Their Last Suppers: Legends of History and Their Final Meals (6 page)

Light, fast-moving cavalry, impeccably drilled and supported by a dense mass of heavily armored infantry equipped with long pikes, called a phalanx, were the cornerstones of his new army. Moving quickly and attacking when least expected, the Macedonian-based troops quickly became an irresistible force. The Greeks had no choice but to acquiesce, and so in 334 B.C., with about 32,000 infantry, 5,000 horses, and 160 ships, Alexander crossed the Hellespont waterway into Asia.

Standing on the prow of the first galley, he threw a spear into the approaching beach, shouting, “I now declare all this land to be mine by right of spear!”

Marching quickly, Alexander took Phoenicia, Syria, Tyre, then Egypt, which promptly surrendered, placing all its treasuries and grain at his disposal. In fact, Alexander named Egypt, which had
previously been known to its inhabitants as Khem. Asia Minor fell quickly, and the Persians were soundly routed at the battles of Granikos and Issus, mysteriously declining to combine all their forces against him until much too late, when a massive battle on the fields of Gaugamela showed them the brilliance of Alexander and the end of their empire. They were finished, and within weeks the Emperor Darius was murdered by his own subjects, who were eager to replace him with this young, godlike king whom no force could seemingly resist.

While building the first of many cities called Alexandria on the coast of Egypt, he began work on the famous library, which became one of the Wonders of the World. But the creator himself did not live to see its completion, or indeed any of his cities, always heading for the next horizon and another conquest.

Passing back through Syria into Persia, he marched up the valley of the Tigris into Mesopotamia and advanced to the Caspian Sea. He had conquered all of Central Asia by 382 B.C., but because he showed no signs of slowing down, his army was becoming increasingly restless. The idealistic warriors who had followed their golden-haired leader had now marched and fought for 6 long years and still saw no sign of returning to their homes and families. Amazingly, they blamed only their officers. Alexander, the driving force behind all their adventures and hardships, was seemingly blameless in their eyes.

Alexander became increasingly authoritarian and began to see himself more as a god, dispensing global solutions. The empire was formed into Greek-like provinces, and its people were commanded to speak Greek and follow Greek customs. Whole Greek populations were relocated to Asia at his command.

Historian Diodorus reliably recorded some of Alexander’s plans: “the building of seven great temples to himself, three in Greece, one at Troy, and three in Macedonia, huge population transfers between Europe and Asia, a pyramid dedicated to his father, bigger than anything seen in Egypt, and a fleet of 1,000 triremes to be built for a campaign against Carthage in North Africa,” to be followed by the conquest of Africa itself.

Like most of the Greeks of the day, Alexander was occasionally bisexual and delighted in outrageous drinking parties and orgies.
One of his generals, Medius of Larissa, was particularly fond of extremely wild events and introduced Alexander to banquets in which they drank continuously for days on end. Participants stopped only when they became comatose.

In 326 B.C. Alexander launched his conquest of India, which was confined mainly to modern-day Pakistan. But in one particularly vicious battle at Hydaspes against King Porus and his elephants he was nearly killed, although he was finally victorious. In 326 B.C. he founded the city of Bucephala in India, named after his favorite warhorse, Bucephalus, who had died in the battle.

His troops became increasingly depressed by the heavy and continual Indian rains, and not sharing Alexander’s passion for infinite novelty and conquest, they finally mutinied on the River Beas. To appease them, he reluctantly turned back down the Indus River to the Arabian Sea. The march back to Persia saw his exhausted army finally begin to crumble. At Opis just outside Babylon, another argument erupted, and although several of his officers were killed, Alexander, whom they still perceived as a god, was never threatened. Regaining control of his troops with huge theatrical gestures of reconciliation and yet another wild banquet, he decided to spend some time reorganizing his empire while his weary troops relaxed and regained their strength and appetite to follow him east for even more conquests.

