Alexander’s The Great’s Drinking Contest That Killed 41 People
One of the greatest rulers in world history also sponsored one of the most irresponsible and deadly competitions
As the King of Macedonia, Alexander III (Better known as Alexander the Great), built his legacy on accumulating great wealth and an unblemished military record. The creator of one of the largest empires in world history, it’s perhaps of little surprise that he was prone to moments of excess. There is no better example of this than when he held a drinking contest where the participants consumed so much alcohol that it led to all 41 of them, including the winner, dying of alcohol poisoning.
Living in the 4th century B.C., Alexander the Great came to power in his early 20s in 336 B.C. after the assassination of his father, Philip II. Having been privately tutored by none other than Aristotle, Alexander had a unique blend of education and ambition upon assuming the throne. He conducted wildly successful military campaigns on multiple fronts in Asia, Europe, Egypt and more. So successful were these ventures that he also became the Lord of Asia and the Pharaoh of Egypt. He died when he was just 32 — most likely due to poisoning or an underlying health condition. However, so many years later, he remains among the most powerful and…
