1 00:00:09,226 --> 00:00:13,013 Tonight, the suspicious death of a legendary leader. 2 00:00:13,970 --> 00:00:17,538 Alexander did more in 10 years 3 00:00:17,539 --> 00:00:20,193 than other people do in lifetimes. 4 00:00:20,194 --> 00:00:24,023 He basically creates the largest empire 5 00:00:24,024 --> 00:00:25,937 the world has ever seen. 6 00:00:25,938 --> 00:00:30,290 After all these years of campaigning and severe wounds, 7 00:00:30,291 --> 00:00:32,205 he makes it back to Babylon 8 00:00:32,206 --> 00:00:34,424 and then suddenly dies. 9 00:00:34,425 --> 00:00:35,991 Historians are still baffled 10 00:00:35,992 --> 00:00:40,430 by what happened in the last few weeks of Alexander's life. 11 00:00:40,431 --> 00:00:43,651 He begins to see strange omens that convince him 12 00:00:43,652 --> 00:00:45,435 that his days are numbered. 13 00:00:45,436 --> 00:00:47,742 Alexander sees enemies everywhere 14 00:00:47,743 --> 00:00:51,267 and he drowns his fears in the bottom of a wine cup. 15 00:00:51,268 --> 00:00:53,574 Now we'll explore the top theories 16 00:00:53,575 --> 00:00:55,576 surrounding the unsolved death 17 00:00:55,577 --> 00:00:58,448 of one of history's most celebrated figures. 18 00:00:58,449 --> 00:01:00,929 It would only take a small drop in his cup of wine 19 00:01:00,930 --> 00:01:02,322 for it to all be over. 20 00:01:02,323 --> 00:01:04,628 Alexander fails to name a successor 21 00:01:04,629 --> 00:01:08,415 and that may have cost him his life. 22 00:01:08,416 --> 00:01:10,634 Whatever killed Alexander, 23 00:01:10,635 --> 00:01:13,246 it sure doesn't look like a natural death. 24 00:01:13,247 --> 00:01:17,641 Who or what killed Alexander the Great? 25 00:01:33,963 --> 00:01:36,399 323 BCE, 26 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,968 Alexander the Great lies on his deathbed in Babylon, 27 00:01:39,969 --> 00:01:41,970 present-day Iraq. 28 00:01:41,971 --> 00:01:43,754 His generals file past him 29 00:01:43,755 --> 00:01:46,366 for a final glimpse of their king. 30 00:01:46,367 --> 00:01:48,455 After all they've achieved, 31 00:01:48,456 --> 00:01:49,978 it's hard to believe 32 00:01:49,979 --> 00:01:53,504 that their seemingly invincible leader is dying. 33 00:01:54,766 --> 00:01:58,029 Alexander was surely the most famous person 34 00:01:58,030 --> 00:01:59,509 of ancient times. 35 00:01:59,510 --> 00:02:03,644 He was feared, he was powerful, and he could be brutal, 36 00:02:03,645 --> 00:02:07,909 but he was also highly educated and philosophical, 37 00:02:07,910 --> 00:02:11,478 and that's what made him such an interesting figure. 38 00:02:11,479 --> 00:02:12,653 Alexander the Great comes 39 00:02:12,654 --> 00:02:14,568 from the Greek kingdom of Macedonia, 40 00:02:14,569 --> 00:02:17,223 and during the fourth century BCE, 41 00:02:17,224 --> 00:02:22,141 he basically rules over all of the city-states in this area. 42 00:02:22,142 --> 00:02:24,099 The biggest arch rival of the Macedonians 43 00:02:24,100 --> 00:02:26,057 is the Persian Empire. 44 00:02:26,058 --> 00:02:28,712 At this time, the Greek city states are reeling 45 00:02:28,713 --> 00:02:32,803 from a violent attack from the Persians a few years earlier, 46 00:02:32,804 --> 00:02:36,067 and so Alexander is now out for revenge. 47 00:02:36,068 --> 00:02:37,591 His plan, 48 00:02:37,592 --> 00:02:41,464 to assemble the largest army Greece has ever seen 49 00:02:41,465 --> 00:02:44,641 and march straight into enemy territory. 50 00:02:44,642 --> 00:02:48,254 One thing that a lot of people might not realize 51 00:02:48,255 --> 00:02:50,125 is that Alexander, at least initially, 52 00:02:50,126 --> 00:02:52,083 is actually the underdog. 53 00:02:52,084 --> 00:02:54,782 Although he has a highly trained army, 54 00:02:54,783 --> 00:02:58,178 they are tiny in comparison to the Persian army. 55 00:02:59,179 --> 00:03:00,614 What Alexander has in his favor 56 00:03:00,615 --> 00:03:03,617 is that he's an expert at rallying troops 57 00:03:03,618 --> 00:03:06,576 from all across these Greek kingdoms. 58 00:03:06,577 --> 00:03:10,755 He's also someone who's a cunning military strategist. 59 00:03:12,931 --> 00:03:17,892 Alexander's army defeats Persia in 331 BCE, 60 00:03:17,893 --> 00:03:19,982 and he's just getting started. 61 00:03:20,765 --> 00:03:22,462 In 10 years, 62 00:03:22,463 --> 00:03:27,249 he conquers about two million square miles of territory. 63 00:03:27,250 --> 00:03:29,295 It is the greatest empire 64 00:03:29,296 --> 00:03:31,819 that had ever been seen at that time. 65 00:03:31,820 --> 00:03:35,692 But as Alexander conquers this vast territory, 66 00:03:35,693 --> 00:03:37,303 he changes, 67 00:03:37,304 --> 00:03:40,175 he becomes removed from his own soldiers. 68 00:03:40,176 --> 00:03:41,872 He begins to dress differently, 69 00:03:41,873 --> 00:03:45,572 wearing luxurious robes and the crown of a Persian king 70 00:03:45,573 --> 00:03:49,402 and even begins to think of himself as a God. 71 00:03:49,403 --> 00:03:51,882 But in 324 BCE, 72 00:03:51,883 --> 00:03:56,365 a tragic event brings Alexander down to earth. 73 00:03:56,366 --> 00:03:59,194 Alexander's army is marching east 74 00:03:59,195 --> 00:04:03,154 when his close friend Hephaestion falls ill. 75 00:04:03,155 --> 00:04:05,113 Now, Alexander calls his doctor 76 00:04:05,114 --> 00:04:07,942 and demands that he make Hephaestion well, 77 00:04:07,943 --> 00:04:10,858 threatening him if he doesn't. 78 00:04:10,859 --> 00:04:12,642 After about a week, 79 00:04:12,643 --> 00:04:15,166 Hephaestion rallies, he seems to be getting better. 80 00:04:15,167 --> 00:04:17,168 And when they present him with some food, 81 00:04:17,169 --> 00:04:21,434 he immediately starts going into convulsions and he dies. 82 00:04:21,435 --> 00:04:24,915 For Alexander, this tears him apart. 83 00:04:24,916 --> 00:04:27,614 He's so overcome with grief 84 00:04:27,615 --> 00:04:30,443 that he falls down on Hephaestion's body. 85 00:04:30,444 --> 00:04:33,663 He clings to his corpse for days 86 00:04:33,664 --> 00:04:36,667 until the generals manage to wrench him off. 87 00:04:37,668 --> 00:04:39,190 After the funeral, 88 00:04:39,191 --> 00:04:42,672 the Greek army continues marching west towards Babylon, 89 00:04:42,673 --> 00:04:45,501 the empire's new capital. 90 00:04:45,502 --> 00:04:48,156 But Alexander remains grief-stricken 91 00:04:48,157 --> 00:04:51,507 and now obsessed with his own mortality. 92 00:04:51,508 --> 00:04:53,553 As Alexander is returning 93 00:04:53,554 --> 00:04:56,817 to the city of Babylon, right before entering the city, 94 00:04:56,818 --> 00:05:00,299 they see ravens fighting in the sky 95 00:05:00,300 --> 00:05:03,345 and several of them drop dead right at his feet. 96 00:05:03,346 --> 00:05:05,869 Now, the actions of birds are often seen 97 00:05:05,870 --> 00:05:07,871 as an omen of future events, 98 00:05:07,872 --> 00:05:11,310 and having them fighting and dying is seen as a bad omen, 99 00:05:11,311 --> 00:05:13,095 which made him paranoid. 100 00:05:14,488 --> 00:05:15,792 He acquires a seer, 101 00:05:15,793 --> 00:05:19,100 to have an animal sacrifice performed, 102 00:05:19,101 --> 00:05:23,017 and the goal is to find out from the insides of the animal 103 00:05:23,018 --> 00:05:24,714 what your fate will be. 104 00:05:24,715 --> 00:05:27,761 Well, the seer notes that death is lurking 105 00:05:27,762 --> 00:05:32,026 for someone powerful inside Babylon, 106 00:05:32,027 --> 00:05:33,941 and Alexander is convinced 107 00:05:33,942 --> 00:05:37,510 that he's the person this omen is meant for. 108 00:05:37,511 --> 00:05:39,642 Once inside the city walls, 109 00:05:39,643 --> 00:05:43,342 Alexander seeks distraction from his growing fears. 