Why a drunken argument at a wedding shattered Alexander the Great’s relationship with his father

Alexander was the son of Philip II and one of his wives, Olympias of Epirus. Even though he was a royal prince, Alexander’s position in the line of succession was not particularly secure.

He was, from an early age, groomed to be a leader and even received education from renowned tutors such as the famous philosopher Aristotle.

By the time he was in his mid-teens, he was helping command elements of his father’s armies.

The most significant example was during the critical Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BCE, where he commanded one wing of the Macedonian cavalry.

However, his relationship with Philip grew increasingly strained as tensions within the royal family deepened. 

At court, many nobles and generals supported Alexander, recognizing his potential as a future king.

They saw in him the qualities of leadership that could ensure Macedonia's continued dominance in Greece.

Yet, there were also those who viewed him with suspicion. Furthermore, Olympias, fiercely protective of her son's rights, and often clashed with Philip's allies.

Internal divisions like this, if not dealt with, threatened to destabilize the kingdom, especially as Alexander's ambition grew. 

Following his stunning victory over the combined forces of the Greek city-states at Chaeronea, the 45-year-old Philip suddenly announced that he was planning on marrying another wife.

The new bride was called Cleopatra Eurydice, who was in her late teens. Philip had already married several times, and each union had strategic purposes.

However, this particular marriage was different. 

Firstly, Cleopatra came from a noble Macedonian family, which would make her Philip's first wife of pure Macedonian blood, unlike Philip’s previous wife, Olympias, who was from Epirus.

In addition, Cleopatra's family was held in high esteem by Philip, as her brother had been a member of Philip's hetairoi (companions) before dying in battle.

Finally, a marriage to Cleopatra would cement a crucial an alliance between Philip and her uncle Attalus, an influential Macedonian general. 

This was because Philip was now planning a massive invasion of Asia Minor to challenge the power of the Persian Empire there.

Philip saw the invasion of Asia as a way to unify the Greek states under his leadership, and he needed to loyalty of his most powerful generals to achieve this.

By conquering Persia, Philip aimed to create an empire that would surpass any that had come before, and to ensure his place in history as a truly great ruler. 

As the date of the wedding approached in 337 BCE, Alexander had grown increasingly uneasy about his father's intentions and the potential threat posed by Cleopatra and her future children.

He thought that Philip's decision to marry Cleopatra was a deliberate move to distance himself from himself and his mother. 

The wedding of Philip II and Cleopatra took place in Aegae, the ancient capital of Macedonia.

This particular city held great significance for the Macedonian kings, as it was the site where their ancestors were buried and where the royal family traditionally celebrated important events.

The celebration banquet itself was apparently a lavish affair, attended by nobles, generals, and dignitaries from across the kingdom.

During the banquet, Alexander sat among his father’s court, surrounded by a range of political allies and rivals.

His position, though honored, felt increasingly precarious with the presence of Cleopatra and her supporters.  

After a period of heavy drinking, and in a moment of high spirits, Attalus, Cleopatra’s uncle, proposed a toast to the bride and groom.

In his speech, he proclaimed that he was particularly looking forward to “the birth of a legitimate heir” to Philip’s throne.

Attalus’s toast ignited a volatile situation. His words struck a nerve with Alexander, who was already feeling threatened by his father's marriage to a much younger woman.

Alexander considered it to be a personal insult: a direct challenge to his own claim to the throne.

Without hesitation, he responded sharply, condemning Attalus's remarks as an affront to his own status as Philip's rightful heir. 

Alexander’s outburst stunned the guests, who had not expected such a public display of defiance.

The ancient accounts claim that he threw his drinking cup at Attalus. Philip was equally caught off guard by his son’s aggression and attempted to rise from his seat to intervene.

He may have thought that an overt display of his royal authority would be enough to humble his son.

However, in his haste to stand, and due to the fact that he was incredibly drunk, the king stumbled and fell to the ground.  

This moment of weakness only fueled Alexander’s disdain. He was famously said to have yelled out to the onlookers:

"Here is the man who wants to cross from Europe into Asia, but he could not even take a single step from one couch to another".

This was both a direct insult to Philip's physical state and a cutting commentary on his military ambitions.

As Philip lay embarrassed on the floor, Alexander stormed out of the banquet, followed closely by his mother, Olympias. 

Both Alexander and her son knew that they would no longer be welcome in Philip’s presence after such a public humiliation.

So, Olympias went into voluntary exile back to her homeland of Epirus, where she stayed at the Molossian court of her brother Alexander I, who was king at the time.

Alexander left Macedon in anger as well and sought refuge with his maternal relatives. In response Philip temporarily disowned his son.

Thankfully, his new wife gave birth to two children: a daughter named Europa and a son named Caranus.

This was a dangerous time for the kingdom’s stability as factions formed around the different members of the royal household. 

With Alexander in self-imposed exile, his supporters at court were left in a precarious position.

Many feared that Philip might fully commit to Cleopatra’s line, effectively sidelining Alexander as his heir.

Moreover, Olympias was infuriated by her son’s treatment and may have begun to plot against Philip and Cleopatra.

The once-unified Macedonian court now faced the threat of internal conflict, with both political and personal grievances fueling the animosity. 

As the months passed, Alexander’s absence from court left a power vacuum that Philip struggled to fill.

Cleopatra new son was still a baby, it would be years before he would be ready to rule.

In addition, Philip was getting older and could not be expected to live long enough to see a new son be old enough to take power.

Eventually, in an attempt to restore stability, Philip reconciled with Alexander and invited him back to court.

However, the trust between father and son was irreparably broken, and the disagreement remained unresolved.  

When Philip was unexpectedly assassinated in 336 BCE as the king was preparing for his campaign against Persia, suspicion immediately fell upon the recently returned Alexander and his mother.

So, Alexander had to move quick to restore order and consolidate his claim to the throne.

As the new king, he began eliminating potential rivals, including Cleopatra and her infant son.

The nobles who had supported Philip's other children were either forced into submission or killed, ensuring that no other claimants could challenge Alexander’s rule.