The Death of Alexander, the Macedonian

This article, written by Narveen Singh Aryaputri challenges conventional historical accounts of Alexander the Great’s death, presenting an alternative narrative that attributes his demise to a defeat in Himachal Pradesh, India, at the hands of the local Raja and his army.

Core Assertions:

1. Rejection of “Great”: The author pointedly renames Alexander “the Macedonian,” questioning the Eurocentric designation of “the Great,” particularly as it fails to reflect his reception in India.
2. The Narrative of Defeat: According to Raja Virbhadra Singh, an Indian monarch, Alexander encountered a ferocious army comprising 1,000 specially-trained war dogs and a heavily-armored war elephant. During this battle:
• Alexander, already wounded and exhausted, was further incapacitated.
• The ferocious dogs decimated his troops, while the Raja’s war elephant disoriented the Macedonian forces.
• Alexander narrowly escaped but succumbed to his injuries during his retreat through the Khyber Pass.
3. Historical and Cultural Context:
• The essay places Himachal Pradesh in the strategic geography of the Himalayan region and frames Alexander’s incursion as driven by a lust for wealth and domination.
• The local resistance is highlighted as a testament to India’s ancient martial and cultural resilience.
4. Critique of Western Historiography: The author criticizes Western accounts for marginalizing or ignoring such regional histories, arguing that they suppress truths that do not align with dominant narratives.
5. Symbolic and Practical Details:
• The embalming of Alexander’s body in honey for transportation, reflecting both symbolic and practical practices of the time.
• The connection between the ancient breed of war dogs and contemporary Anatolian shepherds, hinting at their legacy.

Thematic Emphasis:

The essay draws attention to the erasure of non-European perspectives in global histories, advocating for the inclusion of oral and regional traditions. It celebrates the ingenuity and valor of the Raja of Himachal Pradesh, portraying the encounter as an emblem of resistance against imperialism.

Some Words by Andrushka

This essay serves as a bold reclamation of subaltern voices in history. Its vivid narrative and reliance on oral tradition challenge the hegemony of Eurocentric historiography. While unconventional, it emphasizes the need to critically evaluate historical “truths” by exploring overlooked or suppressed perspectives. It aligns with a broader imperative to decolonize historical discourse, respecting diverse cultural and historical narratives.

By contextualizing Alexander’s defeat as a turning point that thwarted his ambitions in Bharat, the article not only reinterprets his legacy but also reinforces the enduring spirit of resistance among the peoples of ancient India.