110 00:05:43,343 --> 00:05:46,084 He finds it in alcohol. 111 00:05:47,695 --> 00:05:49,522 By the time they get to Babylon, 112 00:05:49,523 --> 00:05:52,176 the army, or at least what's left of it, 113 00:05:52,177 --> 00:05:53,743 are in a celebratory mood. 114 00:05:53,744 --> 00:05:56,485 And so we're talking about a lot of partying, 115 00:05:56,486 --> 00:05:59,575 drinking fests going on for days, weeks even, 116 00:05:59,576 --> 00:06:02,883 and Alexander is fully immersed in this. 117 00:06:02,884 --> 00:06:07,409 For the Greeks, everything was a chance to have a contest. 118 00:06:07,410 --> 00:06:08,802 The king has to be best, 119 00:06:08,803 --> 00:06:11,500 he has to be the best fighter, the best hunter, 120 00:06:11,501 --> 00:06:12,980 and he needs to be the best drinker. 121 00:06:12,981 --> 00:06:15,417 And so Alexander would get involved sometimes 122 00:06:15,418 --> 00:06:17,114 in these drinking contests, 123 00:06:17,115 --> 00:06:20,161 and they were imbibing a fair amount of alcohol. 124 00:06:20,162 --> 00:06:21,597 At one of these parties, 125 00:06:21,598 --> 00:06:25,122 Alexander consumes this massive bowl of wine, 126 00:06:25,123 --> 00:06:28,125 and almost immediately after doing so, 127 00:06:28,126 --> 00:06:31,477 he gets these acute abdominal pains, doubles over, 128 00:06:31,478 --> 00:06:33,131 and a really high fever. 129 00:06:34,611 --> 00:06:36,612 All of the advisors are beginning 130 00:06:36,613 --> 00:06:38,266 to get a little worried 131 00:06:38,267 --> 00:06:42,270 because they've just fought to create this great kingdom 132 00:06:42,271 --> 00:06:44,925 and Alexander the Great doesn't have an heir. 133 00:06:44,926 --> 00:06:48,842 And they all wanna know who's gonna take over 134 00:06:48,843 --> 00:06:52,106 in the event that Alexander dies. 135 00:06:52,107 --> 00:06:54,674 They ask him over and over again, 136 00:06:54,675 --> 00:06:56,632 "Who is gonna be your successor?" 137 00:06:56,633 --> 00:06:58,895 And for the most part, he just refuses to answer them. 138 00:06:58,896 --> 00:07:03,858 Finally, with one small breath, he says, "To the strongest." 139 00:07:04,380 --> 00:07:05,511 Not long after, 140 00:07:05,512 --> 00:07:07,904 the great conqueror dies 141 00:07:07,905 --> 00:07:10,080 without any official pronouncement 142 00:07:10,081 --> 00:07:12,169 of what did him in. 143 00:07:12,170 --> 00:07:16,086 After all these years of campaigning and severe wounds 144 00:07:16,087 --> 00:07:18,480 and all the stress and the exhaustion, 145 00:07:18,481 --> 00:07:22,832 here he makes it back to Babylon and then suddenly dies. 146 00:07:22,833 --> 00:07:25,226 One potential cause, therefore, 147 00:07:25,227 --> 00:07:28,012 might have been all that partying and drinking. 148 00:07:34,889 --> 00:07:37,804 As Alexander and his army move east, 149 00:07:37,805 --> 00:07:40,371 he becomes increasingly paranoid 150 00:07:40,372 --> 00:07:42,765 that someone might try to assassinate him. 151 00:07:42,766 --> 00:07:45,333 One of the ways that he deals with this paranoia 152 00:07:45,334 --> 00:07:47,161 is by drinking. 153 00:07:47,162 --> 00:07:48,858 Alexander's fear grows 154 00:07:48,859 --> 00:07:52,862 after an assassination attempt that involved Philotas, 155 00:07:52,863 --> 00:07:57,171 the son of Parmenio, one of his closest advisors. 156 00:07:57,172 --> 00:08:00,043 Apparently Philotas had known 157 00:08:00,044 --> 00:08:01,958 that there was a conspiracy afoot. 158 00:08:01,959 --> 00:08:03,351 He had heard rumors, 159 00:08:03,352 --> 00:08:07,355 and yet he did not report this to Alexander. 160 00:08:07,356 --> 00:08:11,533 Alexander gets wind of the assassination plot 161 00:08:11,534 --> 00:08:14,275 and he goes absolutely ballistic. 162 00:08:14,276 --> 00:08:16,582 He has Philotas killed 163 00:08:16,583 --> 00:08:19,715 and he actually has Parmenio killed too. 164 00:08:19,716 --> 00:08:22,762 And Parmenio is really an innocent bystander in this. 165 00:08:22,763 --> 00:08:24,677 It's his son, but he doesn't know anything 166 00:08:24,678 --> 00:08:26,418 about this assassination plot. 167 00:08:27,419 --> 00:08:30,073 This means that no one is safe. 168 00:08:30,074 --> 00:08:32,989 Anybody could be implicated in a conspiracy, 169 00:08:32,990 --> 00:08:34,383 anybody could be killed. 170 00:08:35,297 --> 00:08:36,732 From this point on, 171 00:08:36,733 --> 00:08:38,734 Alexander is said to experience 172 00:08:38,735 --> 00:08:42,129 uncontrollable fits of anger and remorse, 173 00:08:42,130 --> 00:08:46,046 usually followed by drinking binges that last days 174 00:08:46,047 --> 00:08:48,788 and sometimes turn deadly. 175 00:08:48,789 --> 00:08:51,312 Alexander the Great has a friend named Cleitus, 176 00:08:51,313 --> 00:08:53,053 one of his companions in battle, 177 00:08:53,054 --> 00:08:56,447 who actually saved Alexander's life several times. 178 00:08:56,448 --> 00:08:58,449 Cleitus is trying to give him some advice 179 00:08:58,450 --> 00:09:01,365 and he says, "Now that you've defeated the Persians, 180 00:09:01,366 --> 00:09:05,108 you should be following the Macedonian traditional customs 181 00:09:05,109 --> 00:09:07,284 and not these Persian customs." 182 00:09:07,285 --> 00:09:10,026 And Alexander gets so mad 183 00:09:10,027 --> 00:09:12,202 that he actually takes a pike 184 00:09:12,203 --> 00:09:15,119 and runs it through Cleitus and kills him. 185 00:09:16,251 --> 00:09:19,209 Alexander, though, is immediately distraught, 186 00:09:19,210 --> 00:09:21,255 he can't believe what he's done. 187 00:09:21,256 --> 00:09:23,692 He locks himself in his room for several days. 188 00:09:23,693 --> 00:09:25,955 He calls himself a murderer, 189 00:09:25,956 --> 00:09:28,002 feeling tremendous guilt and shame. 190 00:09:29,177 --> 00:09:30,873 Modern people would look at this and say, 191 00:09:30,874 --> 00:09:33,920 this is classic alcoholic behavior. 192 00:09:33,921 --> 00:09:36,705 We're talking about drinking leads to violence, 193 00:09:36,706 --> 00:09:38,751 leads to grief, to shame. 194 00:09:38,752 --> 00:09:40,100 He is volatile, 195 00:09:40,101 --> 00:09:41,667 he is dangerous, 196 00:09:41,668 --> 00:09:43,146 and for anyone around him, 197 00:09:43,147 --> 00:09:46,324 they risk his wrath simply by saying the wrong thing. 198 00:09:47,804 --> 00:09:51,067 Now in Babylon with little to occupy his time 199 00:09:51,068 --> 00:09:53,983 and many of his closest companions dead, 200 00:09:53,984 --> 00:09:57,987 Alexander's unrestrained drinking consumes him. 201 00:09:57,988 --> 00:10:00,294 Very few of his advisors wanna stop him 202 00:10:00,295 --> 00:10:02,296 for fear of losing their own heads, 203 00:10:02,297 --> 00:10:04,124 but his doctors do come in and say, 204 00:10:04,125 --> 00:10:07,997 "Look, you have to stop drinking alcohol here. 205 00:10:07,998 --> 00:10:09,825 Just drink some water." 206 00:10:09,826 --> 00:10:11,218 Instead of getting better, 207 00:10:11,219 --> 00:10:13,786 Alexander is spiraling downward. 208 00:10:13,787 --> 00:10:15,962 And even though he's tremendously thirsty, 209 00:10:15,963 --> 00:10:17,529 he wants more wine. 210 00:10:18,618 --> 00:10:20,706 Consuming excessive amounts of alcohol 211 00:10:20,707 --> 00:10:23,665 without ever drinking water can lead to a condition 212 00:10:23,666 --> 00:10:27,364 that's called acute necrotizing pancreatitis. 213 00:10:27,365 --> 00:10:30,367 This is a condition where the pancreas rots 214 00:10:30,368 --> 00:10:32,456 as it's overwhelmed with alcohol, 215 00:10:32,457 --> 00:10:34,197 and so this can lead to pain, 216 00:10:34,198 --> 00:10:36,286 it can lead to paralysis, 217 00:10:36,287 --> 00:10:38,288 and ultimately death. 