The Pages Conspiracy

The Pages Conspiracy

The Pages conspiracy happened in the Spring of 327 BC. This was after the Sogdian rock and Proskynesis incident but before the first mutiny at Beas.

Key People

Hermolaus – A page of Alexander and young Macedonian noble.

Callisthenes – Alexander’s historian and tutor of Hermolaus. He was already out of favour with Alexander due to his refusal to perform Proskynesis (Those who entered the presence of the king, were expected to prostrate themselves before him). He was also the nephew of Aristotle and a Greek.

What Happened

The pages attended Alexander on a hunt. Hermolaus had killed a wild boar before the king and according to traditional punishments he was whipped and had his horse taken off him.

After this Hermolaus conspired with the other pages to kill Alexander. They were arrested, trialled and put to death. At the trial the pages said that Alexander’s polices were intolerable including the policy of fusion and Alexander’s claim of divinity. This reflected the view of the older Macedonian nobles.

However Hermolaus’s motives could not have been purely personal. This lead to the implication of Callisthenes, despite the fact that none of the pages had incriminated him. Even Alexander initially believed him to be innocent.

Problems for Alexander – What to do with Callisthenes?

For Alexander the arrest of Callisthenes could have been an excuse to get rid of him after the Proskynesis affair. It is also alleged according to Plutarch that when Callisthenes was asked ‘How would one become the most famous man?’ he was heard to reply ‘Kill the most famous man.’

In Alexander’s later letters to Antipater he says in reference to Callisthenes, ‘As for our wise man, I shall punish him.’

There is some debate over what Callisthenes eventual fate was, and Alexander certainly would have benefited from getting rid of him.

Ptolemysays Callisthenes was tortured and then hanged, as Ptolemy had no reason to lie this is probably the most accurate account, however Chares says that Callisthenes was carried around in captivity and died of natural causes after 7 months.

Response of others to Alexander’s actions

The Greek world reacted with anger however the army was not particularly concerned due to the fact not many people liked the notoriously arrogant Callisthenes

What does this tell us about Alexander’s character?

The events and plots up to this time illustrate the opposition to Alexander’s policy of fusion and to implied divinity. It also shows Alexander’s determination to proceed, his willingness to suppress opposition and it also shows his ruthlessness.

Effecton Alexander’s campaign

His army was not affected by his actions so his campaign continued however his troops were still disgruntled with Alexander’s belief of divinity and policy of fusion. The Pages Conspiracy was only one of many plots against Alexander’s life as a result of the troops growing hatred towards the way he ran his kingdom.