Alexander Cool as a Cucumber akin to Marcus

[kenny]

Companions hi.I write in regard to Alexanders coolness and apparent confidence.I refer to the eve Of Gaugamella,, Heres Alexander with 40000 men up against darius 300000extimate with the terrain beneficial to Darius.i would gamble all Alexanders commanders and generals thought,,,"well it was good while it lasted but tommorow were gonnna get creamed"Yet Alexander goes to bed sleeps like a baby and needs waking as if hes just going to the boozer for a few drinks.Now excuse me I could never understand that standard of confidence, I lose sleep if I go for a job interview or I have a mediocre function to cater for.I just wonder if he had any nerves at all,,, Its often been said Alexanders attitude towards been divine was a publicity stunt,,, But I would beg to differ, I totally believe he thought the gods were definately in direct contact with him.As there ever been a case in any general of 100% confidence the confidence must have been total...Regardskenny

[marcus]

Hi Kenny,I'm not sure I deserve the accolade in the subject header ... but thanks, anyway!I've always wondered about the business of Alexander getting a good night's sleep. It's sometimes difficult to work out where descriptions like that are made up in order to fit the author's agenda, and where they are grounded in fact.To some extent I can completely understand it if he did get a good night's sleep - he'd made his plans, and there was nothing else he could do. Come the morning, he'd be a better general if he was well rested.On the other hand, did he really get such a good night's sleep? Perhaps he slept in (and had to be awoken by Parmenion) because he'd spent most of the night fretting, and didn't actually fall asleep until late? Personally I think this less likely, because one thing he had in abundance was confidence ... but we should also remember that he is recorded also as sacrificing to Fear (Phoibos) the night before the battle; and being plagued by doubt (Curtius). So the truth of the matter is slightly more difficult to ascertain.But yes, if it is true, then he was definitely the coolest guy on the planet - when I consider how much problem I've had sleeping the night before a job interview (say), then I dread to think how I'd be if I were going to face a massive Persian army the following day! :-)All the bestMarcus

[beausefaless]

Greetings Kenny,
Personally I feel that Alexander in most cases if not all used good intelligence along with his battle plans. He would treat anyone with good intelligence like a king and reward them and their families and excuse them from paying any taxes as he did with his military personnel but if anyone tried to deceive him it was a horrible slow death for them all. I would like to think this was so at Gaugamela which I believe it was, to make all them Persian solders stand ready all night and morning just imagine how stiff and cramped they were when the battle began around high noon also remember *no* toilets on the battle field, what a mess. If some people feel the army of Darius was not up to par that day, standing in battle lines all night didn't help them physically or mentally no matter how superstitious they were. This is just my opinion.
Luck will beat skill any day and when you have both as Alexander always did your on a roll and no one will stop you the thought of a loss does not enter the equation. Can you imagine how mentally devastated Alexander felt for that four day period when most of his army politely said "this is enough *we* are going home! I'll bet he was furious.
Regards, Andrew

[kate]

Hi kenny,I think Alexander's confidence came from knowing he was a great general who had won many times in the face of adversity and from knowing that he had laid intelligent plans which ought to work - unless luck was against him. Luck, of course, is the key factor - wasn't it Napoleon who used to ask whether a commander was lucky and prefer him to one who was just good? I'm sure that Alexander felt he was favoured by the gods and therefore luck was on his side. This must have boosted his natural confidence, which was already high because he had good self-esteem.All the same, I remain amazed by the fact that he could sleep well before the battle - if indeed he did and it's not all "spin" - that takes iron nerves as well as confidence!Cheers,Kate

[Linda]

I am sure Alexander would have put the best spin on anything....but he was also very young, and the young are supremely confident.

[kenny]

Gail HiThrough reading Napoleon myself I recall something he said Of Alexander and of genious it wentt something like this.Envious or inferior people generals dismiss Genius as luck,,, In other words rather than to admit Alexander genius they would flipently call him lucky then on the same lines Napoleon quotes' Great Generals make there own luck'Kenny