The political legacy of Alexander the Great: Myth and reality in the Hellenistic kingdoms.

Abstract

This study portrays Alexander as an exceptional ruler, driven by a desire for glory and a determination to unify the peoples of the Hellenistic kingdoms.

This research aims to analyse the nature and forms of Alexander’s political legacy in the main kingdoms that emerged from the fragmentation of his empire, particularly those founded by the Diadochi. The aim is to identify elements of institutional, administrative and symbolic continuity, whilst distinguishing these from political myth or dynastic propaganda.

The central question of this study is to determine to what extent Alexander’s political legacy represents a genuine continuity in the organisation and practices of power within the Hellenistic kingdoms, or whether it is instead an ideological and commemorative construct used by his successors to legitimise their authority. The methodology adopted is based on a historical and critical analysis of ancient literary sources.

The body of text used for this study brings together ancient sources and modern historical analyses, enabling an examination of both the construction of the Alexandrian myth and the political reality of the Hellenistic kingdoms. Plutarch: « Parallel Lives », emphasises the conqueror’s moral qualities and contributes to the emergence of a heroic image of Alexander, later used by Hellenistic rulers to legitimise their power. Arrian: « Anabasis of Alexander », describes Alexander’s military campaigns with admiration and presents the conqueror as an unrivalled strategic leader. His account helps to establish Alexander as a universal model of sovereignty. Diodorus: « Historical Library », recounts the struggles between the Diadochi following Alexander’s death. The text shows that the empire did not survive politically, despite the image of unity left by the conqueror. Polybius: « History », analyses the political systems of the Hellenistic kingdoms and their evolution. Pierre Briant’s recent work, « Alexander the Great », offers a critical study of Alexander and deconstructs several aspects of the myth of the universal conqueror. He emphasises the continuities with the Persian Empire and the real limitations of the imperial project. Claude Mossé’s « The Hellenistic World » describes the political, economic and cultural organisation of the Hellenistic kingdoms after Alexander.

The study's findings show that Alexander’s legacy is both real and reconstructed. On the one hand, certain aspects of his political model, such as cultural fusion, the use of a charismatic monarchy, and certain administrative structures, influenced the Hellenistic kingdoms. On the other hand, Alexander’s successors largely reinterpreted his memory to legitimise their own dynasties and strengthen their authority. Thus, Alexander’s political legacy appears as a combination of institutional continuities and symbolic constructions serving the power strategies of the Hellenistic kingdoms.

Keywords: Political legacy, Alexander the Great-myth-reality