Alexander doesn't reconcile with his father/ goes west

[Cuāuhtemōc]

Alexander got into a quarrel with his father Philip over marrying Cleopatra and fled Macedon. He left his mother under the care of his uncle Alexander in Epirus and found refuge as a guest of the Illyrian King. It was only through a family friend named Demaratus who convinced Alexander to come home and reconcile with his father.

What if Demaratus had failed to persuade Alexander to return? Would Alexander stay as a guest of the Illyrian king or would he go elsewhere? I have thoughts of Alexander as an exiled prince, offering his military expertise to the Greek colonies of southern Italy and Sicily, or to Rome. Or Carthage even. Of course this doesn't disclude the possibily of Alexander making his return many years later to seize the Macedonian crown as a mature, self-disciplined and adjusted military commander with an army and funds to back up his claim.

Thoughts?

 

[SlyDessertFox]

Hmmm. Alexander flees to Taras (or Syracuse). Makes some connections there. Gets a command. Regional wide war breaks out in Magna Graecia (say, Syracuse is the instigator). Alexander leads Taras to victory, re-establishes the Italiote League, this time dominated completely by Taras, which in turn is de facto dominated by Alexander. Then have him turn west towards Carthage.

 

[Russian]

Alexander got into a quarrel with his father Philip over marrying Cleopatra and fled Macedon. He left his mother under the care of his uncle Alexander in Epirus and found refuge as a guest of the Illyrian King. It was only through a family friend named Demaratus who convinced Alexander to come home and reconcile with his father.

What if Demaratus had failed to persuade Alexander to return? Would Alexander stay as a guest of the Illyrian king or would he go elsewhere? I have thoughts of Alexander as an exiled prince, offering his military expertise to the Greek colonies of southern Italy and Sicily, or to Rome. Or Carthage even. Of course this doesn't disclude the possibily of Alexander making his return many years later to seize the Macedonian crown as a mature, self-disciplined and adjusted military commander with an army and funds to back up his claim.

Thoughts?

Well, I remember Alexander seriously considered marriage with a daughter of some satrap of Achaemenid Empire. Which involved his moving there personally.
Actually the World Empire of Persia was the most natural place to go for some mistreated Greek/Macedonian prince.
Alexander might end up like one of many mercenaries of the Achaemenids.
Knowing his character we have two variants - he is killed in action (being suicidal brave) or he is famous and rich (because of the same suicidal bravery and his talents). No in between.

 

[Yuelang]

Or have him caught the fancy of Darius' daughter, and since Darius have no surviving son...

 

[Russian]

Or have him caught the fancy of Darius' daughter, and since Darius have no surviving son...

Some Macedonian "sword for hire" and Darius' daughter?
Hm, I am afraid that's impossible.

 

[Napoléon Caesar Augustus]

Well, I remember Alexander seriously considered marriage with a daughter of some satrap of Achaemenid Empire. Which involved his moving there personally.
Actually the World Empire of Persia was the most natural place to go for some mistreated Greek/Macedonian prince.
Alexander might end up like one of many mercenaries of the Achaemenids.
Knowing his character we have two variants - he is killed in action (being suicidal brave) or he is famous and rich (because of the same suicidal bravery and his talents). No in between.

Alex always did like Persia after the conquered it.. Imagine the armies of Persia led by Alexander the Great fighting the Macedonian invasion.

 

[Lee-Sensei]

Alex always did like Persia after the conquered it.. Imagine the armies of Persia led by Alexander the Great fighting the Macedonian invasion.

I doubt he'd fight Greeks for the Persians.

 

[Rdffigueira]

I doubt he'd fight Greeks for the Persians.

Why not? One of Alexander's first foes was Memnon of Rhodes, who commanded a troop of Greek mercenaries under King Darius, and was defeated by Alexander in the Battle of the Granicus River. This shows that the idea of "fellow Hellenes" didn't hinder them from shedding each other's blood. A Greek mercenary under the Persians would be expected to be loyal to the Persians.

If we suppose that in this ATL, Alexander has little interest in returning home, and becomes more enticed by the life in the Persian empire, his own view of the world would be more favorable to ensuring Darius' victories than outright refusing to fight Greeks or even Macedonians, even more if he still holds some kind of grudge against his own father Phillip and his children with Cleopatra.

 

[Lee-Sensei]

Why not? One of Alexander's first foes was Memnon of Rhodes, who commanded a troop of Greek mercenaries under King Darius, and was defeated by Alexander in the Battle of the Granicus River. This shows that the idea of "fellow Hellenes" didn't hinder them from shedding each other's blood. A Greek mercenary under the Persians would be expected to be loyal to the Persians.

If we suppose that in this ATL, Alexander has little interest in returning home, and becomes more enticed by the life in the Persian empire, his own view of the world would be more favorable to ensuring Darius' victories than outright refusing to fight Greeks or even Macedonians, even more if he still holds some kind of grudge against his own father Phillip and his children with Cleopatra.

Because he only embraced Persian culture in an effort to maintain his Empire. Alex saw himself as a "modern" Heracles or Dionysus. Both made trips to the east and warred and "civilized" their way to India. To run off to the East and take up arms against Greeks for the Persians is just a step to far.

 

[Yuelang]

Some Macedonian "sword for hire" and Darius' daughter?
Hm, I am afraid that's impossible.

A famous mercenary general with excellent track record on loyalty with Persians, formerly used more in quelling Egyptian revolts and or Arabian incursions. Have some great experiences subduing Ionian and Katian cities too...

And after some years passed, Makedonian invasion under Philip is coming... While Alex originally still sit upon his post at Egypt.

Memnon falls in front of the Mighty Philip's army, and Darius has been routed once in Granicus.

While his advisors advise against using Alexander against his own father, and some argue to execute him, Darius in panic relents and offer him his daughter's hand, as well as Persian backup to wrestle the throne of Macedonia from his father and his little half brother. For added drama, it was open secret that Alexander's father murdered his mother and trying to kill him too (lets say her plot to murder him backfired). Philip himself declares Alexander as no longer his son and place a bounty to those who could bring him dead or alive...

Led an army of ragtag Persian levies and a core of Experienced horsemen, some elephants, as well as his own merry band of Greek Mercenaries (Hephasteion included), Alexander ride to intercept his father's army. Darius promised him his rightful throne back... so there's another layer of motivation to him.

...

Long story short, Alexander defeat his father with outmanouvering his phalanx while ransacking the hetairoi with a well timed elephant charge. Philip choose to suicide instead of facing his son he disowned. The Macedonian survivors panicked, but Alexander showing them mercy, so they decides to back his claim on the throne as well.

As a good payment of job well done, Darius also gift the ionian and Thracian cities formally to Alexander... Now, as he ride back home, he think what could happen when his mother's plot to kill his father is a success.