Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

XXXII.PHILOTAS. FALL, B. C. 330.In Drangiana was discovered the so-called conspiracy of Philotas. Therehad been growing in the army a spirit of criticism -which materially threatenedits discipline. Philotas, among others, had been very outspoken. At this timea minor conspiracy, among obscure officials, to murder the king was discovered.Philotas knew of it and did not reveal it. He was tried by the Companions,and under torture confessed to what was treason, and implicated his father andothers. True or not, he was found guilty and executed by tlie Companions.Parraenio, at Ecbatana, was also secretly executed. A number of others eitherfled, committed suicide, or were arrested and executed. Some were acquitted.The guilt of these so-called murders has been laid at Alexander's door.It isto-day difficult to decide the truth.But the effect was healthful to the disciplineof the army, though Parmenio and Philotas were hardly to be spared.It was in Prophtliasia that Alexander discovered the socalledconspiracy of Philotas, son of Parmenio. This incidentmakes one of the saddest stories of his life. This wasa matter intimately connected with the discipline of the army,and, as such, properly finds a place in our narrative. Itshould, perhaps, be mentioned that Alexander's plans, largeand comprehensive beyond their grasp, were not generallyunderstood by his Macedonians. Perhaps his alter ego, Ilephaestion,was the only one to whom he unbosomed himselfwith perfect freedom. Some of the Macedonian generals,like Craterus, did their duty for duty's sake ; others werevery outspoken and hypercritical. This was a right theyreserved to themselves. Freedom of speech, almost as weunderstand it, seems to have been indulged in as one of theirpolitical rights. But Alexander had gradually become lesspatient of such talk, as the talk doubtless grew in volume and