218 00:10:38,289 --> 00:10:39,681 For many scholars, 219 00:10:39,682 --> 00:10:42,858 alcohol poisoning remains the most likely cause 220 00:10:42,859 --> 00:10:46,166 of Alexander's slow and agonizing death, 221 00:10:46,167 --> 00:10:49,691 but others say it's not so simple. 222 00:10:49,692 --> 00:10:50,997 It could have been 223 00:10:50,998 --> 00:10:53,652 that Alexander the Great drank himself to death, 224 00:10:53,653 --> 00:10:57,264 but maybe it wasn't something that Alexander did to himself, 225 00:10:57,265 --> 00:10:59,746 maybe something malicious took place. 226 00:11:04,141 --> 00:11:05,707 323 BCE. 227 00:11:05,708 --> 00:11:07,143 Alexander the Great, 228 00:11:07,144 --> 00:11:09,493 one of the ancient world's most victorious leaders, 229 00:11:09,494 --> 00:11:11,800 is dead at 32. 230 00:11:11,801 --> 00:11:14,020 As soon as the news is announced, 231 00:11:14,021 --> 00:11:17,198 accusations fly about who is responsible. 232 00:11:18,678 --> 00:11:20,635 If anyone could have seen Alexander's death coming, 233 00:11:20,636 --> 00:11:22,028 it might have been him. 234 00:11:22,029 --> 00:11:24,030 In fact, in his final years, 235 00:11:24,031 --> 00:11:26,336 he sees plots everywhere, 236 00:11:26,337 --> 00:11:29,339 and so if someone were to kill him, 237 00:11:29,340 --> 00:11:32,691 they would have to be within his very small circle 238 00:11:32,692 --> 00:11:34,258 of trusted confidants. 239 00:11:34,911 --> 00:11:40,047 Very few Macedonian kings died of old age in their beds. 240 00:11:40,308 --> 00:11:42,570 Most of them died with their boots on 241 00:11:42,571 --> 00:11:45,399 and some of them died from assassination, 242 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:50,404 so conspiracies against the king certainly weren't uncommon. 243 00:11:50,405 --> 00:11:53,799 The reality, though, is it's really hard to murder a king, 244 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:56,715 especially one who's doing everything they can 245 00:11:56,716 --> 00:12:00,457 to protect themselves from precisely that outcome. 246 00:12:00,458 --> 00:12:03,069 Even Alexander's own trusted advisors 247 00:12:03,070 --> 00:12:05,898 were having trouble accessing him. 248 00:12:05,899 --> 00:12:08,378 There's really only one person 249 00:12:08,379 --> 00:12:11,860 who would be able to get that close to him, 250 00:12:11,861 --> 00:12:14,690 that's the person who shares his bed chamber. 251 00:12:15,691 --> 00:12:17,518 While fighting n Bactria, 252 00:12:17,519 --> 00:12:20,042 near present-day Afghanistan, 253 00:12:20,043 --> 00:12:23,306 Alexander becomes infatuated with Roxana, 254 00:12:23,307 --> 00:12:26,745 the beautiful daughter of a defeated king. 255 00:12:26,746 --> 00:12:28,050 Scholars have debated 256 00:12:28,051 --> 00:12:30,618 about exactly what she means for Alexander, 257 00:12:30,619 --> 00:12:33,752 with many saying that in fact she was the love of his life. 258 00:12:33,753 --> 00:12:35,928 Alternatively, she could have just been a pawn 259 00:12:35,929 --> 00:12:38,669 in a political game to cement an alliance. 260 00:12:38,670 --> 00:12:42,935 In either case, Roxana is incredibly ruthless 261 00:12:42,936 --> 00:12:45,589 and capable in her own right. 262 00:12:45,590 --> 00:12:48,157 You have to think through her eyes for a second. 263 00:12:48,158 --> 00:12:51,900 Alexander has just defeated her father and her family, 264 00:12:51,901 --> 00:12:55,077 and now he's literally taking her as his wife, 265 00:12:55,078 --> 00:12:58,341 so she doesn't necessarily like this arrangement. 266 00:12:58,342 --> 00:13:02,476 And then he's got this best friend, Hephaestion, 267 00:13:02,477 --> 00:13:05,827 and maybe she's a little jealous of him. 268 00:13:05,828 --> 00:13:10,310 For many years, Hephaestion is Alexander's closest friend 269 00:13:10,311 --> 00:13:12,094 and probably his lover. 270 00:13:12,095 --> 00:13:15,489 And when Hephaestion falls ill, 271 00:13:15,490 --> 00:13:18,753 Alexander brings his doctors in to try to treat him, 272 00:13:18,754 --> 00:13:21,234 he gets better temporarily, 273 00:13:21,235 --> 00:13:23,627 but then when he consumes a meal, 274 00:13:23,628 --> 00:13:27,022 he suddenly convulses and dies. 275 00:13:27,023 --> 00:13:29,372 Some historians remain convinced 276 00:13:29,373 --> 00:13:33,768 that these details point to one thing, poison. 277 00:13:33,769 --> 00:13:35,291 According to some scholars, 278 00:13:35,292 --> 00:13:38,991 there was only one person in Alexander's innermost circle 279 00:13:38,992 --> 00:13:40,862 who would have had the nerve 280 00:13:40,863 --> 00:13:44,300 to have actually executed someone like Hephaestion, 281 00:13:44,301 --> 00:13:46,215 that would've been Roxana. 282 00:13:46,216 --> 00:13:49,784 She has the know-how and the access, 283 00:13:49,785 --> 00:13:53,701 and so perhaps she poisoned his friend 284 00:13:53,702 --> 00:13:56,051 to secure her position. 285 00:13:56,052 --> 00:13:58,140 If she's willing to do that, 286 00:13:58,141 --> 00:14:01,014 then what's to stop her from poisoning Alexander? 287 00:14:06,976 --> 00:14:10,283 Alexander and Roxana are very close. 288 00:14:10,284 --> 00:14:11,893 She travels with him everywhere. 289 00:14:11,894 --> 00:14:15,027 In fact, he takes her on his subsequent campaigning 290 00:14:15,028 --> 00:14:17,856 in Afghanistan and even into India. 291 00:14:17,857 --> 00:14:19,292 This is very unusual, 292 00:14:19,293 --> 00:14:23,035 this is not something Greeks and Macedonians do. 293 00:14:23,036 --> 00:14:26,473 Roxana poses another really important threat 294 00:14:26,474 --> 00:14:30,259 to the Macedonian throne in that if she becomes pregnant, 295 00:14:30,260 --> 00:14:33,654 she will produce a half-Bactrian offspring, 296 00:14:33,655 --> 00:14:37,049 which could be a real legitimacy problem 297 00:14:37,050 --> 00:14:41,401 for those who want him to have a purely Macedonian heir. 298 00:14:41,402 --> 00:14:43,229 But after the war is won 299 00:14:43,230 --> 00:14:46,145 and Alexander and his wife march home, 300 00:14:46,146 --> 00:14:49,061 their special bond begins to fray. 301 00:14:49,062 --> 00:14:50,149 On his way home, 302 00:14:50,150 --> 00:14:52,368 Alexander visits the Persian kingdom 303 00:14:52,369 --> 00:14:54,805 in order to consolidate his territory. 304 00:14:54,806 --> 00:14:56,286 While there, 305 00:14:56,373 --> 00:14:58,461 he marries the daughter of the dead Persian king, 306 00:14:58,462 --> 00:15:00,550 her name is Stateira. 307 00:15:00,551 --> 00:15:04,380 Immediately she becomes a threat to Roxana. 308 00:15:04,381 --> 00:15:08,167 Two women, both capable of producing male sons, 309 00:15:08,168 --> 00:15:12,084 one of them is gonna have her son succeed, not both. 310 00:15:12,085 --> 00:15:14,260 Some historians theorize 311 00:15:14,261 --> 00:15:18,090 that Roxana could be behind Alexander's death, 312 00:15:18,091 --> 00:15:22,181 especially if the king decides that Stateira's child, 313 00:15:22,182 --> 00:15:24,487 who is of more noble ancestry, 314 00:15:24,488 --> 00:15:28,230 should inherit the throne and not Roxana's. 315 00:15:28,231 --> 00:15:31,146 Let's remember that the progression 316 00:15:31,147 --> 00:15:35,194 of Hephaestion's symptoms and ultimate death 317 00:15:35,195 --> 00:15:37,761 are similar to Alexander's. 318 00:15:37,762 --> 00:15:40,286 If it was a poisoning, 319 00:15:40,287 --> 00:15:43,767 it's possible that the same poison may have been used 320 00:15:43,768 --> 00:15:44,987 to kill them both. 321 00:15:45,988 --> 00:15:47,771 At the time of Alexander's death, 322 00:15:47,772 --> 00:15:50,035 both these women are pregnant. 