Warning: —H— Chapter, Highly Historical Chapter.

 

CHAPTER 196

 

About Caesar Augustus

 

“About this time [Augustus] had the sarcophagus containing Alexander the Great’s mummy removed from the mausoleum at Alexandria and, after a long look at its features, showed his veneration by crowning the head with a golden diadem and strewing flowers on the trunk. When asked: ‘Would you now like to visit the mausoleum of the Ptolemies?’ he replied, ‘I came to see a King, not a row of corpses’ […]

 

The first seal Augustus used for official documents, petitions and letters was a sphinx; next came the head of Alexander the Great; lastly, his own head, cut by Dioscurides, the seal which his successors continued to employ.”(1)

 

-o-o-o-

 

This time it gave me no pleasure to be right, despite what people may think, I did not like to approach Alex and say: “I told you,” and this time less than ever. The men came back after sacking the nearby towns and, just as I thought, they were not happier than before going and the situation was getting worst at every passing moment. In a desperate attempt Alex even tried to win the camp followers to his cause, promising the wives and concubines of his men free rations and other benefits, but failed miserably.

 

Even if he did not want to accept it, we reached a point in which Alex needed the army more than the army needed him. So far everything had worked greatly because we all wanted the same thing and were convinced that our cause was honorable, Alexander was able to manipulate the men to do what he wanted but this time things were getting out of control.

 

Remember that once I told you that no one ever imagine conquering the entire Persian Empire? Remember what I said about my King being the only one who achieved this? Glory was ours, we saw death at its face and came back to tell the tale, we all were rich, richer than we ever imagine…and now was time to stop. But the main difference between Alexander and the troops was that the troops were driven by greed whereas Alex wanted to achieve the impossible, to live a never-ending adventure, and he was still young enough to keep dreaming. 

 

Many would have been content with just one of the many victories of my King and, any other in Alex’s place would have been happy to go back home and enjoyed his well-deserved praise and admiration. But not him and, one morning, in a last attempt to win his men back to his cause, Alexander assembled and addressed them as he had done so many times before in 8 years…

 

Hephaistion arrived early since he did not want to miss this. The Gods had granted them a small mercy and this was their first week without rain, the place had a strong smell of wet earth, of vegetation and rotting plants but this did not bother him. The mud appeared to be everywhere and no matter how many times in a day they cleaned their uniforms and arms they were always dirty in a few minutes.

 

The commander took a moment to observe the camp. It truly had changed. The officers tents looked now like the ones of Darius’ nobles and, even if Alexander did not travel in that portable palace that was the Great King’s tent, he lived among luxuries, beautiful furniture and fine fabrics. Hephaistion had even heard that Perdikkas traveled now with mosaics for the floor of his tent because he dislike wood and was not going to sleep on a dirt floor. 

 

But not only the tents, even their way of dressing had changed, in part because of the weather in part also because after 8 years their cloths, the ones made by their Macedonian wives, daughters or sisters, were now rags and they had adopted a very strange fashion with a mixture of the locals’ cloths— This is an army that is losing its identity –thought the commander when his dark gray eyes found Leonnatos not far from him, accompanied by his sons: Amyntas who now was 14 years old, and Demetrios of 5 years old, he was still very young but, for what Hephaistion could see, was eager to be with his father and older brother.

 

— I wasn’t expecting to see you here –said Hephaistion as a greeting.

 

— Well, I want to hear what has Alexander to say about the campaign –answered Leonnatos, scratching his head— You know I would not complain one bit if we finally march all back home, my mother would love to meet Demetrios –he smiled.

 

Of course! As a husband and a father he is more interested in this meeting than I –Hephaistion smiled at his nephew

 

— Demetrios, what are you doing here? Aren’t you too young for this?

 

Leon was a fool when he thought Demetrios was not his son. They are identical! –thought the commander.

 

— I am 5 years old, uncle. I am not a baby –said the boy, making him laugh.

 

— Of course not –Hephaistion ruffled his hair— You remind me a lot of Aki when he was 5, he was such a sweet boy.

 

— Was? You mean I am no longer sweet? –Achilles arrived at that moment, and this time it was Leonnatos turn to laugh.

