Alexander's policy of fusion was held in place by his force of personality and power. After his death the initial challenge from some of his men to this policy became to tear at the fabric of Alexander's vision of empire. The marriage between Roxanne and Alexander which took place in 327 BC has continued to be a point of contention among historians. Was it a marriage of love or a political alliance as Plutarch suggested? Such marriages were something Alexander's father had done on a number of occasions. It is also unlikely that Alexander would have taken advantage of Roxanne without marriage, another violation of his policies. It follows, therefore, that the marriage was in line with Alexander's policy of uniting the two cultures — Greek and Persian. Alexander would later insist that many of his commanders take Persian wives (something that would lead to bitter feelings after his death). Little is known of Roxanne following her marriage until Alexander's death in 323 BC. While some historians indicate she may have travelled with him into India and was at his side in Babylon, the one thing that is agreed upon by all is that she was pregnant at the time of his death. Her next appearance was in Macedonia where she awaited the birth of her son, the future Alexander IV, along with her mother-in-law Olympias. While she waited, the fate of the empire waited with her. in 324 BC, the Macedonian (Greek) King Alexander the Great arranged about 80 weddings in the Persian city of Susa between the daughters of Persian nobles and Greeks of high office. An astute judge of culture, Alexander regularly acknowledged a conquered people’s customs and culture and attempted to show respect and acceptance for their ways in order to better incorporate the new lands into his empire. Of course, Alexander also meant to further Greek culture into conquered lands as well. Alexander died in 323 BC (only a year later) all his officers promptly divorced their Persian wives! On top of that sorry tale, it is believed Roxana had Stateira and Parysatis both killed upon the death of Alexander. Roxana herself was protected by Olympias, the mother of Alexander the Great, but died along with her child by Alexander (Alexander IV) in about 310 BC, the victim of poisoning ordered by the then current King of Macedon, Cassander. https://www.historyandheadlines.com/history-324-bc-alexander-great-arranges-mass-wedding/ The Weddings in Susa [7.4.4] Then he also celebrated weddings at Susa, both his own and those of his Companions. He himself married Barsine,note the eldest of Darius' daughters, and, according to Aristobulus, another girl as well, Parysatis, the youngest of the daughters of Ochus.note He had already married previously Roxane, the daughter of Oxyartes of Bactria. [7.4.5] He gave Drypetis to Hephaestion, she too a daughter of Darius and a sister of his own wife; his intention was that the children of Hephaestion should be cousins to his own children. To Craterus he gave Amastris daughter of Oxyathres, brother of Darius, and to Perdiccas the daughter of Atropates, satrap of Media. [7.4.6] To Ptolemy the bodyguard and to Eumenes the royal secretary he gave the daughters of Artabazus, Artacama to one and Artonis to the other. To Nearchus he gave the daughter of Barsine and Mentor, and to Seleucus the daughter of Spitamenes of Bactria.note Similarly he gave to the other Companions the noblest daughters of the Persians and Medes, some eighty in all. [7.4.7] The marriages were celebrated according to Persian custom. Chairs were placed for the bridegrooms in order, and after the drinks the brides came in and sat down, each by the side of her groom. They took them by the hand and kissed them; the king began the ceremony, for all the weddings took place together. More than any action of Alexander this seemed to show a popular and comradely spirit. [7.4.8] The bridegrooms after receiving their brides led them away, each to his own home, and to all Alexander gave a dowry. And as for all the Macedonians who had already married Asian women, Alexander ordered a list of their names to be drawn up; they numbered over 10,000, and Alexander offered them all gifts their wedding. [7.5.1] He also thought this was a suitable opportunity to settle the debts of the army, and ordered a list of individual debts to be drawn up, with a promise to pay them. At first few put down their names; they feared Alexander was testing them to find out who thought the soldier's pay insufficient and who was living above his means.

• published: 19 Feb 2021
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