Book VI 6.9.1 wV d' aphggelh tauta tw

Book VI.6.9.1 When Alexander was told what had happened, he was panic-stricken and utterly dumbfounded by the extraordinary news. He came rushing out of the imperial tent like a man possessed, weeping and trembling and raving against Maximinus for being unfaithful and ungrateful, recounting all the favors that had been showered upon him. 2. He blamed the recruits for daring to do such a rash thing in violation of their oaths of allegiance; he promised he would give them anything they wanted and put right any complaint. All that day Alexander's own soldiers stood by him with expressions of loyalty and promising they would protect him with all their strength. 3. After the passage of the night, at dawn reports came in to say that Maximinus was approaching, because there was a cloud of dust in sight a long way off and a sound could be heard from the shouts of a sizeable body of men. Going out on to the parade ground again, Alexander mustered his troops and begged them to fight for him and protect the emperor whom they had brought up and under whose rule they had lived for fourteen years without complaint. After appealing to everyone's sympathy and pity, he gave the order to arm and take up positions out in the battle line. 4. In spite of their first promises, the soldiers began to back out one by one and refuse to take up their weapons. Some of them demanded the execution of the military prefect and Alexander's household on the grounds that they had been responsible for the retreat. Others criticized his mother's rapacity and miserliness over money. As a result of this parsimonious attitude and unreadiness to distribute largess Alexander was disliked. 5. Thus the soldiers remained where they were for some time shouting out different complaints. Maximinus' army was by now in sight and the young recruits began to call out, urging their fellow soldiers to desert their "mean little sissy" or "their timid little lad tied to his mother's apron strings" and to come over to the side of a man who was brave and moderate, always their companion in battle and devoted to a life of military action. The soldiers were persuaded, and abandoning Alexander, they joined Maximinus, who was universally acclaimed as emperor. 6. Trembling and terrified out of his wits, Alexander just managed to get back to his tent. There, the reports say, he waited for his executioner, clinging to his mother and weeping and blaming her for his misfortunes. After Maximinus had been hailed with the title of Augustus by the whole army, he sent a tribune with some centurions to kill Alexander and his mother and any of his entourage that showed resistance. 7. On arrival they burst into the tent and slaughtered the emperor, his mother and all those thought to be his friends or favorites. Some of them managed to escape or hide for a brief time, but Maximinus soon caught them and killed them all. 8. So Alexander [and his mother] met his end after a rule of fourteen years which, as far as his subjects were concerned, was without fault or bloodshed. Murder, cruelty and injustice were not part of his nature; his inclination was towards humane and benevolent behavior. Indeed, his reign would have been notable for its complete succes, but for the blame he incurred though his mother's faults of avarice and meanness.