 

The Prince was wearing a dark cotton chiton, a cloak and boots; he had learned the morning cold affected his health and now he took better care of himself. As always he looked like a proper young Macedonian, without jewels or any adorned but his magnificent sword belt. Chrysaor was behind him.

 

— No Aki, you are not always sweet but I still love you nonetheless –and for his son’s utterly embarrassment he ruffled his hair too. Chrysaor laughed.

 

— It has been a while since the last time we had a chance to talk, Heph –said the pezetairos, crossing his arms over his chest. Thanks to Achilles insistence he looked magnificent in his impeccable uniform. The commander had noticed his son had his personal staff (his guards, slaves and servants) dressed formally for all occasions, arguing that it was only proper since they were employed by the Crown Prince— But you don’t look good –he added frowning.

 

— Gee, thanks Chrysaor –said the commander feigning indignation but, the true was, he could understand why the pezetairos said that. He had been under a lot of stress and pressure, had been eating badly and getting almost no sleep at all, waking up every night at midnight.  

 

Alex would be the end of me –he thought.

 

— Do you have an idea of what is the King going to say? –asked Chrysaor but, before Hephaistion could answer Alexander appeared on the dais in front of his troops.

 

Maybe for someone not use to see the King daily he looked as always, confident, strong, dressed in his military chiton and, the same as his Crown Prince, without jewels. But for Hephaistion Alexander looked as tired as he felt— He is not getting much sleep, either.

 

A very unusual silence had been covering the troops like a cloak, only whispers could be heard but, as soon as the King appeared the whispers died and they were left in such a stony silence that, for a moment, the commander had the impression of being attending to a funeral— And maybe I am, I am at the funeral of Alex’s dreams.

 

The King stood there and surveyed his men, the same men who had stood before him so many times, the same who had condemned Philotas and who had fought and bled for him so many times…and yet, now they were like strangers.

 

— “I am not ignorant, soldiers” –Alexander finally spoke, his voice reaching every corner of the assembly— “That during these last days the natives of this country have been spreading all sorts of rumors designed expressly to work upon your fears; but the falsehood of those who invent such lies is nothing new in your experience” You all have heard before tales exaggerating the size or power of the Persian army, or the ruthlessness of the Scythians. How many times did you hear extraordinary stories of many, so called, inexpugnable fortresses that later fell into your hands?

 

Hephaistion crossed his arms and changed his weight from one foot to the other. The King looked calm and sure of himself, as always. He had not one single doubt of what he was saying and this was clear just by his tone of voice.

 

— […] “When we were crossing the Hellespont” –Alexander continued— “It was then we should have thought about the smallness of our numbers, for now Scythians follow us, Bactrian troops are here to assist us, Dahans and Sogdians are serving in our ranks. But it is not in such a throng I put my trust. It is to your hands, Macedonians, I look” –he pointed at them— “It is your valor I take as the gage and surety of the deeds I mean to perform.”

 

Alexander made a pause, walking around the dais and never breaking the eye contact with his men as if wishing to transmit them all his enthusiasm, all his dreams, all his plan, his faith in the future. Why couldn’t they see it? It was so clear what did they have to do but there they stood, afraid of glory and victory, afraid of being hailed as heroes for ages to come. 

 

— “As long as it is with you I shall stand in battle, I count not the number either of my own or the enemy's army. Do you only, I entreat, keep your minds full of alacrity and confidence” –he continued— “We are not standing on the threshold of our enterprise and our labors, but at their very close. We have already reached the sunrise and the ocean, and unless your sloth and cowardice prevent, we shall thence return in triumph to our native land, having conquered the earth to its remotest bounds. Act not then like foolish husbandmen who, when their crops are ripe, loose them out of hand from sheer indolence to gather them. The prizes before you are greater than the risks, for the country to be invaded not only teems with wealth, but at the same time feebly defended”.

 

Hephaistion was not so sure it was a good idea to remind the men they were so close to the end of the campaign because, for them, this campaign was long over, long before coming to India, they already wanted to go home— They don’t care of what lies ahead of the Hyphasis River when their eyes are already settle on Macedonia.

