Alexander the Great was born as Alexander III of Macedon. He was estimated to have been born around July of 356 BC in Pella to the King of Macedon, Philip, and his fourth wife, Olympias. Alexander the Great became King of Macedon at the age of 20 and founded one of the largest empires the world had known. He is revered as one of the greatest generals who ever lived and was undefeated in battle.
In his early years, Alexander was tutored by many renowned generals and philosophers, including Leonidas, Lysimachus of Acarnania, and Aristotle. He was learned in philosophy, art, music, hunting, combat, and military tactics. When Alexander was 10 years old, a horse was brought to his father for purchase. The horse was deemed too wild and was sent away. Alexander asked for an opportunity to tame the best and succeeded. Upon witnessing this feat, Philip kissed Alexander and declared: “My boy, you must find a kingdom big enough for your ambitions. Macedon is too small for you.”
After murdering his rivals and other claimants to the throne, Alexander became King of Macedon in 336 BC. He later became the sole commander for a large majority of the Greek forces in a war against Persia. He then led several successful large-scale military campaigns through Egypt and Asia Minor. Alexander the Great’s campaigns brought him as far as northwestern India, facing off against armies in present-day Punjab. At its height, Alexander the Great’s empire was the largest the ancient world had known. After 10 years, the young conqueror turned and headed back. Unfortunately, he would never reach home as he died in Mesopotamia around June of 323 BC.
Due to the young king’s success, his enemies and conspirators tried to downplay his successes by controlling the narrative about the conqueror’s life. Scholars and historians have had difficulty trying to sift through mountains of records to find the truth. Many have speculated and theorized that Alexander the Great may have been a homosexual. Was Alexander the Great gay? Was he straight? Or was he a bisexual? Where did these rumors come from? And is there any truth to them?
VOTE: What was Alexander The Great’s Sexuality?
Alexander The Great’s Relationships
Many sources point to Alexander the Great being remarkably uninterested in sexual and romantic pursuits for the better part of his young life. His mother had reportedly hired a high-priced courtesan named Callixena to encourage Alexander into a relationship with a woman. In his youth, he showed no interest in men as well. According to Carystius, Alexander refused to kiss a male servant after being offered by the master. He was later married three times and fathered at least one child. Here are some of Alexander the Great’s notable relationships.
Alexander and Campaspe
Campaspe, also known as Pancaste, is believed to have been Alexander’s mistress. She was also one of the first women Alexander was intimate with. The author, Aelian, says that it was Campaspe who took the young Alexander’s virginity.
Alexander and Roxana
Roxana of Bactria was a Persian and Alexander the Great’s first wife. She was said to be the most beautiful woman in all of Asia. Ulrich Wilchen writes:
The fairest prize that fell to [Alexander] was Roxana, the daughter of Oxyartes, in the first bloom of youth, and in the judgment of Alexander’s companions, next to Stateira, the wife of Darius, the most beautiful woman that they had seen in Asia. Alexander fell passionately in love with her and determined to raise her to the position of his consort.”
Ulrich Wilchen
When Alexander died in 323 BC, Roxana murdered Alexander’s two other wives. This was to ensure that she would have no rivals for her son, who was still unborn. Roxana later gave birth to Alexander IV two months after Alexander’s death.
Alexander and Stateira
Stateira, also known as Homa, was the daughter of Darius III and became Alexander’s second wife at the Susa weddings in 324 BC. When Alexander defeated Darius III, he took Stateira and her family as captives. Darius tried to ransom them many times, but Alexander refused. He instead sent Stateira to Susa to study Greek. Historians surmise that Alexander may have made up his mind and was preparing Stateira to be his wife. She married Alexander 10 years after her capture. Sadly, she was murdered after Alexander’s death.
Alexander and Parysatis II
Parysatis II also married Alexander at the Susa weddings with her cousin, Stateira. Parysatis was the youngest daughter of Artaxerxes III of Persia. After Darius ‘ defeat, she was left in Susa with Stateira and their families. By marrying Parysatis and her cousin, Alexander secured his ties to the royal families of the Achaemenid Empire. Macedonian noblemen and Greek soldiers also married 90 other Persian noblewomen during the weddings.
Alexander and Bagoas
According to Plutarch, in a festival on his way back from India, a young eunuch named Bagoas was made known to Alexander. The young man had won a contest in singing and dancing, and the Macedonians had clamored for the king to kiss the winner. Alexander then threw his arms around Bagoas and kissed the eunuch tenderly. According to a Roman historian, Quintus Curtius Rufus, Bagoas soon became a de facto sovereign of Persia, exploiting Alexander’s desires and making the king persecute Bagoas’s enemies.
Alexander was Destined for Greatness
Legends about Alexander’s birth spread far and wide. One legend stated that his mother dreamed about lightning striking her womb, and the fire that emerged spread far and wide. Another legend surmised that the Temple of Artemis burned down the day Alexander was born because the god himself left the temple and attended the birth. These legends were believed to have originated after the young king’s many conquests.
Was Alexander The Great Gay?
Yes, Alexander the Great was gay. Though his affectionate actions can be considered homosexual behavior in the modern day, the Greeks were less discriminant. Older men having romantic or sexual relations with younger men were considered the norm in Alexander’s time.
Featured Image: “Alexander the Great”, by Unknown, licensed under PDM 1.0 DEED