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Alexander born in Pella, Macedonia to King Phillip ll
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King Philip ll hires a Greek philosopher Aristotle to tutor Alexander.
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Alexander finishes studying under Aristotle and join his father's army.
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Alexander's first taste of battle, and he and his father defeat the Greeks, placing all Greeks city-states except Sparta under Macedonian control.
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Alexander becomes king of Macedonia at age of 20
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The Thracians and Illyrians rise up in rebellion. The inspires the Greek city-state of Thebes to rebel, and Alexander quickly besiege the city and razes it to the ground. The inhabitants are executed or sold into slavery, showing the other city-states that Alexander is just as powerful as his father. After subduing rebellious Greek city-states, Alexander plans his campaign against the Persians, hoping to fulfill his father's dream of conquering the empire.
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Though his advisers object and Macedonia is virtually bankrupt, Alexander borrows money to supply his troops for one month and departs for Asia in the spring.
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In June Alexander leads he Macedonian army against the Persian at the Granicus river. After savage fighting, the Persian retreat, and Alexander's army moves across the southern coast of Asia toward Gordium. As they travel, they liberate a number of cities from Persian rule.
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Alexander spends the winter at Gordium, in present-day Turkey. According to legend, he solves the puzzle of the Gordian knot, which held together the yoke and pole of a wagon once belonging to King Midas. Stories foretold that whoever solved the puzzle would rule all Asia, and Alexander's success is seen as a good omen for his Asian campaign.
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After conquering Syria, Alexander sweeps south ans easily conquers Egypt after besieging Gaza. In 331 BCE, he creates the city of Alexandria, which is meant to be a hub of Greek commerce and culture, This is one of many cities he names after himself during his conquests.
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Alexander moves from one major Persian city to the next, conquering Babylon and taking treasure to distribute among his men. He incorporates Persian officials into his administration and adopts Persian customs in order to hold his empire together.
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Suffering from the tensions of warfare and command, Alexander becomes drunk at a banquet in the fall. He and his close companion Cleitus, who saved his life at the battle of Granicus, fall into an argument. Alexander accidentally stabs Cleitus with a spear, and is filled with remorse at Cleitus' death. However, this incident marks a turning point for Alexander, whose officers begin to fear him.
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After conquering eastern Iran and capturing Prince Oxyartes, Alexander marries Roxane, the prince's daughter. This is meant to be a political alliance, and it serves as an insult to Barsine, Alexander's Persian mistress.
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In may, hoping to add even more territory to his empire, Alexander and his troops cross the Hindu Kush into northern India. They defeat King Porus, leader of a kingdom east of the Hydases River, after figuring out how to attack Porus' war elephants. After several months in India, however, Alexander's army refuses to go any farther, and he forced to return to Babylon. He spends the next years trying to consolidate power in his empire.
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Before he can set out on his new campaign, Alexander falls ill with a sudden fever and dies at the age of 32 in June 323 B.C.