Many leaders have contributed to our history, but one man who demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities was Alexander of Macedon, more commonly known as Alexander the Great. Alexander took control of the Macedonian Empire and led his men to victory by conquering the Persian Empire. Not only did his conquest enhance his overall image as a great military leader, but the characteristics he developed throughout his life also played a role in his immense success. Although Alexander encountered many obstacles throughout his conquests, he managed to stay focused on his men as well as himself, which is why he was able to accomplish everything he did . Therefore, throughout Alexander's conquest, much of his success can be attributed to his great leadership skills, which include his courage, confidence, respect for his men, and strategic military skills, which are all factors that contributed to making him one of the greatest leaders in history. Alexander's success began during his childhood and continued during his reign as king of Macedon. Alexander was born on July 20, 356 BCE in Pella, the capital of Macedonia, to his parents Philip II, King of Macedon, and his wife Olympias. Alexander grew up royalty, which made him want to become king and rule his own empire. Alexander's father, Philip II, appointed Aristotle as Alexander's guardian. Aristotle played an important role in transforming Alexander into the successful leader he became. Plutarch states: "It would seem that Alexander received from him not only his moral and political doctrines, but also something of those theories more abstruse and deeper than these philosophers, by the very names which they gave in the midst of their history . paper ......r, but he didn't let any of these concerns get in the way of what he wanted to achieve. Overall, during Alexander's short life, he was able to accomplish what most leaders cannot accomplish in an entire lifetime, thanks to his leadership qualities that allowed him to be recognized as one of the greatest leaders of all time. . Alexander's campaigns. Trans. Aubrey De Sélincourt. London: Penguin Books, 1958. Print. Cartledge, Paul. Alexander the Great. New York: The Overlook Press, 2004. Print. Hammond, NGL The Genius of Alexander the Great. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1997. Print. Emmons, Jim Tschen. “Alexander the Great.” History of the world: ancient and medieval periods. ABC-CLIO, 2014. Web. April 17, 2015.Plutarch. The life of Alexander the Great. Trans. John Dryden. New York: The Modern Library, 2004. Print.