 

— […]“You have earned the right to carry back to your own country the riches which that sea casts upon its shores” –for a brief moment Hephaistion could see “hope” written on the faces of all the present there— “And it would ill become you if through fear you should leave anything un attempted or unperformed. I conjure you then by that glory of yours whereby you soar above the topmost pinnacle of human greatness. I beseech you by my services unto you, and yours unto me (a strife in which we still contend unconquered), that you desert not your foster-son, your fellow-soldier, not to say your king, just at the moment when he is approaching the limits of the inhabited world”.

 

But not all people understand glory and greatness as you do, my love –thought Hephaistion— You are relentless, sure of yourself and your destiny and that is what I admire the most about you; but not all men can be you.

 

— “All things else you have done at my orders for this one thing I shall hold myself to be your debtor” –said Alexander— “I, who never ordered you upon any service in which I did not place myself in the fore-front of the danger, I who have often with mine own buckler covered you in battle, now entreat you not to shatter the palm which is already in my grasp, and by which, if I may so speak without incurring the ill-will of heaven, I shall become the equal of Hercules and Father Bacchus” –he closed his fist in front of his chest.

 

The place was so quiet that Alexander’s voice appeared to echo at the distance and in their hearts. No one moved, no one spoke, not even a sneeze or a cough could be heard. The army, in front of him, could as well be made of marble instead of flesh.

 

— “Grant this to my entreaties, and break at last your obstinate silence” –the King raised his voice— “Where is that familiar shout, the wonted token of your alacrity? Where are the cheerful looks of my Macedonians?”–he surveyed the faces of his men but all of them refused to meet his powerful gaze— “I do not recognize you, soldiers, and, I think, I seem not to be recognized by you. I have all along been knocking at deaf ears. I am trying to rouse hearts that are disloyal and crushed with craven fears.”

 

This time he failed. His words did not move them, his indignation did not ashamed them and he accounted for nothing. His men uttered no word and remained in their obstinate silence, not even daring to look at him. What were they thinking? Only the Gods knew, but one thing was clear, for the first time in his life, for the first time since Alexander began his dashing career as commander, his men were not at his side— They abandoned me –thought the blond in shock, rage and indignation. 

 

I’ve been left out alone like a damn criminal

I’ve been praying for help 'cause I can’t take it all

I’m not done,

It’s not over.

Now I’m fighting this war since the day of the fall

And I’m desperately holding on to it all

But I’m lost

I’m so damn lost

(Within Temptation, Shot in the Dark)

 

— “I must” –Alexander said, this time his voice full with emotion— "Have inadvertently given you some offence that you will not even look at me. I think I am in solitude. No one answers me; no one so much as says ‘no’. Is it to strangers I am speaking? Am I claiming anything unreasonable? Why, it is your glory and your greatness we are asserting. Where are those whom but the other day I saw eagerly striving which should have the prerogative of receiving the person of their wounded king?”

 

He is furious…hurt and furious –thought Hephaistion.

 

— “I am deserted, forsaken, surrendered into the hands of the enemy” –Alexander raised his voice— “But I shall still persist in going forward, even though I should march alone. Expose me then to the dangers of rivers, to the rage of elephants, and to those nations whose very names fill you with terror. I shall find men that will follow me though I am deserted by you”.

 

— Dear Zeus! He is not serious, is he? –exclaimed Leonnatos without voice but no one answered him.

 

— “The Scythians and Bactrians, once our foemen but now our soldiers these will still be with me” –said Alexander— “Let me tell you, I had die rather than be a commander on sufferance. Be gone then to your homes, and go triumphing because you have forsaken your King! For my part, I shall here find a place, either for the victory of which you despair, or for an honorable death” (2).

 

And with that the King stormed out. 

 

For a moment the silence persisted until shy rumors rose like dust and men began to leave in pairs or small groups. They were not happy, that much was obvious for everyone, they had no pleasure disobeying Alexander but, as much as they admired their King, as much as they loved him, because they did, no one was willing to follow him across the Hyphasis River.

 

— I don’t like this –said Leonnatos, shaking his head— Alexander is beyond fury, I mean…I also want to go home but…

 

— Leon, by now you should know its impossible to argue with Alexander –said Hephaistion, not criticizing his lover, just stating the facts— There are things on which he is adamant, things on which he would never change his mind and, I’m sorry to say it, but this whole idea of keep going until reaching the Ocean, is one of them.