Unknowingly, Alexander had contracted a form of malaria on the Indian campaign, and although he was only 32, his body had been severely ravaged by more than 15 years of warfare, many serious wounds, and the debauched lifestyle he was committed to.

Although racked by sweats and chills, he allowed his old friend Medius to organize yet another party for him at Babylon in 323 B.C., an event he did not survive. Three days of feasting and drinking took its toll on his weakened frame, and he died in the middle of the night as his loyal troops walked past him in tears, saluting him. His army loved him to the end.

He had led a small force on an unprecedented conquest of the known world, walking thousands of miles into the unknown, and with brilliance, audacity, and the power of his will alone had created one of the biggest empires the world had ever seen. Within months of his death, however, it was already reverting to its original states
because he had left no heirs, and his generals squabbled for power, cutting out pieces of the empire for themselves.

Alexander’s embalmed corpse was somehow hijacked by his veteran troops while en route to Macedonia. It was displayed in a glass case for almost 550 years in his first city of Alexandria before disappearing from history forever.

MENUS

From an early age, Alexander was brought up to be a soldier and never forgot the staples served at his father’s royal court: seafood, lamb, kid, fowl, and fruits. As he grew up, his partying became legendary, with drinking and eating feasts that sometimes went on for days, although throughout his life he maintained a youthful figure. Delicacies from all over the world were available to him, but he still preferred the ancient Greek and Macedonian recipes of his childhood.

Fired Seafood with Mango and Pepper Relish

Honey-Glazed Lamb

Braised Goat with Leeks and Mushrooms

Swordfish with Sweet and Sour Sauce and Crushed Mulberries

Sardinian Lobster

Figs with Honey and Wine

• Cook the squid and scallops on a barbecue grill for about 4 to 5 minutes each side, covered, so the smoke can penetrate the fish.
  
• Add the mussels and crab, then combine all the seafood on a large platter. Sprinkle with olive oil and chopped garlic.
  
• Serve with a mango and pepper relish, and garnish with lemon and lime strips.
  

• Mix the onion, green chili, and garlic, then add the red pepper, olive oil, diced mango, and lime juice.
  
• Melt the butter and stir in ginger and garlic.
  
• Combine all the ingredients, chill, and serve.
  

• Rub the lamb thoroughly with all other ingredients, then cover with foil and leave for 2 to 3 hours.
  
• Roast at 400°F for about 2 hours, basting with honey every 30 minutes.
  
• Let rest for about 20 minutes before slicing and serving.
  

Kid or goat is a low-fat item. Goat should be about 1 year old. Look for bright pink meat.

• Season the inside of the meat with half the salt and pepper. Shape into a roll and secure with string.
  
• Brown in a heavy metal saucepan, then add the leeks and mushrooms and fry for a few minutes.
  
• Add the rest of the salt and pepper, wine, and lemon rind. Cover with a lid, reduce the heat, and simmer for 1 ½ to 2 hours until the meat is tender. Remove the lemon and thicken the sauce with a simple flour and water paste. Add sour cream just before serving.
  

• Lightly oil the swordfish steaks, sprinkle with a little fresh rosemary, and place on a medium grill; cook for about 3 minutes each side.
  
• In a small pan combine the sugar, vinegar, juices, and pepper, simmer for about 4 minutes, then stir in the corn flour and allow to cook for a couple of minutes.
  
• Plate up swordfish on a bed of sauce, and spoon 2 cups fresh chilled mulberries on top of the fish. Garnish with limes and watercress.
  

• Combine all the ingredients except for the lobsters and breadcrumbs in a bowl to make a marinade.
  
• Loosen the meat in the lobsters and put half the marinade over each one, then pat down with the breadcrumbs.
  
• Using medium heat in an oven, or on a grill, cook until lightly browned.
  
• Serve the remaining sauce on the side.
  
• Leaving the claws intact, serve on a bed of lettuce with limes.