A Question

[ruthaki]

A friend asked me about a certain battle that Alexander went to fight just after he took the throne, when he supposedly went through the Vale of Tempe to meet the army. I think she was mistaken because I can only think of some border skirmishes or ?? locally that may have happened after Philip's death. Am I wrong? I think she may have been referring to when they went through the Vale of Tempe on their way to Chaironea and that was before Philip's death of course.
(She said it was a 'pass over the mountains or over Mt. Olympus but I am sure she means the Vale of Tempe which was the usual route through that area.)

[smittysmitty]

Hi Ruth,This episode is mentioned by Polyaenus, unfortunatley I dont have a copy of his works :(Bosworth mentions it in 'Conquest and Empire'
The general gist of information is that Alexander is faced with widespread unrest on his accession to the throne. Whilst marching south to put down this dissidence, he's army is blocked at the Vale of Tempe by the Thessalians.Taking an alternate route along the coast, he manages to catch the Thessalians from behind and puts an end to armed resistance. He was promptly acknowledged in Thessaly, Thermopylae and Corinth as hegemon of the Corinthian League.
cheers!

[ruthaki]

Thanks for your quick reply. I know I can always count on people from this site. Evharisto poli.

[marcus]

Hi Smitty,It's in Arrian, too. Rather than taking an alternative route, however, he gets his men to cut steps in the side of Mount Ossa and thereby crosses the mountains without using the pass. The Thessalians are surprised, to say the least, and capitulate immediately.All the bestMarcus

[Ariadne]

Hi Ruth
After Phillipos died,Alexander did cross the border to the northern regions to show that he was in contol and to get some of the tribal leaders to pay homage to him. He also paid a visit to Thebes
later on...on his way to Athens.
This is a fast reply - Ari

[ruthaki]

Thanks for clarifying this folks. ruthaki