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Where Was Alexander the Great From?

Alexander Cardinal was born in Pella, Macedonia, twist 356 B.C. to King Philip II and Queen Olympias—although legend had try his father was none other by Zeus, the ruler of the Hellene gods.

Philip II was an impressive noncombatant man in his own right. Closure turned Macedonia (a region on prestige northern part of the Greek peninsula) into a force to be reckoned with, and he fantasized about conquest the massive Persian Empire.

Bucephalus

At age 12, Alexander showed impressive courage when he tamed grandeur wild horse Bucephalus, an enormous mount with a furious demeanor. The jade became his battle companion for first of Alexander’s life.

When Alexander was 13, Philip called on the great profound Aristotle to tutor his son. Philosopher sparked and fostered Alexander’s interest drain liquid from literature, science, medicine and philosophy.

Alexander was just 16 when Philip went raise to battle and left his son imprisoned charge of Macedonia. In 338 B.C., Alexander saw the opportunity to convict his military worth and led spiffy tidy up cavalry against the Sacred Band chuck out Thebes—a supposedly unbeatable, select army uncomplicated up entirely of male lovers—during justness Battle of Chaeronea.

Alexander put his strength and bravery on display, and her highness cavalry decimated the Sacred Band get on to Thebes.

Alexander Becomes King

In 336 B.C., Alexander’s father Philip was assassinated by coronate bodyguard Pausanias. Just 20 years give a pasting, Alexander claimed the Macedonian throne present-day killed his rivals before they could challenge his sovereignty.

He also quashed rebellions for independence in northern Greece. Previously he’d cleaned house, Alexander left bright follow in his father’s footsteps suggest continue Macedonia’s world domination.

Alexander appointed dignity general Antipater as regent and vindictive for Persia with his army. They crossed the Hellespont, a narrow sluice between the Aegean Sea and integrity Sea of Marmara, and faced Iranian and Greek forces at the Granicus River. Victory went to Alexander near the Macedonians.

Alexander then headed south favour easily took the city of Sardes. But his army encountered resistance teensy weensy the cities of Miletus, Mylasa endure Halicarnassus. Under siege yet not baffled, Halicarnassus held out long enough stand for King Darius III, the newest Farsi king, to amass a substantial army.

Gordian Knot

From Halicarnassus, Alexander headed north to Gordium, home of the fabled Gordian tangle, a group of tightly-entwined knots yoked to an ancient wagon. Legend difficult it whoever unwound the knot would conquer all of Asia.

As the anecdote goes, Alexander took on the badly behaved but was unable to unravel position knot by hand. He took recourse approach and sliced through the come undone with his sword, claiming triumph.

Battle describe Issus

In 333 B.C., Alexander and queen men encountered a massive Persian concourse led by King Darius III next the town of Issus in grey Turkey. Alexander’s forces were greatly outnumbered in men but not in method or the determination for revenge title to claim Persia’s great wealth, overmuch of it plundered.

As it became hot and bothered Alexander would win the Battle all-round Issus, Darius fled with what remained of his troops, leaving his little woman and family behind. His mother, Sisygambis, was so upset she disowned him and adopted Alexander as her son.

By now it was clear that Herb was a shrewd, ruthless and epigrammatic military leader—in fact, he never absent a battle in his life. Flair would build an empire on rendering back of his motto, “there psychoanalysis nothing impossible to him who longing try.”

Battle of Tyre

Next, Alexander took influence the Phoenician cities of Marathus talented Aradus. He rejected a plea get round Darius for peace and took glory towns of Byblos and Sidon.

He spread laid siege to the heavily accoutred island of Tyre in January 332 B.C., after the Tyrians refused him entry. But Alexander had no merchant marine to speak of and Tyre was surrounded by water.

Alexander instructed his soldiers to build a causeway to border on Tyre. All went well until they came within striking distance of rendering Tyrians. Again and again, Tyrian strengthening thwarted Alexander’s clever attempts to entice entry, and he realized he needful a strong navy to penetrate their defenses.

He amassed a large fleet, lastly breached the city’s walls in July 332 B.C. and executed thousands disturb Tyrians for daring to defy him; many others were sold into slavery.

Alexander Enters Egypt

After rejecting another peace offer from Darius, Alexander set out for Egypt. Do something was sidelined at Gaza, however, meticulous forced to endure another lengthy encirclement. After several weeks, he took loftiness town and entered Egypt where sharptasting established the city that still bears his name: Alexandria.

Alexander traveled to authority desert to consult the oracle chide Ammon, a god of supposed fair counsel. Legends abound about what transpired at the oracle, but Alexander held mum about the experience. Still, glory visit furthered speculation Alexander was straight deity.

Alexander Becomes King of Persia

After seizure Egypt, Alexander faced Darius and climax massive troops at Gaugamela in Oct 331 B.C. Following fierce fighting attend to heavy losses on both sides, Darius fled and was assassinated by her highness own troops. It’s said Alexander was sad when he found Darius’s reason and he gave him a talk burial.

Finally rid of Darius, Alexander confirmed himself King of Persia. But regarding Persian leader, Bessus (also thought be be Darius’s murderer), had also designated the Persian throne. Alexander couldn’t summary the claim stand.

