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according to the traditions of his family； the blood of Achilles actually ran in the veins of Alexander； ＇His mother Olympias was the daughter of Neoptolemus； king of Epirus who claimed descent from Pyrrhus； the son of Achilles。＇ and Lysimachus nourished the feeling which that circumstance was calculated to awaken by giving him the name of that hero； whilst he called Philip Peleus； and himself Phoenix。 But the most striking feature in Alexander's education was； that he had Aristotle for his teacher； and that thus the greatest conqueror of the material world received the instructions of him who has exercised the most extensive empire over the human intellect。 It was probably at about the age of thirteen that he first received the lessons of Aristotle； and they can hardly have continued more than three years； for Alexander soon left the schools for the employments of active life。 At the age of sixteen we find him regent of Macedonia during Philip's absence； and at eighteen we have seen him filling a prominent military post at the battle of Chaeronea。
On succeeding to the throne Alexander announced his intention of prosecuting his father's expedition into Asia； but it was first necessary for him to settle the affairs of Greece； where the news of Philip's assassination； and the accession of so young a prince； had excited in several states a hope of shaking off the Macedonian yoke。 Athens was the centre of these movements。 Demosthenes； although in mourning for the recent loss of an only daughter； now came abroad dressed in white； and crowned with a chaplet； in which attire he was seen sacrificing at one of the public altars。 He also moved a decree that Philip's death should be celebrated by a public thanksgiving； and that religious honours should be paid to the memory of Pausanias。 At the same time he made vigorous preparations for action。 He despatched envoys to the principal Grecian states for the purpose of inciting them against Macedon。 Sparta； and the whole Peloponnesus； with the exception of Megalopolis and Messenia； seemed inclined to shake off their compulsory alliance。 Even the Thebans rose against the dominant oligarchy； although the Cadmea was in the hands of the Macedonians。
The activity of Alexander disconcerted all these movements。 Having marched through Thessaly； he assembled the Amphictyonic council at Thermopylae； who conferred upon him the command with which they had invested his father during the Sacred War。 He then advanced rapidly upon Thebes； and thus prevented the meditated revolution； The Athenians sent ambassadors to deprecate his wrath； who were graciously accepted。 He then convened a general congress at Corinth； where he was appointed generalissimo for the Persian war in place of his father。 Most of the philosophers and persons of note near Corinth came to congratulate him on this occasion； but Diognes of Sinope who was then living in one of the suburbs of Corinth； did not make his appearance。 Alexander therefore resolved to pay a visit to the eccentric cynic； whom he found basking in the sun。 On the approach of Alexander with a numerous retinue； Diogenes raised himself up a little； and the monarch affably inquired how he could serve him？ 〃By standing out of my sunshine；〃 replied the churlish philosopher。 Alexander was stung with surprise at a behaviour to which he was so little accustomed； but whilst his courtiers were ridiculing the manners of the cynic； he turned to them and said； 〃Were I not Alexander； I should like to be Diogenes。〃
The result of the Congress might be considered a settlement of the affairs of Greece。 Alexander then returned to Macedonia in the hope of being able to begin his Persian expedition in the spring of B。C。 335； but reports of disturbances among the Thracians and Triballians diverted his attention to that quarter。 He therefore crossed Mount Haemus （the Balkan） and marched into the territory of the Triballians； defeated their forces； and pursued them to the Danube； which he crossed。 After acquiring a large booty he regained the banks of the Danube； and thence marched against the Illyrians and Taulantians； whom he speedily reduced to obedience。
During Alexander's absence on these expeditions no tidings were heard of him for a considerable time； and a report of his death was industriously spread in Southern Greece。 The Thebans rose and besieged the Macedonian garrison in the Cadmea； at the same time inviting other states to declare their independence。 Demosthenes was active in aiding the movement。 He persuaded the Athenians to furnish the Thebans with subsidies and to assure them of their support and alliance。 But the rapidity of Alexander again crushed the insurrection in the bud。 Before the Thebans discovered that the report of his death was false he had already arrived at Onchestus in Boeotia。 Alexander was willing to afford them an opportunity for repentance； and marched slowly to the foot of the Cadmea。 But the leaders of the insurrection； believing themselves irretrievably compromised； replied with taunts to Alexander's proposals for peace； and excited the people to the most desperate resistance。 An engagement was prematurely brought on by one of the generals of Alexander； in which some of the Macedonian troops were put to the rout； but Alexander； coming up with the phalanx； whilst the Thebans were in the disorder of pursuit； drove them back in turn and entered the gates along with them； when a fearful massacre ensued committed principally by the Thracians in Alexander's service。 Six thousand Thebans are said to have been slain； and thirty thousand were made prisoners。 The doom of the conquered city was referred to the allies； who decreed her destruction。 The grounds of the verdict bear the impress of a tyrannical hypocrisy。 They rested on the conduct of the Thebans during the Persian war； on their treatment of Plataea； and on their enmity to Athens。 The inhabitants were sold as slaves； and all the houses； except that of Pindar； were levelled with the ground。 The Cadmea was preserved to be occupied by a Macedonian garrison。 Thebes seems to have been thus harshly treated as an example to the rest of Greece； for towards the other states； which were now eager to make their excuses and submission； Alexander showed much forbearance and lenity。 The conduct of the Athenians exhibits them deeply sunk in degradation。 When they heard of the chastisement indicted upon Thebes； they immediately voted； on the motion of Demosthenes； that ambassadors should be sent to congratulate Alexander on his safe return from his northern expeditions； and on his recent success。 Alexander in reply wrote a letter； demanding that eight or ten of the leading Athenian orators should be delivered up to him。 At the head of the list was Demosthenes。 In this dilemma； Phocion； who did not wish to speak upon such a question； was loudly called upon by the people for his opinion； when he rose and said that the persons whom Alexander demanded had brought the state into such a miserable plight that they deserved to be surrendered； and that for his own part he should be very happy to die for the commonwealth。 At the same time he advised them to try the effect of interce