the Great Macedonian Empire
Diogenes Erothemes[1]
published 113 BC
And finally, after nearly 20 years of military campaigns, Alexander returned home. He had to get to the tough work of consolidaqting his empire.
First, he had to come up with an effective taxation system for his vast lands. He mostly used the system of the Persian Empire, keeping the silver taxes based on the amount of land the satraps being taxed had held. Based on a number of his advisors' advice, however, he instituted a number of original taxes, designed to keep control over the ever-large territory.
First, there were indirect taxes, which taxed the amount of goods, and direct taxes which taxed the propiety of how many land products have, they had, which included livestock and crops. A slave tax was added later, because of the continiunuing need for econimic control over the empire.
He also instituted a messenger system similar to the eyes and ears of King Darius I, where messengers went on surprise inspection tours, and reported on whether the satraps looked up to no good
This system helped uncover a plot in Arabia to throw out leaders loyal to Alexander.Unfortunately, it did not help when a messenger disappeared in the province of Parthia. About a month after he was supposed to have returned, Bad news arose in the spring of 319 BC, when yet another revolt by Persian satraps succeded in spreading throughout much the east-central part of the country. Luckily, quick action by Antigonus in the east crushed it in a few months. The Bactrians also helped, but alone they could not have helped the loyal satrapies much, because news of a great ruler out of India caused the army commander to order the pass between Bactria and India[2] fortified with most of the Bactrian corps. Alexander would later hear about this, and dispatched Craterus to help Antigonus, who had went into Bactria when hearing about this. Needless to see, the messengers always had bodyguards, and scouts to warn them of any sudden changes, from then on.
This latest revolt convinced Alexander that some of the Persian satraps could not recognognize a king nearly a thousand miles away. He decided that the capital should be moved closer to where they lived, and thought on Babylon. This raised a howl of protest from none less than Olympias, who said the capital should remain in Greek lands and Perdiccas, a general who had fought with Alexander in Persia, said it would be traitorous to move it to the land of their recent enemies. Alexander almost killed him, but he was cautioned by his advisors that the capital should also have access to Greece. He then decided on Tyre. Depite having more of liking for Alexandria, Egypt, he knew the capital should be closer to the Persians.
So finally it was decided that Alexander would only reside in Babylon for the winter, since he still felt the need for as close as contact with Persia as possible, to discourage the revolt. Tyre would be the capital for the rest of the year. Pella would remain as the ceremonial capital.
Meanwhile, Alexander having only recently fought off a challenge, was in danger of revolt in his homeland and in Greece. There needed to be a way to score a victory, that would keep his enemies from causing trouble. And that would arrive on June 12, 319 BC, when an emissary from Syracuse arrived in Pella, as Alexander was about to depart for Egypt, to remind the people their that their pharoah still existed. He had heard of this great conquring king, and he requested aid in mopping up the Carthagnian settlements on Sicily. Alexander agreed to this, but he decided to use this opportunity to take Carthage for himself. He agreed to send a small amount of troops in aid, and gave them permission to attack when they wished.
So, Alexander decided to sail for Egypt. On July 20, he arrived in Alexandria, to the great cheers of the Egyptian people. The Egyptians had of course heard of Alexander's great victories, and been waiting practically since the dawn of time for him to show up. There were celebrations for several days,as Alexander traveled to all the major Egyptian towns, and participated in religious ceremonies at the time. Needless to say, this did not make generals like Perdiccas happy. Luckily, an Egyptian officer in Thebes mentioned the kingdom of Kush to the South. Alexander then sent Perdiccas south to bring this land under the king's sovreignty. Perdiccas would go on to get killed in a guerilla fight 4 months later.
Taking some Egyptian troops with him, which brought the total of his army to about 25, 000 men. he got more reinforcements in Cyrenaica. He arrived near Carthage on August 9 Near Carthage, he saw the city was walled, and could see from far off, so he decided to look for natives who would help in exchange for a vassal kingdom. He then was able to enlist the support of the local tribe of Numidians, the Massyli agaisnt the Carthagnians. The Massaesyli, to the west, though, refused.
Realizing that the Massaesyli would likely notify the Carthagnians, Alexander decided to attack Carthage almost immidiately. He had some crude siege machines constructed, and proceeded to surround the city. The Massaaesyli, who tried to arrive to defend Carthage, were attacked by the Massyli. The Carthagnians fired arrows to try to distract the Massili. At this point, Alexander showed up and effectively surrounded the city. The Carthagnians, enraged, were now caught in a trap. They would have sent a message to Hamilcar[3], who had been sent to Sicily, to defend against the attack of their lands there. But a few ships from Alexandria were blocking the harbor, so no one could get in or out.
The Massyli line was close to breaking at this point, so Alexander sent a number of companies under Demetrius to keep the Carthagnians from scattering the Massyli. He himself made a roundabout attack on the Massaesyli, and succeded in routing them. The remainder was taken prisoner. As he then reinforced the weak Massyli line, he was hit by an arrow in the side of the chest. Alexander was then rushed into camp to deaprately have the arrow removed, and close the wound. At one point, Alexander thought he saw a white light, but luckily he happened to have good doctors, and he eventually recovered.
Despite what seemed like a minor victory, Carthage were covinced they were eventually doomed, so they decided to go down fighting with a battle for the ages. A large consignment of troops then charged out of the city at the west line. Surprisingly enough, it was making it's way through holes in the Macedonian-Massyli line. But Ptolemy brought some extra troops from the south of the city, and crushed the Cathagnians. Unfotunately for the Carhagnians, this in the end only ended up shortening the siege. On November 13, Carthage surrendered. Leaving a company of troops there, Alexander then sailed for Sicily, where the sofetim or kings told him there was still a Carthgnian armyin Siciily. Alexander, after ensuring his control of Carthage, and leaving a Numidian vassal kingsdom decided to sail for Sicily.
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