How King Alexander laid siege to the city of Athens, but did not take it, out of respect for Aristotle.

So, then, having conquered all the lands and cities of Armenia and Turkey and placed them in the hands of Ptholomer, and after seeing King Nicolas buried with all honour, Alexander set off with his whole army and headed for Athens, for he'd been told it was one of the noblest cities in the world, the most ancient and abundantly rich. And it paid no homage to any lord at all: its people were entirely self-governing; Alexander resolved to make them his subjects if he could. At this point master Aristotle – Alexander's tutor – was in the city, being an Athenian by birth.

Alexander advanced with all his army till he came before the city, and as soon as they arrived he gave orders for tents and pavilions and lodges to be pitched. And he sent foraging parties right up to the gates to round up the herds and flocks and bring them back to camp; the people of Athens were aghast and shocked by this – such practice was something new to them. Then he sent a messenger to the city to call upon the citizens to surrender, and to make plain that if they refused he would never leave till the city was his, and if he had to take it by storm he would put them all to the sword.