Reading Alexander the Great in Medieval Bohemia: A Moralistic Example and a Functional Label

Abstract

During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, the figure of Alexander the Great and the stories associated with him became a stable part of the Bohemian literary landscape. Here, he represented a great ruler and conqueror, as well as a reminder of the transience of worldly glory and the need for humility. The study focuses on the role of Alexander's figure in different literary contexts and how the reading and use of the character have shifted according to the changing political and social situation.