Issue No. 46

When Darius III, the King of Persia in 334 BC, learned about Alexander’s campaign to conquer his then 216-year-old empire, he didn't think much of it. Persia was a vast and civilized empire at that time, spanning from the eastern Mediterranean in the west to the Indus River in the east at its height. Its territories included parts of modern-day Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Egypt, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and various other regions in the Middle East and Central Asia. Macedonia, on the other hand, where Alexander was from, was a small kingdom in Northern Greece. Darius considered the Macedonians as barbarians, so he didn't bother much.

Upon King Philip II’s assassination, Alexander made it his life’s purpose to conquer Persia to continue his father’s legacy of expanding the empire. In 334 BC, at the age of around 22, Alexander won his first battle against the Persian forces at the Battle of Granicus on the Granicus River (now the Biga River in Turkey). Darius was furious but not alarmed, considering Alexander as just a little boy trying to prove himself. Darius, at 46, was more than double Alexander's age.

However, what Darius didn’t consider in the equation was Alexander’s army and its formidability. The Persian army lacked real battle training due to the absence of those who would dare challenge them. In contrast, the Macedonians were well-trained in battle due to military reforms introduced by Alexander's father and their constant battles with neighboring states. Adding to that Alexander’s ability to improvise and shock the opponent’s strategy, Persia was destined to fall.

Another empowering motivation for Alexander was his mother’s revelation. Olympias, Alexander’s mother, told him he was the son of Zeus and destined to win and never lose. This belief proved justified as he continuously defeated the Persian forces in his 3-year conquest. Darius kept running away and losing each state of his empire. In fact, he even offered Alexander to take half of his empire and be done. Alexander was, of course, not planning to stop. In 331 BC, in their final battle at Gaugamela (northern part of modern-day Iraq), Alexander’s army only had 40,000 soldiers whereas Darius’s army had 100,000. By numbers, Darius should have won, but Alexander’s formidability and motivations cleared his mind. His mind was set to win, and he did. Darius was killed by his general for running away. Alexander conquered the longstanding empire in only 3 years, accomplishing this at the age of 25. He continued his quest towards Asia until India but died due to a mysterious disease, probably Malaria.

Alexander, often referred to as the "Great," left an indelible mark not only through his military conquests but also through his efforts to assimilate cultures, fostering a fusion known as Hellenistic civilization, as proven by his accomplishments and the founding of the Egyptian city named after himself—Alexandria. 216 years later, in the same city, another influential figure would emerge—Cleopatra.

Historians often think of Alexander as the single most influential person in human history. But what about Darius? History remembers him as a lacking king, lacking in insights and strategic foresights. But what’s most important of all is his complacency. Instead of considering Alexander as a threat that needed to be removed early on, he seemed content with offering compromises and attempting diplomatic solutions that proved ineffective. Darius's complacency extended to the military realm, as evidenced by his choices during critical battles. His generals and constituents lost their trust in him one by one. His reluctance to adapt his strategies and meet Alexander's forces with a decisive plan contributed to the ultimate downfall of the Achaemenid Persian Empire.

While Darius faced internal challenges and dissent within his empire, his inability to perceive the magnitude of the threat posed by Alexander, combined with a lack of decisive action, played a crucial role in the historical assessment of his reign. The failure to recognize the gravity of the situation and take proactive measures against the advancing Macedonian forces has solidified the image of Darius III as a complacent king, ultimately overshadowed by the dynamic and forward-thinking leadership of Alexander the Great.

Complacency is the death of an empire, of a man. In our modern world, we have grown in comfort, and we overestimate our positions. Many things can be taken away from us—our money, our job, our loved ones, our health. Yet, most of us live a life of fantasy, thinking that everything does not need preparation. Planning ahead of time is often disregarded and sometimes even frowned upon. They say live in the moment, but it is possible to do so while thinking of your future. What happens if you lose your job now? What’s your next step? What happens when your car gets hit by another? Do you have insurance? What happens when you continue to get older and still not any closer to your dreams? What’s your strategy? Most of us are living in “one-something-from-something.” We are one accident from broke, one heartbreak from suicide, one failure from losing all motivations, etc. When are you going to plan your life the way you want it? Is it forever going to be a back-in-the-head memory that constantly tries to grab your attention until your deathbed?

The allure of immediate gratification often blinds us to the importance of foresight and preparation. Just as Darius III's complacency led to the downfall of an empire, our own lack of strategic thinking can have profound consequences on our personal lives. Embracing a mindset that values proactive planning doesn't diminish the joy of living in the present; rather, it empowers us to navigate life's uncertainties with resilience and purpose.

Whether in the grand scale of empires or the intricacies of individual existence, the lesson remains clear: complacency is a perilous path, and strategic foresight is the compass that guides us through the ever-changing landscape of our lives.

Be an Alexander in the world of Dariuses and leave a legacy.

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Until next week,