An Early Death for Alexander

hey, all. i'll be up-front this time: i want to base something for a fiction narrative project (not my ASB ATL, for once) on Alexander's conquests but it occurred to me that it would be more interesting for the story that the character in question dies differently than Alexander did historically, so i wanted to get some second opinions on what everyone thinks would be the most interesting or dramatic death for Alexander based on OTL events.

i seem to remember there being an instance during Alexander's Indian campaign that he was briefly separated from his forces and took an arrow to the chest, and nearly died. this is probably my first choice in relation to this, but what does everyone think? are there any other events which could have resulted in his death? (ideally during or after the conquest of Persia)
 
That Indian wound would be the ideal moment.

Being deep in hostile territory, the Macedonians would have needed a real king. No messing about with halfwit brothers or posthumous sons - even if they were anywhere nearby. Changes the whole course of Hellenistic history.
 
That Indian wound would be the ideal moment.

Being deep in hostile territory, the Macedonians would have needed a real king. No messing about with halfwit brothers or posthumous sons - even if they were anywhere nearby. Changes the whole course of Hellenistic history.

They wouldn't. Hephaistion would be the obvious choice, but he has too many enemies, and too many men in Alexander's staff have huge egos, Hephaistion included. More likely they agree to some kind of council where they share command, at least until they get back to relative comfort, maybe Baktra or Ecbatana, or even wait until Babylon.
 
Why would Hephaistion br the obvious choice?

Alexander certainly doted on him, but was he related to the Royal Family?

For the same reasons Perdikkas was. Hephaistion was the chiliarch. He held the next most powerful position in Alexander's command structure behind Alexander.
 
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