ABSTRACT
In 335 Alexander marched against the Triballoi and Illyrians (AA 1. 1-6),7 in some campaigning very fully described by Arrian, whose source Ptolemy probably took part. e motive given is that Alexander wished to forestall their revolt, of which he had heard, but the additional consideration given by Arrian, ‘that it would do them no harm to be humbled’ on the eve of the planned Asiatic expedition, suggests that the ghting was gratuitous. Most of Alexander’s ghting was, and this is one of the most obvious dierences from his father, who was no less of an expansionist, but who was happy to act through diplomacy and what his enemies called bribes. Certainly there was no Illyrian threat in 336 comparable to 359, though the news of Alexander’s march may itself have provoked the Illyrian revolt. e ascription, in Arrian, of an ocial and more creditable motive, emphasized at the expense of the other, is a good introductory warning that the ‘main sources’ are at least as
anxious to do their hero credit as is the ‘vulgate’ (for these terms see n. 1). e rapid campaigning which followed took Alexander to the Danube, which he crossed out of pothos, longing, to go beyond (AA 1. 3. 6). is, in its turn, introduces us to a word and theme frequently used of Alexander, for which mystical and ambitious claims have been made in modern times; but when all has been said in sober qualication, the strong ‘natural curiosity’, which the word denotes at its lowest, was surely an important part of Alexander’s motivation throughout his short life.8 e Illyrians were crushed by superior Macedonian drill and Alexander’s own speed of attack: the one his legacy from Philip, the other his own most impressive military quality – but one which all Macedonian kings needed (Philip V being specially noted for his celeritas or swiftness of movement), given the proneness of any one neighbour to capitalize on damage inicted on Macedon by another.