323 00:15:50,036 --> 00:15:54,300 And for women in a polygamous situation, 324 00:15:54,301 --> 00:15:56,084 their main ties are not to their husbands, 325 00:15:56,085 --> 00:15:57,651 but to their children, 326 00:15:57,652 --> 00:15:59,870 that's how they stay alive. 327 00:15:59,871 --> 00:16:00,915 According to Plutarch, 328 00:16:00,916 --> 00:16:02,612 after Alexander dies, 329 00:16:02,613 --> 00:16:05,311 Roxana sends a letter to Stateira, 330 00:16:05,312 --> 00:16:08,314 but she signs it under the name of Alexander. 331 00:16:08,315 --> 00:16:11,534 It instructs Stateira to go to Babylon. 332 00:16:11,535 --> 00:16:13,145 When she arrives, 333 00:16:13,146 --> 00:16:17,062 both her and her unborn child are immediately slaughtered 334 00:16:17,063 --> 00:16:19,281 and their bodies are thrown into a well 335 00:16:19,282 --> 00:16:21,109 and covered with earth. 336 00:16:21,110 --> 00:16:24,852 It's an epic tale of jealousy and betrayal, 337 00:16:24,853 --> 00:16:28,116 but to many it doesn't stand up to scrutiny. 338 00:16:28,117 --> 00:16:29,944 Roxana would have a lot of trouble 339 00:16:29,945 --> 00:16:32,512 going back to Greece without Alexander 340 00:16:32,513 --> 00:16:35,906 because there are many native Macedonians 341 00:16:35,907 --> 00:16:38,257 who could very easily take up the mantle 342 00:16:38,258 --> 00:16:39,736 of Alexander's kingship, 343 00:16:39,737 --> 00:16:43,914 and she would have no stake in continuing 344 00:16:43,915 --> 00:16:47,222 to represent Alexander if she was alone. 345 00:16:47,223 --> 00:16:49,572 Without the protection of Alexander, 346 00:16:49,573 --> 00:16:51,357 she's a sitting duck. 347 00:16:51,358 --> 00:16:54,882 And so once he's dead, 348 00:16:54,883 --> 00:16:59,495 it wouldn't take much for any of the rival generals 349 00:16:59,496 --> 00:17:01,803 to then turn around and have her killed. 350 00:17:06,329 --> 00:17:08,635 In 323 BCE, 351 00:17:08,636 --> 00:17:11,246 Alexander the Great rules over an empire 352 00:17:11,247 --> 00:17:13,466 that spans three continents, 353 00:17:13,467 --> 00:17:17,644 but he neglects to do one final thing before he dies, 354 00:17:17,645 --> 00:17:19,559 name a successor. 355 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:22,214 Remember, Alexander's last words 356 00:17:22,215 --> 00:17:26,653 when asked to whom did he leave his empire were, 357 00:17:26,654 --> 00:17:28,307 "To the strongest." 358 00:17:28,308 --> 00:17:31,310 So it wouldn't be a stretch to think 359 00:17:31,311 --> 00:17:34,095 that one of his close associates 360 00:17:34,096 --> 00:17:37,707 would try to be the strongest, get rid of Alexander, 361 00:17:37,708 --> 00:17:39,319 and take over the empire. 362 00:17:40,407 --> 00:17:42,016 According to several ancient sources, 363 00:17:42,017 --> 00:17:46,542 Alexander's own mother has, quote, "Sound proof" 364 00:17:46,543 --> 00:17:49,893 that somebody in Alexander's inner circle 365 00:17:49,894 --> 00:17:52,071 was trying to poison him. 366 00:17:53,768 --> 00:17:56,552 One name quickly comes under suspicion. 367 00:17:56,553 --> 00:18:00,513 If anyone out there thinks that they have rightful claim 368 00:18:00,514 --> 00:18:01,818 to Alexander's empire, 369 00:18:01,819 --> 00:18:05,170 it would be the person who is back in Greece 370 00:18:05,171 --> 00:18:07,824 essentially keeping the throne warm 371 00:18:07,825 --> 00:18:10,871 while Alexander's off on his exploits. 372 00:18:15,746 --> 00:18:17,399 While Alexander was away, 373 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,750 campaigning in Asia for some 11 years, 374 00:18:20,751 --> 00:18:24,232 he had left Greece under the watchful eye 375 00:18:24,233 --> 00:18:26,496 of a regent named Antipater. 376 00:18:27,802 --> 00:18:30,934 Antipater came to power as one of Philip II, 377 00:18:30,935 --> 00:18:33,023 Alexander's father's generals. 378 00:18:33,024 --> 00:18:34,808 Antipater, in his mind, 379 00:18:34,809 --> 00:18:38,333 has been running things for Alexander for the last 10 years. 380 00:18:38,334 --> 00:18:41,467 He should be in power if Alexander's dead. 381 00:18:41,468 --> 00:18:43,121 Alexander never saw it that way. 382 00:18:43,122 --> 00:18:45,601 In his mind, Antipater's handling of 383 00:18:45,602 --> 00:18:46,863 the Greek city-states 384 00:18:46,864 --> 00:18:49,649 is a minor issue next to this glory 385 00:18:49,650 --> 00:18:53,219 that Alexander has seized for himself in Persia. 386 00:18:54,481 --> 00:18:56,090 Antipater might have expected 387 00:18:56,091 --> 00:18:59,006 that eventually this man will fall in battle 388 00:18:59,007 --> 00:19:02,444 and that he'll have an easy path to succession. 389 00:19:02,445 --> 00:19:06,013 So when Alexander conquers Babylon and Persia 390 00:19:06,014 --> 00:19:09,451 and now is preparing to come back to Greece a victor, 391 00:19:09,452 --> 00:19:13,238 Antipater knows that his time is running out. 392 00:19:13,239 --> 00:19:17,067 The idea would be to do it while he's still away, 393 00:19:17,068 --> 00:19:19,940 maybe while he's still celebrating, while he's weak, 394 00:19:19,941 --> 00:19:22,160 while he's not paying attention, 395 00:19:22,161 --> 00:19:24,815 and so the place to do this would be Babylon. 396 00:19:25,903 --> 00:19:28,340 If Antipater is gonna make his move, 397 00:19:28,341 --> 00:19:29,776 it's gotta be now. 398 00:19:29,777 --> 00:19:31,299 And in fact, 399 00:19:31,300 --> 00:19:35,347 with Alexander drinking himself into a bloody stupor, 400 00:19:35,348 --> 00:19:36,740 now is the perfect time. 401 00:19:38,916 --> 00:19:41,179 But Antipater can't knock off his rival 402 00:19:41,180 --> 00:19:42,136 in person, 403 00:19:42,137 --> 00:19:44,530 there are too many eyes on him. 404 00:19:44,531 --> 00:19:48,447 Instead, some historians believe the general sends 405 00:19:48,448 --> 00:19:52,146 one of his sons to do his dirty work for him. 406 00:19:52,147 --> 00:19:54,801 All it will take is a dash of poison 407 00:19:54,802 --> 00:19:58,021 and Alexander never leaves Babylon. 408 00:19:58,022 --> 00:20:02,635 It's a clever plan if Antipater's son can pull it off. 409 00:20:02,636 --> 00:20:05,072 Alexander, at this point, is quite paranoid 410 00:20:05,073 --> 00:20:06,726 about conspiracies, 411 00:20:06,727 --> 00:20:08,641 so it's gonna be pretty hard 412 00:20:08,642 --> 00:20:12,559 for somebody to smuggle poison into the palace. 413 00:20:13,473 --> 00:20:14,995 In order for this to work, 414 00:20:14,996 --> 00:20:19,391 it would have to be a very small amount of a lethal poison. 415 00:20:19,392 --> 00:20:21,784 This poison would have to be so potent 416 00:20:21,785 --> 00:20:24,918 that it would do the job in one dose. 417 00:20:24,919 --> 00:20:27,094 There is an ancient poison 418 00:20:27,095 --> 00:20:29,575 that perfectly fits this description. 419 00:20:29,576 --> 00:20:34,057 Alexander has a decline that moves progressively. 420 00:20:34,058 --> 00:20:36,234 It begins with stomach pains, 421 00:20:36,235 --> 00:20:40,107 then he begins to experience a complete lack of energy. 422 00:20:40,108 --> 00:20:42,588 His heart rate slows, 423 00:20:42,589 --> 00:20:45,895 then he slips into a coma and dies. 424 00:20:45,896 --> 00:20:48,811 Scientists and historians have come up 425 00:20:48,812 --> 00:20:52,075 with one potential poison 426 00:20:52,076 --> 00:20:57,168 that seems to match what it was that Alexander suffered. 