 

— But it’s crazy! He knows we are really far and the journey ahead of us is dangerous –Leonnatos insisted.

 

— But he doesn’t see things like you, Leon –answered the commander— Alexander thinks is his destiny to achieve great deeds because his mother has been telling him so since he was born. He never doubt, even for a second, that he would get everything he wanted because it was his destiny –he enunciated— He wants to achieve the impossible and go where no one else has gone before. And since he has come this far Alexander feels he just has to stretch his arm and he would be able to touch the Ocean –Leonnatos, Amyntas, Achilles, Chrysaor, and even young Demetrios looked at him with all their attention.

 

— For Alexander his family is the army, his home, everything he wants, he has here –Hephaistion continued— Understand something, for him the gold of the Persians did not mean the same as it does for Perdikkas, for example, for him it is just a mean to obtain what he really wants: everlasting glory. Money for more campaigns, for more conquests, for more adventures and he does not want to stop. No one has ever said ‘no’ to him and he doesn’t know how to deal with this, that is why, he is so angry.

 

They fell silent.

 

— You are right, daddy –said Achilles, nodding— But I would dare say something else –Hephaistion watched him with curiosity— I think dad not only doesn’t want to stop, he doesn’t know how.

 

I could be –thought the commander.

 

— But…but, if he doesn’t want to go back, what is going to happen now? –asked Leonnatos, really worried— Do you think he is capable of doing what he said? To continue alone just with the barbarian troops?

 

I believe him capable of anything –thought Hephaistion but, before he could answer, a page came running.

 

— Sirs –said the boy without breath— The King is summoning you to a meeting.

 

The commander turned to look at his brother-in-law.

 

— You will have your answer soon, Leon.

 

XXX

 

When Hephaistion and Leonnatos arrived at the royal tent it was packed with the entire military staff of the King. It had been a while since the last time they were all reunited like this and the atmosphere was tensed. They all had heard Alexander’s words that morning and the commander could bet they all were of the same opinion of their men— They all look tired –only Krateros, who was now 45 years old, was not there; he was still at the Hydaspes River getting the King’s ships ready.

 

Krateros would always do what Alex says –thought the commander. He may loath the man but at least he gave him that much. He was loyal. But, what about the rest? Would Alexander’s friends follow him, despite everything, into the unknown? He doubted it.

 

As befit of his rank Hephaistion sat at the King’s right. Achilles was not there, he had not been summoned and after seeing his adopted father’s mood he had decided it would be better to stay away—Smart boy –say the commander to himself. It was very hot inside the tent and the servants ran to open the leather windows but not even this helped much to dissipate that sensation of being a boiled vegetable that was assailing them all.

 

Alexander observed his officers in silence before speaking, as if trying to read their minds or to find the right words to move their hearts and made them see reason— Why, after all this time, they cannot see beyond their noses? Why are they still afraid of greatness? –that was something the King could not understand, why would someone prefer to die peacefully after living 100 years in a village instead of living 30 achieving something?

 

—“I observe, gentlemen, that when I would lead you on a new venture you no longer follow me with your old spirit” –said Alexander at last. He sounded calm but Hephaistion knew better than to actually believe he was really in peace after what had happened with the troops.

 

He hasn’t given up –thought the commander, watching his lover with attention.

 

— “I have asked you to meet me that we may come to a decision together: are we, upon my advice, to go further, or, upon yours, to turn back?” –asked the King, taking a moment to survey each one of his officers’ faces—“If you have any complaint to make about the results of your efforts hitherto, or about myself as your commander, there is no more to say.”

 

More than one moved uncomfortable in his seat.

 

— “But let me remind you” –Alexander continued— “Through your courage and endurance you have gained possession of Ionia, the Hellespont, both Phrygias, Cappadocia, Paphlagonia, Lydia, Caria, Lycia, Pamphylia, Phoenicia and Egypt; the Greek part of Libya is now yours, together with much of Arabia, lowland Syria, Mesopotamia, Babylon, and Susa; Persia and Media with all the territories either formerly controlled by them or not are in your hands.”

 

8 years of blood and steel and it’s said with such ease –thought Hephaistion— We achieved so much in such a short time.

