such magazine I've seen in bookstores lately.

spyros hailI wouldnt say Alexander was Albanian nor Illirian.Although I would definately say Alexander and the Macedonians were closer linked to the Northjern Regions than the more southern Greek states.Or I would like to think they were.
Kenny

There wasn't an "Albania" in Alexander's time. Part of the now Albania I believe was Epirus and part Illyria. The Macedonian were tribal and except for his grandmother (Philip's mother?) I don't think he was considered "Illyrian" . (How many of today's Albanians are really Macedonians (Greek) -- children who were sent there during the civil war in the late '40's??? The problems recently have been they lost the Greek citizenship because of this but they were actually born in Greece.

First off, I hate arguments about Alexander's
ethnicity. They are based on a number of flawed
assumptions and notions. Certainly "Ethnicity"
is a problemmatic concept, often more
"constructed" than real, and particularly difficult
in ancient history. And on a moral note, I'm
opposed to the notion that "Alexander's ethnicity"
should be used to inflate or deflate the bosom
of a modern individual. Glory is not genetic..That said, I think the Albanians have a rather
good case for a "share in the glory." The
"Greek-ness" (however constructed) of Epirus
and the Mollosians is much more blurry than
that of the Macedonians, with Illyrian
intermariage and cultural "bleed" uncontested.
At the same time, scholars presume a distant
but direct relationship between the Illyrian and
Albanian languages. Given the poor, harsh and
isolated mountains of Albania, considerable
ethnic continuity is also a good bet.
.
So, in my estimation, Albanians can feel good
about Alexander, if they can't help it, but should
perhaps avoid getting drunk and beating up
Greek and Macedonian soccer fans in his
name. After all, who's the other Albanian
everyone's heard of? Mother Theresa!

Hi FolksI would say at the time of Alexander the Ancient Greeks would love to call Alexander Illirian and Albanian,,,I also feel if Alexander was not as Great or As successfual as he was.The Greeks of today would Call Alexander Albanian and Philip.Call me scepticall,,, But Im fraid todays Greeks hold on to Macedonia in as illy way to hold on to and share his glory.Kenny

Well let me tell you that before the Greeks (who i do not believe come from the ancients Ellines, I mean 400 years of turkish occupation, come on) managed to change history according to their own interests it was known that not only Alexander had Illyrian roots but that also he grew up in Emadhia (today: Mat) up to a certain age when he went to be taught by Aristotle. The first thing he taught Alexander was greek because he could not speak the language. All these are known to very few and are writen in very rare books that were not edited or before being edited by greeks or filellines.

you have no idea. are you actually thinking when posting. as a greek i LAUGH at your post. greeks dont need to hold on to anything. greek history is greek. hellenism was spread via Alexander. if you fail to realise Alexanders true roots and how he felt as a person, then maybe you should take a liking to something else, stick to english history and how Captain Cook founded australia.
Stavros

you cannot change history. get over it Spyros.

Hail StavrosIll stick with Alexander. Who I consider not to be Greek but a Macedonian,,, And my understanding of Ancient Greece is very good thankyou.kenny

King Alexander I of Macedonia
Alexander the Great the Macedonian
Leonidas the Spartan
Hector the Trojan
Achilles the Thessalian
Pericles the Athenian
Hippocrates from the Island Kos
Archemidis of Syracuse
Agamemnon of Mycenae
Phillip of Macedonia
Eratosthenes of Cyrene
Pelasgus of Arcadiathe list goes on an on........ wait for it... they were ALL GREEK!!!Macedonian King Alexander I, lover of Arts and friend of poet Pindar, participated in the 80th Olympiad of 460 BCE. He competed in the GÇ£StadionGÇ¥ field event and was placed close second to the first runner. Only Greeks were allowed to participate in Ancient Olympics. King Alexander the I lived approximately 130 years before Alexander the Great. thats why i love greek history so much. cause every wannabe wants a piece of it.Stavros the Greek

Needless to say that what you are saying is for laughing.
I don't care about modern writers since there can be propaganda elements in their writtings.Refer to ancient Historians. Alexander's father was the greek speaking king of Macedonia(as an area,there was no greek state back then,just city states and alliances between them),Phillipos II(Phillip in English) and his mother was Olympias (does that name rings a bell?Next you'll tell us that Olympos and Olympic games were Albanian too!!!!!!!) princess of Epirus of which the northern part is now albanian but with mostly greek speaking populace(we have seen in news the problems with the greek minority in Albania,don't worry). Well since everybody had greek for native language,we assume they were Greek(Hellines) and not Bulgarian or Russian or Spanish or whatever else. Also he was addressing to his troops (including the sarisa bearers) as Hellines. Maybe you know better than him. Just one piece of advice: such propaganda will do not any good to your people(if you are Albanian) since a lot of your compatriots work in nowadays Greece. As for if modern Greeks have anything to do with ancient ones i'll tell you one thing: Pick a random greek and talk to him in ancient greek language.He will understand 90% of what you are saying. On the contrary if I speak Illyrian to an Albanian he'll think that I'm speaking Chinese.

Dear kenny,
you got it wrong. Alexandros o Megas (Alexander the Great) was Greek as Greek was Ephialtis (infamous person). Better read ancient historians which are more closesly tied to the real facts. Also his name is Greek (Alex - andros = Leader of men), his father's name is greek(Fil-ippos=He who likes horses or Horse friend),his mother's name is Greek (Olympias,no need explanation). I don't understand why this propaganda against Greek heritage,imagine I even heard and read that Turkish are descedants of the Byzantines!!!!!!!!

ill tell you why there is propaganda against the greeks. all of its modern bordering neighbours (just like the ancient ones) are dying to get a peice of greece including its history and heritage. claiming that everything in ancient greece was nothing but greek. get real.... wannabe nations that have no identity.which country in the world has such a rich culture, heritage, history and ancient achievement, not to mention being one of the most beautiful countries on the planet. then you get 'intelligent' posts on this website that make you sick to the stomach, hence claiming they know everything about greece. yeah right.... studying greek history yet in denial of claiming that Alexander was Greek. Macedonia was settled by greeks hundreds of years before Alexander the Great. Greeks that fought off the persians, greeks that competed in the Olympic games. as did King Phillip II. A bit of Greek history for anyone who didnt know. Like i have said before, go to Greece and travel to Pella, Vergina, etc.. will be an eye opener for anyone who thinks the ancient Macedonians were not of greek descent. Stavros