Persian and Indian troops in Alexander's army

[bvandewalker]

Rick, way I heard it that rebellion against Alexander sounded like it was the whole darn Greek world at the time, Thebes was only the lead instigator, but fine when Phillip II kicked the Greeks' collective Hellenist hiney, and clearly the Greek city states had not fully accepted the Macedonians as fellow Greeks by the time of Alexander reign otherwise there would not have been a Theban Rebellion. 

[Rick]

Well yes, it wasn't quite that simple - I was erring on the side of brevity for that comment. Although there were other rebellions across Greece, following the false reports of Alexanders death in Pelium, Thebes went far further - arming themselves, declaring full and immediate independance from Macedonia then attacking the Macedonian garrison in the city, killing at least 2 officers and an unknown number of soldiers. There were also rumours (unsubstantiated, but Alexander later used them as a damn good excuse for an invasion) that the Persian Shah had paid the Theban leaders to revolt. No doubt the rest of Greece was looking on, waiting to see how the Macedonians might react and what opportunities they could make out of it - Alexanders response was clear, unequivocal and well understood by every person in Greece (the survivors, that is!).

[bvandewalker]

Not only where they unsubstantiated, but likely an Athenian misdirect given the full details of the rebellion we have now. Where there are intrigues there is an Athenian.   

[Rick]

Not only where they unsubstantiated, but likely an Athenian misdirect given the full details of the rebellion we have now. Where there are intrigues there is an Athenian.

That's probably quite true! 
Xerxes' invasion of Greece, Thermopylae, the burning of Athens, all came about after Athenian intrigues in the Persian colonies around the Black Sea.
The weight of evidence does appear to be against Athens! 

[Easy E]

Most of our sources are also Athenian, so are they bragging or just shaming themselves?  I have no idea!   

[Rick]

Most of our sources are also Athenian, so are they bragging or just shaming themselves?  I have no idea!   

Hmm. Why are most of our sources Athenian? I'm so glad you asked, could it be the merest coincidence that Alexander burned the library archive of Persepolis at the instigation of an Athenian camp follower? Hmm. The plot thickens! 

[bvandewalker]

Hmm. Why are most of our sources Athenian? I'm so glad you asked, could it be the merest coincidence that Alexander burned the library archive of Persepolis at the instigation of an Athenian camp follower? Hmm. The plot thickens! 

Almost for sure no coincidence.