When you look back in history at the best military leaders to have ever existed, Alexander the Great would have to be right up there pretty much at the top. His skills on the battlefield cannot be disputed, but could it be the case that he was able to achieve so much because of his amazing army, or did he pay particular attention to even the smallest of details?

To be honest, it was probably a bit of both, and if you are looking for evidence of that, then look no further than this little gem. According to sources from the time, Alexander the Great was concerned about the potential role that having beards could play on the battlefield. Remember, this was a time where they would not really wear helmets like they did in later centuries, so their beards would be there on full display.

Also, battles were fought in close quarters, and it was very much up close and personal, and this concerned Alexander. As a result, he ordered that every single soldier should shave off his beard, as this would stop the enemy from being able to grab onto them during battle giving them a rather unfair advantage.

On the other hand, it also perhaps gives you an indication of the kind of tactics that he would use, as he must have surely thought about it because his soldiers were guilty of doing the exact same thing. Well, all is not fair in either love or war.