Alexander set out in spring 334, after having had to re-settle affairs in Greece and Macedonia after his father's murder. One of the many puzzles about Alexander is whether he intended from the beginning to conquer the world. We know that he brought with him artists, geographers, historians, botanists, geologists and other scientists -- something quite beyond the normal scope of a military expedition.
Ever the politician, his first act was to visit Troy -- the site of the great victory of the Greeks over Asia. The visit was also due to personal interest, for he greatly admired Homer and the heroes of the Trojan War. It was a brilliant propaganda gesture, and he followed it with astute diplomacy. As he marched down the Ionian coast, he liberated the Greek cities, restoring democracy, rather than conquering them. By posing as a liberator and savior, he won allies and gained many recruits here.
The Persian satrap was unable to stop him at the first major battle at the Granicus River. This battle was in some ways the most important of Alexander's career, though others are more famous. It was important because it was his first real battle in Asia; it was really rather a mad gamble, one that his generals argued he should not have made. But the circumstances of the battle reveals not only his courage and confidence, but also his fine political sense and his enormous good fortune.
After his victory, Alexander rolled through Asia Minor, detouring to Gordium to meet up with his general Parmenio. Gordium was a town in Galatia, the ancient capital of the Phrygians. In the town was a wagon tied to a post. It was a very ordinary post and a very ordinary wagon with one exception: the yoke was fastened to the pole with a complex of knots so thoroughly tangled that it was impossible to unravel. The legend was the anyone who could loose the knot would be the conqueror of Asia.
Alexander the Great naturally had to try his hand at this fabled knot, since he was in town anyway. He had announced his intention of conquering Asia, and to leave Gordium without testing the knot was unthinkable. So, he and some of his men, and a large crowd of locals, all made their way to the acropolis and the wagon.
The Gordian Knot was an especially difficult one in that there were no loose ends showing. Alexander tried for a while but was copmletely stumped. His attendants were concerned, for failure here would make poor propaganda.
At last, Alexander cried out "What difference does it make how I loose it?" He pulled out his sword and cut the knot through. Thus did Alexander reveal that he was the one prophesied. It was a lovely play on words, for the Greek word was luein, which can mean "untie" but can also mean "sunder" or "resolve."
From that story of Alexander came a phrase that is still used occasionally. To "cut the Gordian knot" means to slice through a problem that appears hopelessly complex by some simply, bold stroke.
But the true test would come when he faced not a provincial but an imperial Persian army.
