Magnanimity Quotes
After a victory, Alexander did not treat the newly conquered regions badly. In most cases the quality of lives of the average person improved. Most important, he did not interfere with local cultural traditions and his men intermarried with the conquered population.
He decided to let the statue lie and not revive the image of Xerxes and instead simply proceed with the administration and governance of what was then occupied Persia. He maintained most of the Persian laws and customs including much that came from Xerxes but did not elevate the personality of the great king. However, it was not Alexander’s technique to govern by cults of personalities he and his associates erected few symbols of their own aggrandizement until after Alexander’s death when some of his associates adopted the more traditional approach to things.
The Muslims were poised to make the final assault on Constantinople. Religious leaders were whipping up the troops by calling for Jihad and telling them those who fell in battle would enjoy immediate access to Paradise and the virgins that went with Islamic martyrdom. However, the Sultan did not trust religious fervor alone. He said this to the leaders of his soldiers who then spread the word. The City fell the next day. The troops had 3 days of looting, rape and pillage which the Sultan had promised, but there was almost no further damage to the infrastructure other than that caused by the seige cannons.