427 00:20:57,908 --> 00:21:01,607 It's a small plant called Veratrum album, 428 00:21:01,608 --> 00:21:05,045 and a little bit of this plant goes a really long way. 429 00:21:05,046 --> 00:21:10,006 All it would take would be a tiny drop of poison in his cup 430 00:21:10,007 --> 00:21:11,661 and it would all be over. 431 00:21:13,228 --> 00:21:15,098 But there's one key symptom 432 00:21:15,099 --> 00:21:17,449 Veratrum album doesn't cause, 433 00:21:17,450 --> 00:21:19,712 something mentioned in nearly every account 434 00:21:19,713 --> 00:21:21,757 of Alexander's death, 435 00:21:21,758 --> 00:21:23,542 a high fever. 436 00:21:23,543 --> 00:21:24,934 Historians theorize 437 00:21:24,935 --> 00:21:28,068 that another poison could have also been used. 438 00:21:28,069 --> 00:21:29,722 It's a little known poison 439 00:21:29,723 --> 00:21:33,029 that would account for all of Alexander's symptoms, 440 00:21:33,030 --> 00:21:36,946 it also is found along the River Styx. 441 00:21:36,947 --> 00:21:38,687 In Greek mythology, 442 00:21:38,688 --> 00:21:39,862 the River Styx, 443 00:21:39,863 --> 00:21:41,951 besides being a gateway to the underworld, 444 00:21:41,952 --> 00:21:44,606 is also the place where the God Zeus 445 00:21:44,607 --> 00:21:47,783 has all the other gods swear oaths to him. 446 00:21:47,784 --> 00:21:51,396 If they lie, he makes them drink from the River Styx 447 00:21:51,397 --> 00:21:54,137 and they can't speak, they can't move, 448 00:21:54,138 --> 00:21:55,531 they can't do anything. 449 00:21:56,837 --> 00:21:58,533 Modern toxicologists believe 450 00:21:58,534 --> 00:22:01,319 there's truth behind this legend. 451 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:04,017 The River Styx is a mythological river, 452 00:22:04,018 --> 00:22:05,758 but is often identified 453 00:22:05,759 --> 00:22:09,457 with the Mavroneri River on the Greek Peloponnese. 454 00:22:09,458 --> 00:22:12,373 And in this river there is a bacteria 455 00:22:12,374 --> 00:22:15,158 that grows there called calicheamicin, 456 00:22:15,159 --> 00:22:20,208 and when ingested can lead to paralysis and then death. 457 00:22:21,818 --> 00:22:25,430 And one of the things about calicheamicin 458 00:22:25,431 --> 00:22:28,520 is that it causes high fever. 459 00:22:28,521 --> 00:22:32,480 It would be easy to smuggle calicheamicin 460 00:22:32,481 --> 00:22:34,439 into Alexander's palace 461 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:38,051 because it's basically in the form of water, 462 00:22:38,052 --> 00:22:40,270 and so bringing in a jug of water 463 00:22:40,271 --> 00:22:42,448 would be completely above suspicion. 464 00:22:43,274 --> 00:22:46,538 There's no definitive smoking gun evidence 465 00:22:46,539 --> 00:22:47,887 that it was Antipater, 466 00:22:47,888 --> 00:22:51,412 but his actions after Alexander's death 467 00:22:51,413 --> 00:22:54,720 do suggest a certain amount of ruthlessness. 468 00:22:54,721 --> 00:22:57,287 In addition to immediately 469 00:22:57,288 --> 00:22:58,941 consolidating his hold on Greece, 470 00:22:58,942 --> 00:23:04,077 he also summons Roxana and her son back to him, 471 00:23:04,078 --> 00:23:06,514 throws them in a dungeon, 472 00:23:06,515 --> 00:23:10,083 and ultimately, his henchman murder them. 473 00:23:10,084 --> 00:23:13,260 Not everyone agrees that Antipater would risk 474 00:23:13,261 --> 00:23:15,871 sending his son and heir to the banquet, 475 00:23:15,872 --> 00:23:20,180 especially considering that Alexander deeply mistrusts him. 476 00:23:20,181 --> 00:23:23,357 All of our major sources on Alexander's death 477 00:23:23,358 --> 00:23:26,839 acknowledge this rumor that Antipater is somehow involved, 478 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:30,364 but it's very difficult to disentangle 479 00:23:30,365 --> 00:23:32,061 what is the truth and what isn't 480 00:23:32,062 --> 00:23:36,065 because the struggles between Alexander's generals 481 00:23:36,066 --> 00:23:39,678 in the division of his empire following his death. 482 00:23:39,679 --> 00:23:41,636 In the successor wars, 483 00:23:41,637 --> 00:23:44,117 it got so incredibly nasty. 484 00:23:44,118 --> 00:23:47,294 You wanted to blacken the name of your opponents, 485 00:23:47,295 --> 00:23:51,254 and so this appears to have been a story that is fostered 486 00:23:51,255 --> 00:23:53,867 by another side in this fight. 487 00:23:59,089 --> 00:24:00,047 While the citizens of Greece are shocked 488 00:24:00,177 --> 00:24:01,917 by Alexander the Great's sudden death, 489 00:24:01,918 --> 00:24:04,746 the king had feared it for years. 490 00:24:04,747 --> 00:24:09,011 By the time he arrives in Babylon in 323 BCE, 491 00:24:09,012 --> 00:24:11,144 Alexander is so paranoid 492 00:24:11,145 --> 00:24:13,929 that the list of people who can get close to him 493 00:24:13,930 --> 00:24:15,627 is very short. 494 00:24:15,628 --> 00:24:19,065 At the top of that list is his most trusted friend, 495 00:24:19,066 --> 00:24:22,372 and some say the man with the most to gain 496 00:24:22,373 --> 00:24:24,811 by getting his king out of the way. 497 00:24:26,073 --> 00:24:29,292 One of Alexander's closest associates is Ptolemy. 498 00:24:29,293 --> 00:24:31,207 He had grown up with Alexander, 499 00:24:31,208 --> 00:24:34,210 been educated with him, trained with him, 500 00:24:34,211 --> 00:24:38,519 and he was there by his side through the whole campaign. 501 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:41,740 This was a general that Alexander trusted, 502 00:24:41,741 --> 00:24:45,047 he was essentially his right-hand man. 503 00:24:45,048 --> 00:24:47,354 So maybe Ptolemy is thinking to himself, 504 00:24:47,355 --> 00:24:50,183 if anybody's gonna take over, it's gonna be me. 505 00:24:50,184 --> 00:24:52,011 Alexander treats him like a brother, 506 00:24:52,012 --> 00:24:56,885 so if he's the one who's behind this suspicious death, 507 00:24:56,886 --> 00:25:00,149 Alexander would never have even seen it coming. 508 00:25:04,807 --> 00:25:08,114 Ptolemy's insider knowledge of future campaigns 509 00:25:08,115 --> 00:25:12,771 may give him a strong motive for ending Alexander's reign. 510 00:25:12,772 --> 00:25:15,556 After a decade of relentless war, 511 00:25:15,557 --> 00:25:18,646 Ptolemy and his army have had enough. 512 00:25:18,647 --> 00:25:20,648 Alexander and his men saw everything 513 00:25:20,649 --> 00:25:24,434 you could possibly imagine over the course of this decade, 514 00:25:24,435 --> 00:25:28,351 arid desert, famine, monsoons, 515 00:25:28,352 --> 00:25:30,571 winter in the mountains, 516 00:25:30,572 --> 00:25:32,834 and it would have worn these men down 517 00:25:32,835 --> 00:25:35,358 to an unimaginable degree. 518 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:37,578 Once they get to India, 519 00:25:37,579 --> 00:25:39,754 Alexander wants to keep going, 520 00:25:39,755 --> 00:25:41,539 but his men have other ideas. 521 00:25:41,540 --> 00:25:44,933 In fact, they mutiny, refusing to go further. 522 00:25:44,934 --> 00:25:48,502 In a rage, Alexander says he's just gonna leave them behind. 523 00:25:48,503 --> 00:25:50,199 If they don't follow him, 524 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:53,377 he's gonna keep going and take all of the glory for himself. 525 00:25:54,683 --> 00:25:56,771 Once Alexander realizes that even his 526 00:25:56,772 --> 00:25:58,947 own generals don't want to continue the campaign, 527 00:25:58,948 --> 00:26:01,559 he retreats into his tent for three days. 528 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:03,691 When he comes back out, 529 00:26:03,692 --> 00:26:06,520 he tells everyone that he's communicated with the gods 530 00:26:06,521 --> 00:26:11,438 and they have told him that it is unwise to advance further. 