The Susa Weddings
The Susa Weddings
The Susa Weddings
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Susa</strong> <strong>Weddings</strong>
A feature of his policy of fusion• Fusing the Macedonians & Persians intoone ruling race.• As with <strong>The</strong> Successors, the children ofthese marriages would:- Be trained in Macedonian customs &educated in Greek.- Have the added asset of mixed parentage.• Hamilton refers to the weddings as theclimax of Alexander’s policy of fusion.
<strong>The</strong> wedding• <strong>The</strong> ceremonies lastedfor five days.• <strong>The</strong>y were held in a tent750m in circumference.• Entertainers came fromacross the Greek world.• Read Arrian’s account ofthe wedding (Pg 354).
Whom did they marry?• Read Arrian Pg 353 – 354 ¬e the interrelationshipscreated here.- <strong>The</strong> princesses whoAlexander married.- Hephastion’s newrelationship to Alexander.
Significance• <strong>The</strong> marriage to leading Persian womensignalled a transfer of power to theMacedonians.• It was an example of Alexander's policy offusion.• Alexander was now Great King of thePersian Empire – ruling in an oriental styleas the absolute monarch.
How successful was the Policy?• Few Macedonians agreed withAlexander’s policy of fusion.- Most quickly divorced their Persian wivesafter Alexander’s death.- This shows how unpopular the policyreally was to the Macedonians.