 

— “You have made yourselves masters of the lands beyond the Caspian Gates, beyond the Caucasus, beyond the Tanis, of Bactria, Hyrcania, and the Hyrcanian sea; we have driven the Scythians back into the desert; and Indus and Hydaspes, Acesines and Hydraotes flow now through country which ours” –the King spoke with passion, from the bottom of his heart— “With all that accomplish, why do you hesitate to extend the power of Macedon, your power, to the Hyphasis and the tribes on the other side?”

 

Alexander made a brief pause— What is wrong with you? –thought the blond, feeling the desperation burning him. 

 

— “Are you afraid that a few natives who may still be left will offer opposition?” —the King questioned them, truly wanting to comprehend what were they thinking— “Come, come! These natives either surrender without a blow or are caught on the run or leave their country undefended for your taking; and when we take it, we make a present of it to those who have joined us of their own free will and fight at our side”.

 

— “For a man who is a man, work, in my belief, if it is directed to noble ends, has no object beyond itself; none the less, if any of you wish to know what limit may be set to this particular campaign, let me tell you the area of country still ahead of us, from here to the Ganges and the Eastern ocean, is comparatively small.”

 

Small compared to what we have already traveled but still, even farther from Macedonia –thought Hephaistion.

 

— “You will undoubtedly find that this ocean is connected with the Hyrcanian Sea, for the great Stream of Ocean encircles the earth” –Alexander insisted— “Moreover I shall prove to you, my friends, that the Indian and Persian Gulf and the Hyrcanian Sea are three connected and continuous […] To this Empire there will be no boundaries but what God Himself has made for the whole word”.

 

Those words caught Hephaistion’s attention because those simple words said a lot about his lover’s ambitions, about his plans— Aki is right, Alex doesn’t know how to stop.

 

— […]“What great or noble work could we ourselves have achieved had we thought it enough, living at ease in Macedon, merely to guard our homes, accepting no burden beyond checking the encroachment of Thracian on our borders, or the Illyrian and Triballians, or perhaps such Greeks as might prove a menace to our comfort?” —it was a mystery for the King, why would anyone prefer to live a meaningless life? He did not like what he saw in the eyes of his friends and officers.

 

— “I could not have blamed you for being the first to lose heart if I, your commander, had not shared in your exhausting marches and your perilous campaigns; it would have been natural enough if you had done all the work merely for others to reap the reward” – Alexander did not lose time to remind them— “But it is not so. You and I, gentlemen, have shared the labor and shared the danger, and the rewards are for us all.”

 

— “The conquered territory belongs to you” –said the King, taking a moment to let his words sink— “From your rank the governors of it are chosen; already the greater part of its treasure passes into your hands, and when all Asia is overrun, then indeed I will go further than the mere satisfaction of your ambitions: the utmost hopes of riches or power which each one of you cherishes will be far surpassed, and whoever wishes to return home will be allowed to go, either with me or without me. I will make those who stay the envy of those who return.”(3)

 

Again, as it had happened with the troops that morning, a stony silence fell upon them. No one spoke, no one moved and no one dared to face the King. It was clear everybody was thinking the same thing but they were all afraid to incur in their sovereign’s wrath— Or simply, they don’t know how to say what they truly think –Hephaistion considered the possibility of speaking on behalf of the rest but discarded the idea at the end.

 

I already tried to talk to Alex once, he did not listen to me so know he will have to listen to the rest of his men –he thought— Besides, I made a promise once and I will not contradict him in public.  

 

Despite Alexander’s pleas to let him know their opinion, the silence remained and Hephaistion began to believe no one was going to say a word. Leonnatos cough and then, the last man he had expected, talked…

 

— Sire –said Koinos at last, Koinos the son-in-law of Parmelio and who was still recovering from an illness. Koinos who was now 41 years old, the only one with courage enough to face the King— “We appreciate the fact that you do not demand from us unreasoning obedience. You made it clear to us that you will lead us on only after winning our consent, and, failing that, that you will not use compulsion. This being so, I do not propose to speak on behalf of the officers here assembled, as we, by virtue of our rank and authority, have already received the rewards of our services and are naturally concerned more than the men are to further your interests. I shall speak, therefore, for the common soldiers, not, by any means, with the purpose of echoing their sentiments, but saying what I believe will tend to your present advantage and our future security.”