531 00:26:11,439 --> 00:26:14,267 Of course, this allows Alexander to save face. 532 00:26:14,268 --> 00:26:17,009 He doesn't have to say, well, I gave into the troops, 533 00:26:17,010 --> 00:26:19,707 they made me turn back, 534 00:26:19,708 --> 00:26:22,276 no, it was the gods who did this. 535 00:26:23,843 --> 00:26:25,670 So now they're back in Babylon. 536 00:26:25,671 --> 00:26:27,715 They've conquered everything that you can, 537 00:26:27,716 --> 00:26:29,369 all of Western Asia. 538 00:26:29,370 --> 00:26:33,286 They've watched a lot of their friends, their comrades, die 539 00:26:33,287 --> 00:26:34,809 and they wanna go home. 540 00:26:34,810 --> 00:26:36,768 Unfortunately for his soldiers, 541 00:26:36,769 --> 00:26:38,770 Alexander is not finished. 542 00:26:38,771 --> 00:26:40,728 He doesn't want to just go home, 543 00:26:40,729 --> 00:26:43,513 he wants to embark on another huge campaign, 544 00:26:43,514 --> 00:26:46,168 he wants to invade Arabia, 545 00:26:46,169 --> 00:26:49,303 and no one is particularly eager to do that. 546 00:26:50,783 --> 00:26:55,308 It might be at this point that a man like Ptolemy steps in 547 00:26:55,309 --> 00:26:58,964 if only to save the army from the commander. 548 00:26:58,965 --> 00:27:00,922 Already the men are broken, 549 00:27:00,923 --> 00:27:02,576 they don't wanna move on, 550 00:27:02,577 --> 00:27:04,143 but Alexander does. 551 00:27:04,144 --> 00:27:07,147 This is the time to put a stop to all of this. 552 00:27:08,844 --> 00:27:11,672 So the idea would be that maybe Ptolemy used a poison 553 00:27:11,673 --> 00:27:13,848 that wasn't super potent, 554 00:27:13,849 --> 00:27:17,112 but that killed over a longer period of time. 555 00:27:17,113 --> 00:27:20,289 And a poison that acted in this way 556 00:27:20,290 --> 00:27:23,642 that was readily available is arsenic. 557 00:27:25,513 --> 00:27:27,470 Arsenic is found in soil and rock 558 00:27:27,471 --> 00:27:29,603 all over the world. 559 00:27:29,604 --> 00:27:32,519 It's tasteless and it's odorless. 560 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:36,305 It's a poison that works in a very generalized manner 561 00:27:36,306 --> 00:27:37,742 across the body, 562 00:27:37,743 --> 00:27:41,093 and so people will see physical symptoms, 563 00:27:41,094 --> 00:27:45,401 but not necessarily be able to trace it to one cause. 564 00:27:45,402 --> 00:27:46,925 An interesting thing about arsenic 565 00:27:46,926 --> 00:27:49,101 is that it gets into the tissues 566 00:27:49,102 --> 00:27:52,582 and it slows the process of decomposition. 567 00:27:52,583 --> 00:27:55,585 And one thing that the ancient sources say 568 00:27:55,586 --> 00:28:00,155 is that Alexander's body took a very long time to decay. 569 00:28:00,156 --> 00:28:03,158 But one has to wonder whether Ptolemy, 570 00:28:03,159 --> 00:28:06,988 who is obviously traveling on campaign like Alexander 571 00:28:06,989 --> 00:28:10,165 in much greater comfort than an ordinary soldier, 572 00:28:10,166 --> 00:28:12,167 would've murdered his friend 573 00:28:12,168 --> 00:28:15,780 just because the army had lost the will to fight. 574 00:28:15,781 --> 00:28:17,912 Ancient historians suggest 575 00:28:17,913 --> 00:28:20,219 that a more personal motivation 576 00:28:20,220 --> 00:28:24,702 may be behind Ptolemy's desire to kill his king. 577 00:28:24,703 --> 00:28:27,008 Alexander has never named a successor, 578 00:28:27,009 --> 00:28:29,532 and there's a question of who is going to follow him 579 00:28:29,533 --> 00:28:32,753 if anything happens to him on the field of battle. 580 00:28:32,754 --> 00:28:35,538 Ptolemy might well have wanted to ensure 581 00:28:35,539 --> 00:28:38,628 that he was the person who would take over. 582 00:28:38,629 --> 00:28:40,587 Some believe Ptolemy's actions 583 00:28:40,588 --> 00:28:43,285 immediately after Alexander's death 584 00:28:43,286 --> 00:28:47,420 suggest he played a role in the king's demise. 585 00:28:47,421 --> 00:28:49,291 The body of Alexander becomes 586 00:28:49,292 --> 00:28:52,164 a really important ideological tool, 587 00:28:52,165 --> 00:28:57,125 and so his successors fight over his body as a way to show 588 00:28:57,126 --> 00:29:00,520 that they are the real chosen heir of Alexander. 589 00:29:00,521 --> 00:29:03,566 Ptolemy is the first one to hijack the body 590 00:29:03,567 --> 00:29:06,352 and take it with him to Egypt. 591 00:29:06,353 --> 00:29:08,876 By bringing Alexander's body to Egypt, 592 00:29:08,877 --> 00:29:11,749 Ptolemy is being quite shrewd politically. 593 00:29:11,750 --> 00:29:14,055 This legitimizes not only his reign in Egypt, 594 00:29:14,056 --> 00:29:17,755 but perhaps a claim to Alexander's entire empire 595 00:29:17,756 --> 00:29:20,235 as the rightful successor. 596 00:29:20,236 --> 00:29:23,543 It also is a convenient way to control the body 597 00:29:23,544 --> 00:29:26,067 and thus preclude any possibility 598 00:29:26,068 --> 00:29:28,896 of people noticing any suspicious signs 599 00:29:28,897 --> 00:29:30,811 of arsenic poisoning, 600 00:29:30,812 --> 00:29:33,945 if that's indeed what Ptolemy did. 601 00:29:33,946 --> 00:29:37,383 Not everyone is on board with this theory. 602 00:29:37,384 --> 00:29:40,995 Many scholars contend that Ptolemy has more to gain 603 00:29:40,996 --> 00:29:43,955 with Alexander alive than dead. 604 00:29:43,956 --> 00:29:48,307 Alexander is leading the army and Ptolemy has his ear. 605 00:29:48,308 --> 00:29:50,135 There's no clear succession plan, 606 00:29:50,136 --> 00:29:52,354 and so if Ptolemy were to plot his death, 607 00:29:52,355 --> 00:29:54,008 he would have no way of knowing 608 00:29:54,009 --> 00:29:57,185 whether he would end up being the successor. 609 00:29:57,186 --> 00:30:00,841 Why take the risk of assassinating Alexander 610 00:30:00,842 --> 00:30:03,191 when he could have simply succeeded him 611 00:30:03,192 --> 00:30:06,456 had Alexander died of other unusual causes? 612 00:30:10,721 --> 00:30:12,070 After Alexander the Great ends 613 00:30:12,071 --> 00:30:13,506 his military campaign, 614 00:30:13,507 --> 00:30:17,423 he seems eager to regain the trust of his troops. 615 00:30:17,424 --> 00:30:21,601 Some historians wonder if this desire may be behind 616 00:30:21,602 --> 00:30:24,343 his untimely sickness and death. 617 00:30:24,344 --> 00:30:26,519 When Alexander gets to Babylon, 618 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:30,349 he decides he's gonna make this his new capital. 619 00:30:30,350 --> 00:30:34,266 For one, it's this famous city in the east, 620 00:30:34,267 --> 00:30:37,269 two, it's much closer to all of this land 621 00:30:37,270 --> 00:30:39,575 that he's just conquered. 622 00:30:39,576 --> 00:30:43,928 Babylon is 2,000 years old at this time. 623 00:30:43,929 --> 00:30:45,886 It's a wonderful city, 624 00:30:45,887 --> 00:30:50,238 but it is also cramped and in drastic need of renovation, 625 00:30:50,239 --> 00:30:54,068 and so Alexander immediately inspects the defenses 626 00:30:54,069 --> 00:30:56,592 to make sure they are secure. 627 00:30:56,593 --> 00:30:57,898 As a leader of men, 628 00:30:57,899 --> 00:31:00,074 he wants to be close to his soldiers, 629 00:31:00,075 --> 00:31:02,120 so he goes out there on inspections 630 00:31:02,121 --> 00:31:04,644 and he shows his soldiers that he's not above them, 631 00:31:04,645 --> 00:31:07,125 that he's willing to get his hands dirty. 