Why did Alexander the Great brutally murder the only man who saved his life in battle?

As far as historians can tell, Cleitus was born around 375 BCE, in a Macedonian noble family.

By the time Alexander ascended the throne in 336 BCE, Cleitus had already established himself as a capable and loyal officer within the Macedonian army.

In 334 BCE, during the pivotal Battle of Granicus, Cleitus performed the heroic act that would define the rest of his life.

As Alexander led his army across the Granicus River, the Persian forces, strategically positioned on the opposite bank, held the high ground.

Yet, Alexander led a direct assault against them by plunging into the river with his cavalry at the forefront. 

However, in the thick of the battle, Alexander found himself in grave danger. As he charged into the Persian ranks, a Persian noble, Spithridates, managed to position himself close to the Macedonian king.

Spithridates raised his sword to strike a blow that could have ended Alexander's life.

However, Cleitus, who happened to be fighting close to his king, noticed the threat just in time.

Striking out quickly, he severed the arm of Spithridates, saving Alexander from certain death.

Thanks to Cleitus’ quick thinking, he had ensured the continued momentum of the battle, which ended in a decisive victory for Alexander.

Cleitus' heroism solidified his status as one of Alexander’s most trusted officers. 

After his heroic actions at the Battle of Granicus in 334 BCE, Cleitus continued to prove his value as a fearless commander.

During the Battle of Issus in 333 BCE, Cleitus commanded a unit of the Companion Cavalry, helping to secure a crucial victory against the larger Persian forces led by King Darius III.

Then, in the subsequent Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BCE, Cleitus again participated in the cavalry charge that was instrumental in breaking the Persian lines.

By this time, Cleitus had become one of the few who could claim both Alexander's trust and friendship. 

However, as Alexander's conquests pushed further east, the strains on his army increased, and so did the pressures on his commanders.

In the winter of 330 BCE, Cleitus was told that he was about to be promoted to the high-ranking position as the satrap of Bactria.

However, as part of this, Cleitus was assigned to lead 16,000 former Persian Greek mercenaries against steppe nomads.

This would actually distance him from the king and mean that he would be forgotten by Alexander.

As a result, Cleitus was frustrated at the thought of commanding what he saw as inferior troops in a remote and insignificant location. 

Tensions within the Macedonian court grew increasingly severe as Alexander's empire expanded.

The adoption of Persian customs and practices by Alexander began to alienate many of his Macedonian officers, who valued their traditional culture and military hierarchy.

Cleitus the Black, who had risen to prominence by adhering to these values, found himself increasingly at odds with the king’s new approach.

In particular, Alexander’s practice of proskynesis, the Persian custom of bowing before the king, sparked outrage among the Macedonians.

They saw it as a betrayal of their egalitarian ethos, where even the king was considered first among equals rather than a god-like figure. 

In addition, Alexander's decision to integrate Persian soldiers into his army fueled discontent among his Macedonian veterans.

These soldiers, who had been with Alexander from the beginning, felt their contributions were being overshadowed by the influx of foreign troops.

Furthermore, Alexander’s increasing reliance on Persian satraps and administrators to govern newly conquered territories created a rift within the ranks.

Figures like Antipater, who had governed Macedonia in Alexander’s absence, were wary of these changes, fearing they would diminish their influence. 

Despite his loyalty, Cleitus became increasingly vocal in his criticism of Alexander's policies.

Others within the court, including generals like Parmenion, shared his concerns but were less willing to confront Alexander directly.

The tension between traditionalists like Cleitus and those who supported Alexander's vision of a multicultural empire continued to build.

As these tensions escalated, Cleitus found himself increasingly marginalized. He represented the old guard, those who had fought alongside Alexander since the early days of the campaign.

However, his outspoken nature and unwavering adherence to Macedonian customs put him at odds with the king’s evolving vision. 

The drama came to a head at a banquet at Maracanda in 328 BCE. As the Macedonian court gathered for what should have been a night of celebration, tensions that had been simmering for months finally erupted.

The event quickly spiraled out of control as alcohol loosened tongues and emboldened the grievances that had long been kept in check.

The tension reached a breaking point when Cleitus, who had consumed a lot of wine and had years of pent-up frustration, began to openly criticize Alexander.  

When Alexander arrogantly claimed his achievements surpassed those of his father, Philip II, Cleitus retorted that Alexander owed all his success to his father.

He reminded the king of the Macedonian soldiers who had sacrificed their lives to secure his victories, and he rebuked Alexander for adopting Persian customs that, in his view, disrespected those sacrifices.  

Cleitus continued and reminded Alexander that his successes were owed to the bravery of Macedonian soldiers like those who had saved him at Granicus.

Specifically, he mentioned the name of Parmenion, a general whom Alexander had ordered executed for disloyalty.

By referencing the execution of Parmenion, Cleitus was indirectly accusing Alexander of betraying those who had been most loyal to him.  

This accusation struck a nerve with Alexander, whose paranoia about loyalty had grown over the years.

At that moment, Alexander’s fury escalated quickly. His pride was wounded, and Alexander lashed out verbally. He hurled insults at Cleitus, accusing him of similar disloyalty.

Alexander became increasingly enraged when Cleitus refused to back down.  

The drunken Alexander, in a fit of anger, threw an apple at Cleitus and demanded that someone bring him his sword.

However, those nearby quickly hid the weapon and escorted Cleitus to the doorway to take him from the room. 

Exasperated, Alexander called for the army to be assembled, but everyone ignored the king, who was obviously not thinking clearly.

However, by this stage, Cleitus had turned back and was about to voice further grievances to Alexander. 

It was then, without warning, Alexander, consumed by a violent rage, seized a spear from one of his bodyguards and thrust it at Cleitus, driving the weapon through his body before anyone could stop the king.

The room fell silent as Cleitus collapsed; his life extinguished in a moment of brutal fury.

A man who had once saved Alexander’s life now lay dead by the king’s own hand. 

Alexander, horrified by what he had done, attempted to take his own life in remorse but was restrained by his men.

This event exposed the growing rift between Alexander and his Macedonian officers, who now saw their king as increasingly unpredictable and dangerous.

In the aftermath, Alexander struggled with guilt and grief. He spent days in isolation, refusing food and drink, mourning the loss of a man who had once been one of his most loyal supporters.

From that moment on, the king’s relationship with his men would never be the same, the bond of trust irrevocably damaged.  

After emerging from his seclusion, Alexander attempted to justify his actions to his inner circle.

The court now harbored an underlying sense of fear and mistrust. Many of Alexander's officers, who had long served alongside Cleitus, viewed the incident with a mixture of sorrow and apprehension.

Their king, whom they had followed with unwavering loyalty, had shown himself capable of unpredictable and dangerous behavior.

In light of this, some began to distance themselves emotionally from Alexander, though they remained outwardly loyal. 

The psychological impact on Alexander's actions meant that they became increasingly erratic, and his temper flared more frequently.

Although he continued to lead his army to further victories, the shadow of Cleitus's death haunted him.

In 327 BCE, during the campaign in India, Alexander’s treatment of his men grew harsher, and his expectations became more demanding, as if he sought to assert control in the face of his own inner chaos.