 

Interesting, I would have never imagined that Koinos cared this much for the men –thought Hephaistion, listening with all his attention.

 

—[…] “You know the number of Greeks and Macedonians who started upon this campaign and you can see how many of us are left today” –Koinos explained with calm, talking about facts and leaving aside the sentimentalism— “The Thessalians you sent home from Bactria because you knew their hearts were no longer in their work, and it was wisely done […others] continued to share with you the dangers and hardships of war, and of these some have been killed, some, disable by wounds, have been left behind in various parts of Asia, and more have died of sickness, so that only a few from that great army are left, a small remnant broken in health, their old vigor and determination gone.”

 

That was undeniable true and Hephaistion could see several heads nodding their agreement.

 

— “Every man of them longs to see his parents again, if they yet survive, or his wife, or his children; all are yearning for the familiar earth of home, hoping, pardonably enough, to live to revisit it, no longer in poverty and obscurity, but famous and enriched by the treasure you have enabled them to win”.

 

Even more head nodded in agreement, others even dared as much as to murmur their approval and support.

 

— Sire –Koinos leaned to the front—“Do not try to lead men who are unwilling to follow you; if their heart is not in it, you will never find the old spirit or the old courage […] Other troops, Greek and Macedonian, will follow you, young, fresh troops to take the place of your war weary veterans. Still ignorant of the horrors of war and full of hope for what the future may bring, these men will follow you with all the more eagerness in that they have seen your old campaigners come safely home again and no longer poor and nameless but loaded with money and fame. Sir, if there is one thing above all others a successful man should know, it is when to stop.”(4) 

 

Every man in that tent, with the sole exception of Alexander, applauded Koinos, some even went as far as to cry, truly moved by his words, others patted his back in what was a clear defeat for the King.

 

Before you ask yes, I also applauded because I thought Koinos was right in everything he said and Alexander should have understood this too but, instead, he dismissed the meeting. He was angry, I knew it, and precisely because of this I did no attempt to visit him that night. Many years later, in other time, in other place, another man reminded me of Alexander, a Roman named Gaius Marius. A brilliant general who, the same as Alexander that day, did not know when to stop and, despite his old age and fragile health, still wanted to command troops against King Mithridates of Pontus. 

 

His inability to know when was enough finished Marius and I did not want to witness the end of my King. Still, there wasn’t much I could do for him that night, he was so angry that the best thing was to leave him alone, so, I went out with Achilles, to have dinner under the stars taking advantage of that beautiful night without rain.

 

— When you were a child, you used to say you would be a great hero like your ancestor Achilles –Hephaistion said, remembering with nostalgia that time when his son was not the Crown Prince and everything appeared to be simpler.

 

When Darius was our enemy and the path before us was clear –he thought, trying not to think once again in what had happened that day.

 

His son sighed, like an old man who turns to look back the life he has left behind him, to take a look to the distant road of broken dreams and lost fantasies; and the commander did not like it. A boy like the Prince should not sigh like that.

 

— Dad was right –said Achilles, his eyes at the sky, sitting on the ground with his knees pressed against his chest— I will be the right King for my time. I cannot be a hero, daddy –he turned to look at him— I am not made to be one but, more importantly, Macedonia does not need another hero, this Empire needs a King.

 

That choice of words caught Hephaistion’s curiosity, especially in their present situation.

 

— You are saying Alexander is not a King, why?

 

— Dad is an adventurer; he is a Homeric hero seeking everlasting glory, songs will be sing in his honor many years after his death –Achilles talked with admiration and respect. He truly believed what he was saying and he thought his adopted father was like their ancestors, a great man— But, an Empire needs more than a conqueror, an Empire needs stability, secure borders, it needs peace. I can do that…I will do it –his son assured him and Hephaistion believed every word.

 

He grew up under my nose and I never saw it –thought the commander, very proud of his boy.

 

XXX

(1) Suetonius. The Twelve Caesars, pages 52 and 73

(2) Curtius. Ancient India: it's Invasion by Alexander the Great, pages 223, 225, 226 and 227

(3) Arrian. The Campaigns of Alexander, pages 292, 293, 294 and 295

(4) Arrian. The Campaigns of Alexander, pages 295, 296 and 297