632 00:31:07,126 --> 00:31:09,954 Military camps have long been known 633 00:31:09,955 --> 00:31:14,393 as breeding grounds for all kinds of diseases. 634 00:31:14,394 --> 00:31:15,698 In the Old Testament, 635 00:31:15,699 --> 00:31:17,787 there's a story about a Mesopotamian king 636 00:31:17,788 --> 00:31:20,921 who lays siege to the city of Jerusalem 637 00:31:20,922 --> 00:31:24,316 until a plague breaks out in his camp, 638 00:31:24,317 --> 00:31:26,622 and suddenly the soldiers are thrown into disarray 639 00:31:26,623 --> 00:31:29,234 and they stagger back home. 640 00:31:29,235 --> 00:31:32,454 It makes sense that if Alexander is out there 641 00:31:32,455 --> 00:31:34,717 walking around in the city, 642 00:31:34,718 --> 00:31:36,676 getting really close to people, 643 00:31:36,677 --> 00:31:40,506 that he would've been exposed to very unsanitary conditions, 644 00:31:40,507 --> 00:31:43,813 the precise conditions that would've given rise 645 00:31:43,814 --> 00:31:47,121 to some sort of terrible illness. 646 00:31:52,736 --> 00:31:55,042 History's earliest mention of an epidemic 647 00:31:55,043 --> 00:31:58,480 actually comes from a Mesopotamian tablet. 648 00:31:58,481 --> 00:32:01,005 It's a medical record that lists the cause of death 649 00:32:01,006 --> 00:32:02,963 of the people on the tablet, 650 00:32:02,964 --> 00:32:05,705 and it uses a word that most scholars translate 651 00:32:05,706 --> 00:32:08,969 to either be plague or pestilence. 652 00:32:08,970 --> 00:32:11,624 In Alexander's home country of Greece, 653 00:32:11,625 --> 00:32:14,409 there was a plague that is believed 654 00:32:14,410 --> 00:32:16,324 to have originated in Ethiopia, 655 00:32:16,325 --> 00:32:18,631 and it was carried to Athens on ships 656 00:32:18,632 --> 00:32:22,200 and it killed about 1/3 of the entire population. 657 00:32:22,201 --> 00:32:25,072 Some scholars think that this might have been a variant 658 00:32:25,073 --> 00:32:26,639 to bubonic plague. 659 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:29,859 Others think that this might have been typhus or measles, 660 00:32:29,860 --> 00:32:32,037 both of which were incurable in this period. 661 00:32:33,168 --> 00:32:35,126 But there's a more likely killer 662 00:32:35,127 --> 00:32:38,259 hiding in Alexander's military camps. 663 00:32:38,260 --> 00:32:40,522 Today, the area around the city of Babylon 664 00:32:40,523 --> 00:32:42,394 is this dry, arid desert, 665 00:32:42,395 --> 00:32:45,266 but in Alexander's time, it would've been this marshland 666 00:32:45,267 --> 00:32:48,356 that was a breeding ground for mosquitoes. 667 00:32:48,357 --> 00:32:50,837 Some epidemiologists have suggested 668 00:32:50,838 --> 00:32:54,841 that the true killer might have been West Nile virus. 669 00:32:54,842 --> 00:32:56,712 In very marshy conditions, 670 00:32:56,713 --> 00:32:59,411 West Nile virus is rife 671 00:32:59,412 --> 00:33:03,676 and it infects mosquitoes, but also birds. 672 00:33:03,677 --> 00:33:08,420 And we know from the sources that Alexander saw ravens 673 00:33:08,421 --> 00:33:10,161 that were fighting with one another 674 00:33:10,162 --> 00:33:13,512 and then they just collapsed dead at his feet, 675 00:33:13,513 --> 00:33:17,646 so they may have been infected with West Nile virus. 676 00:33:17,647 --> 00:33:20,171 It's possible that these waterborne mosquitoes 677 00:33:20,172 --> 00:33:23,087 contract the disease from these ravens, 678 00:33:23,088 --> 00:33:24,566 and it's only a matter of time 679 00:33:24,567 --> 00:33:27,309 before it transfers to the human population. 680 00:33:28,484 --> 00:33:30,050 What's interesting about West Nile virus 681 00:33:30,051 --> 00:33:32,400 is that its symptoms mimic very closely 682 00:33:32,401 --> 00:33:34,141 what Alexander's symptoms were, 683 00:33:34,142 --> 00:33:37,231 so headaches, problems with breathing, 684 00:33:37,232 --> 00:33:39,539 respiratory distress, and fever. 685 00:33:40,888 --> 00:33:42,715 Mosquitoes also carry 686 00:33:42,716 --> 00:33:44,630 an even more lethal threat, 687 00:33:44,631 --> 00:33:47,633 one of human history's greatest mass murderers. 688 00:33:47,634 --> 00:33:52,116 At one time, people speculated that malaria had killed 689 00:33:52,117 --> 00:33:56,076 almost half the human beings who had ever lived. 690 00:33:56,077 --> 00:33:58,252 While recent reevaluations have said 691 00:33:58,253 --> 00:34:01,386 that statistic is probably a bit overblown, 692 00:34:01,387 --> 00:34:04,606 malaria is still one of the biggest killers 693 00:34:04,607 --> 00:34:06,348 of humans throughout history. 694 00:34:07,654 --> 00:34:10,395 Ancient texts from Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece 695 00:34:10,396 --> 00:34:14,355 have described illnesses that have malaria-like symptoms. 696 00:34:14,356 --> 00:34:16,444 And more recent studies have even shown 697 00:34:16,445 --> 00:34:19,273 that malaria was present in these populations 698 00:34:19,274 --> 00:34:21,971 at the time of Alexander the Great. 699 00:34:21,972 --> 00:34:24,278 While there are four types of malaria, 700 00:34:24,279 --> 00:34:27,673 only one, falciparum, is especially fatal. 701 00:34:27,674 --> 00:34:30,589 The parasites develop silently in the liver 702 00:34:30,590 --> 00:34:32,156 until they mature, 703 00:34:32,157 --> 00:34:35,985 and then they multiply and invade the red blood cells. 704 00:34:35,986 --> 00:34:38,988 The trajectory of the disease closely mirrors 705 00:34:38,989 --> 00:34:41,252 the account of Alexander's decline, 706 00:34:41,253 --> 00:34:43,471 and ultimately, his death. 707 00:34:43,472 --> 00:34:46,039 Alexander dies in late May, 708 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:50,130 and mosquitoes are most active during this period 709 00:34:50,131 --> 00:34:52,307 of the late spring and the early summer. 710 00:34:53,656 --> 00:34:56,223 When you consider the incubation period of malaria 711 00:34:56,224 --> 00:34:57,485 of one to two weeks, 712 00:34:57,486 --> 00:34:59,096 that would fit with the timeline 713 00:34:59,097 --> 00:35:01,402 with Alexander inspecting these camps, 714 00:35:01,403 --> 00:35:05,276 possibly even boating in the marshes. 715 00:35:05,277 --> 00:35:06,538 Writings of the time also say 716 00:35:06,539 --> 00:35:08,931 that as Alexander becomes sick, 717 00:35:08,932 --> 00:35:11,934 his sleep patterns are thrown way off, 718 00:35:11,935 --> 00:35:14,372 and this is a symptom that's also consistent 719 00:35:14,373 --> 00:35:16,678 with falciparum malaria. 720 00:35:16,679 --> 00:35:18,680 Additionally, malaria causes 721 00:35:18,681 --> 00:35:21,727 stabbing back pain, delirium. 722 00:35:21,728 --> 00:35:24,295 Both of those are things that Alexander suffers from 723 00:35:24,296 --> 00:35:26,906 in his final days. 724 00:35:26,907 --> 00:35:28,168 We also know 725 00:35:28,169 --> 00:35:31,084 that Alexander is susceptible to malaria 726 00:35:31,085 --> 00:35:34,305 as he most likely caught it once before. 727 00:35:34,306 --> 00:35:37,743 The ancient records show that when Alexander was 23, 728 00:35:37,744 --> 00:35:40,354 he did contract malaria, 729 00:35:40,355 --> 00:35:42,356 but he was young, he was healthy. 730 00:35:42,357 --> 00:35:45,316 And so after two months of bedrest, 731 00:35:45,317 --> 00:35:49,755 he recovered and went on to become Alexander the Great. 732 00:35:49,756 --> 00:35:51,235 10 years later, 733 00:35:51,236 --> 00:35:55,326 after fighting all these battles, accumulation of wounds, 734 00:35:55,327 --> 00:35:56,979 excessive drinking, 735 00:35:56,980 --> 00:35:59,895 it's possible that Alexander's body was not able 736 00:35:59,896 --> 00:36:03,551 to fight off the disease in the way that it had before, 737 00:36:03,552 --> 00:36:05,250 and he ultimately succumbed to it. 738 00:36:09,645 --> 00:36:11,080 Before Alexander the Great dies, 739 00:36:11,081 --> 00:36:14,171 he leaves three odd instructions for his funeral. 