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Alexander the Great relied on the linothorax, a laminated linen armor, for protection during his military campaigns. Research shows it was effective against arrows and offered more maneuverability than metal armor. Alexander won battles through speed and surprise, but died at 32 from an unknown illness. He named many cities after himself and one after his horse, Bucephalus.
Alexander the Great, the ruler of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia, built one of the greatest empires in the history of the ancient world. Despite his legendary status, Alexander was certainly not immortal and relied on a special form of protection during his many military campaigns: the linothorax. Seemingly a fairly thin and light garment made from laminated linen, the linothorax turns out to be the ideal type of armor for ancient battles, according to meticulous research completed by a University of Wisconsin-Green Bay professor and students. They constructed a facsimile of a linothorax, based on images of the armor from ancient artwork, and found that a 12-millimetre (47 in) thick linothorax would be sufficient to prevent any arrow fired at the wearer from penetrating the skin. This deceptively simple suit also offered much more maneuverability and comfort than other types of protection (e.g. metal armor), meaning Alexander was almost always one step ahead of his enemies.
What made Alexander so great:
Alexander the Great won his first battle at age 18, then relied on speed and surprise to defeat armies and build his empire.
Alexander the Great’s only defeat came when he suddenly fell ill and died at the young age of 32; the exact cause has never been determined.
Alexander the Great named dozens of cities after himself and one after his beloved horse, Bucephalus, which he always rode into battle.