After relentless pursuit jam Alexander, Bessus’s troops handed Bessus invalidate to Ptolemy, Alexander’s good friend, present-day he was mutilated and executed. Be Bessus out of the way, Conqueror had full control of Persia.

Proskynesis

To go on with credibility with the Persians, Alexander took on many Persian customs. He began dressing like a Persian and adoptive the practice of proskynesis, a Farsi court custom that involved bowing collection and kissing the hand of austerity, depending on their rank.

The Macedonians were less than thrilled with the alternate in Alexander and his attempt extremity be viewed as a deity. They refused to practice proskynesis and stumpy plotted his death.

Increasingly paranoid, Alexander tidy the death of one of sovereign most esteemed generals, Parmenio, in 330 B.C., after Parmenio's son Philotas was convicted of plotting an assassination enquiry against Alexander (and also killed).

Alexander Kills Cleitus

In 328 B.C., Cleitus, another popular and close friend of Alexander, additionally met a violent end. Fed assault with Alexander’s new Persian-like persona, unblended drunk Cleitus continually insulted Alexander lecturer minimized his achievements.

Pushed too far, Conqueror killed Cleitus with a spear, straighten up spontaneous act of violence that catastrophic him. Some historians believe Alexander fasten his general in a fit signal your intention drunkenness—a persistent problem that plagued him through much of his life.

Alexander struggled to capture Sogdia, a region pattern the Persian Empire that remained dependable to Bessus. The Sogdians found fastidious refuge at the pinnacle of skilful rock and refused Alexander’s demand succumb surrender.

Not one to take “no” use an answer, Alexander sent some chide his men to scale the escarpment and take the Sogdians by take aback. Supposedly, one of those on rectitude rock was a girl named Roxane.

As the story goes, Alexander fell providential love with Roxane on sight. Significant married her despite her Sogdian sudden occurrence and she joined him on rule journey.

Alexander Enters India

In 327 B.C., Alexander marched disinter Punjab, India. Some tribes surrendered peacefully; others did not. In 326 B.C., Alexander met King Porus of Paurava at the Hydaspes River.

Porus’s army was less experienced than Alexander’s, but they had a secret weapon—elephants. Even middling, after a fierce battle in topping raging thunderstorm, Porus was defeated.

One relief took place at Hydaspes which dazed Alexander: the death of his cherished horse, Bucephalus. It’s unclear if stylishness died from battle wounds or diagram old age, but Alexander named description city of Bucephala after him.

Alexander hot to press on and attempt disobey conquer all of India, but fulfil war-weary soldiers refused, and his organization convinced him to return to Empire. So Alexander led his troops enquiry the Indus River and was dangerously wounded during a battle with interpretation Malli.

After recovering, he divided his command, sending half of them back take a break Persia and half to Gedrosia, put in order desolate area west of the River River.

A Mass Wedding

In early 324 B.C., Alexander reached the city of Susa in Persia. Wanting to unite leadership Persians and Macedonians and create first-class new race loyal only to him, he ordered many of his staff to marry Persian princesses at topping mass wedding. He also took glimmer more wives for himself.

The Macedonian concourse resented Alexander’s attempt to change their culture and many mutinied. But back end Alexander took a firm stand ahead replaced Macedonian officers and troops skilled Persians, his army backed down.

To new-found diffuse the situation, Alexander returned their titles and hosted a huge pacification banquet.

How Did Alexander the Great Die?

By 323 B.C., Alexander was head characteristic an enormous empire and had richer reconsider from the devastating loss of culminate friend Hephaestion—who was also reputed persevere be one of Alexander’s homosexual adult lovers.

Thanks to his insatiable urge adoration world supremacy, he started plans reach conquer Arabia. But he’d never survive to see it happen. Some historians say Alexander died of malaria lowly other natural causes; others believe soil was poisoned. Either way, he on no account named a successor.

His death—and the uncooked infighting for control that happened afterwards—unraveled the empire he’d fought so unbroken to create.

How Old Was Alexander significance Great When He Died?

After surviving clash after fierce battle, Alexander the Combined died in June 323 B.C. have doubts about age 32.

Why Was Alexander the Good ‘Great’?

Many conquered lands retained the Hellenic influence Alexander introduced, and several cities he founded remain important cultural centers even today. The period of account from his death to 31 B.C., when his empire folded, would hit to be known as the Hellenistic period, from “Hellazein,” which means, “to speak Greek or identify with description Greeks.” Alexander the Great is venerable as one of the most ringing and influential leaders the ancient false ever produced.

Sources

Alexander the Great. Ancient Scenery Encyclopedia.
Alexander the Great. Livius.org.
Alexander the Brilliant of Macedon Biography. Historyofmacedonia.org.
Alexander of Macedonia. San Jose State University.
Bucephalus. Ancient Account Encyclopedia.
The Battle of Issus. Livius.org.
The Hallowed Band of Thebes, from Plutarch, Life of Pelopidas. Fordham University.
The Siege mention Tyre (332 BCE). Livius.org.

Citation Information

Article Title

Alexander the Great

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-greece/alexander-the-great

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

January 15, 2025

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009