740 00:36:14,172 --> 00:36:18,697 One, that his unsuccessful doctors carry his coffin. 741 00:36:18,698 --> 00:36:21,526 Two, that his earthly treasures be scattered 742 00:36:21,527 --> 00:36:23,484 along the way to his grave. 743 00:36:23,485 --> 00:36:28,446 And three, that his hand swings free from his coffin. 744 00:36:28,447 --> 00:36:30,404 Alexander could be saying, 745 00:36:30,405 --> 00:36:33,146 "Look, I'm mortal, I'm dying, 746 00:36:33,147 --> 00:36:35,017 all of the best doctors couldn't save me, 747 00:36:35,018 --> 00:36:36,976 I'm not taking anything with me. 748 00:36:36,977 --> 00:36:39,588 Nobody could defeat me, only death itself." 749 00:36:40,807 --> 00:36:43,417 Despite the oppressive Mesopotamian heat, 750 00:36:43,418 --> 00:36:47,247 his body doesn't decompose in a normal way. 751 00:36:47,248 --> 00:36:48,640 And so in fact, 752 00:36:48,641 --> 00:36:53,254 his followers increasingly see him as a God. 753 00:36:55,125 --> 00:36:57,953 Alexander had actually been proclaimed a God 754 00:36:57,954 --> 00:37:01,566 by Oracles in Greece and in Egypt. 755 00:37:01,567 --> 00:37:03,481 And so as someone divine, 756 00:37:03,482 --> 00:37:05,178 many people would've imagined 757 00:37:05,179 --> 00:37:09,530 that perhaps his body would have never rotted or decayed, 758 00:37:09,531 --> 00:37:13,795 that it would in fact have been preserved eternally. 759 00:37:13,796 --> 00:37:15,493 But a recent theory suggests 760 00:37:15,494 --> 00:37:19,845 that what these mourners are witnessing is no miracle. 761 00:37:19,846 --> 00:37:23,109 According to this recent 2018 theory 762 00:37:23,110 --> 00:37:25,329 from a New Zealand researcher, 763 00:37:25,330 --> 00:37:28,767 Alexander was not mummified magically, 764 00:37:28,768 --> 00:37:31,857 but was in fact trapped in his body, 765 00:37:31,858 --> 00:37:35,818 unable to speak or even indicate that he was still alive. 766 00:37:41,998 --> 00:37:45,827 Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder. 767 00:37:45,828 --> 00:37:49,309 It essentially causes the body to be paralyzed, 768 00:37:49,310 --> 00:37:51,703 even as the mind is still active. 769 00:37:51,704 --> 00:37:55,402 The exact cause of this disorder is actually unknown, 770 00:37:55,403 --> 00:37:58,579 but interestingly, scientists have traced it back 771 00:37:58,580 --> 00:38:02,191 to a particular bacterium called campylobacter. 772 00:38:02,192 --> 00:38:04,890 It's often in uncooked poultry, 773 00:38:04,891 --> 00:38:06,892 and if it's ingested, 774 00:38:06,893 --> 00:38:10,983 then it multiplies and it ends up attacking the brain. 775 00:38:10,984 --> 00:38:13,377 The syndrome progresses slowly. 776 00:38:13,378 --> 00:38:16,728 It first begins with just a lack of energy, 777 00:38:16,729 --> 00:38:20,209 and then some sleep aberrations, 778 00:38:20,210 --> 00:38:23,561 but then you begin to get numbness in the limbs, 779 00:38:23,562 --> 00:38:26,781 which eventually develops into paralysis. 780 00:38:26,782 --> 00:38:29,393 If the body is unable to fight off the disease, 781 00:38:29,394 --> 00:38:31,395 then the brainstem begins to fail. 782 00:38:31,396 --> 00:38:33,092 Heartbeat is going to slow, 783 00:38:33,093 --> 00:38:35,355 respiration is going to slow, 784 00:38:35,356 --> 00:38:38,576 almost to the point of people thinking that they're gone. 785 00:38:38,577 --> 00:38:41,405 If this is what happened to Alexander the Great, 786 00:38:41,406 --> 00:38:44,059 then what all of the ancient doctors would've seen 787 00:38:44,060 --> 00:38:46,410 was a dead individual, 788 00:38:46,411 --> 00:38:50,589 but actually Alexander would've been in a deep, deep coma. 789 00:38:51,938 --> 00:38:54,418 This could explain why Alexander's body 790 00:38:54,419 --> 00:38:57,638 doesn't decompose for almost a week. 791 00:38:57,639 --> 00:39:01,381 We don't know for sure whether the mind is conscious 792 00:39:01,382 --> 00:39:04,166 or simply functioning on a low level. 793 00:39:04,167 --> 00:39:07,909 However, those infected could actually stay alive 794 00:39:07,910 --> 00:39:09,302 for several days, 795 00:39:09,303 --> 00:39:11,914 even though it appears that they're dead. 796 00:39:13,002 --> 00:39:15,569 Imagine if Guillain-Barre syndrome 797 00:39:15,570 --> 00:39:18,224 is what Alexander suffered from. 798 00:39:18,225 --> 00:39:23,185 He may well have still been alive and conscious 799 00:39:23,186 --> 00:39:26,580 and witnessing his own funeral. 800 00:39:26,581 --> 00:39:28,147 Eventually, 801 00:39:28,148 --> 00:39:31,411 Alexander's brainstem would stop working completely, 802 00:39:31,412 --> 00:39:33,675 this is when true death occurs. 803 00:39:34,676 --> 00:39:36,242 With Guillain-Barre syndrome, 804 00:39:36,243 --> 00:39:40,028 one is comatose, but still alive, 805 00:39:40,029 --> 00:39:41,813 potentially for almost a week. 806 00:39:41,814 --> 00:39:43,249 And after six days, 807 00:39:43,250 --> 00:39:46,645 Alexander's body does finally start to decompose. 808 00:39:47,689 --> 00:39:49,777 After Alexander's funeral, 809 00:39:49,778 --> 00:39:54,260 his vast kingdom that he worked so hard to build up 810 00:39:54,261 --> 00:39:57,481 immediately begins to fracture. 811 00:39:57,482 --> 00:40:00,135 Individual territories start rebelling 812 00:40:00,136 --> 00:40:01,615 in the vacuum of power. 813 00:40:01,616 --> 00:40:04,183 His generals, wanting to seize control, 814 00:40:04,184 --> 00:40:06,185 begin fighting with one another. 815 00:40:06,186 --> 00:40:09,188 And many different parts of the empire will collapse 816 00:40:09,189 --> 00:40:10,495 within a few decades. 817 00:40:12,410 --> 00:40:15,847 Alexander did more in 10 years 818 00:40:15,848 --> 00:40:18,327 than other people do in lifetimes. 819 00:40:18,328 --> 00:40:20,068 It wouldn't be until the Roman Empire 820 00:40:20,069 --> 00:40:21,983 that you would ever see an empire as large, 821 00:40:21,984 --> 00:40:24,899 and that took hundreds of years. 822 00:40:24,900 --> 00:40:26,161 Alexander was more than 823 00:40:26,162 --> 00:40:28,163 just a great military conquer. 824 00:40:28,164 --> 00:40:30,601 By unifying three continents, 825 00:40:30,602 --> 00:40:33,821 Europe, parts of Africa, parts of Asia, 826 00:40:33,822 --> 00:40:36,563 it resulted in a mixing of cultures 827 00:40:36,564 --> 00:40:39,218 that changed the course of history. 828 00:40:39,219 --> 00:40:41,699 Nobody has been able to accomplish something 829 00:40:41,700 --> 00:40:44,658 like this either before or since Alexander, 830 00:40:44,659 --> 00:40:48,446 and he did all this before the age of 32. 831 00:40:52,580 --> 00:40:54,668 Alexander the Great is regarded 832 00:40:54,669 --> 00:40:58,759 as one of history's most successful military leaders. 833 00:40:58,760 --> 00:41:03,024 He has inspired everyone from Julius Caesar to Genghis Khan 834 00:41:03,025 --> 00:41:05,549 and Napoleon Bonaparte. 835 00:41:05,550 --> 00:41:06,854 Even today, 836 00:41:06,855 --> 00:41:09,857 Alexander's brilliant war strategies are studied 837 00:41:09,858 --> 00:41:12,425 at West Point Military Academy, 838 00:41:12,426 --> 00:41:17,299 but how this iconic leader died remains a perplexing riddle 839 00:41:17,300 --> 00:41:18,476 yet to be solved. 840 00:41:19,302 --> 00:41:20,912 I'm Laurence Fishburne. 841 00:41:20,913 --> 00:41:24,917 Thank you for watching History's Greatest Mysteries.