Alexander the Great

Birth-date

356 BCE

He was born at Pella, in Macedonia
He was the son of the King Philip II and Olympias.

Aristotle as Tutor

343 BCE

Philip hires the Greek philosopher to tutor Alexander. Aristotle teach Alexander to appreciate philosophy, geography, Greek poetry, and science investigations.

At Age 16

340 BCE

Alexander finishes studying under Aristotle and joins his father's army. By this point, Philip controls all the Greek city-states except Athens and Thebes. He aims to unite the Macedonians and Greeks and invade the Persian Empire.

Tthe Macedonians meet the Athenians and Thebans in battle at Chaeronea.

338 BCE

Alexander leads the attack against the Thebans, while his father leads the attack against the Athenians. It is Alexander's first taste of battle, and he and his father defeat the Greeks, placing all Greek city-states except Sparta under Macedonian control.

At the age of 20

336 BCE

Philip celebrates his upcoming departure to attack Persia, as well as the marriage of his daughter Cleopatra. However, one of his bodyguards assassinates him in the theater of Agae. Alexander becomes king of Macedonia at the age of 20.

The Thracians and Illyrians rise up in rebellion

335 BCE

This inspires the Greek city state of Thebes to rebel, and Alexander quickly besieges the city and razes it to the ground. The inhabitants
are executed or sold into slavery. Alexander plans his campaign against the Persians. 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 of 334 BCE.

Alexander leads the Macedonian army against the Persians at the Granicus river.

334 BCE

After savage fighting, the Persians 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.

He creates the city of Alexandria

331 BCE

which is meant to be a hub of Greek commerce and culture. This is just one of many cities he names after himself during his conquests. Alexander and Darius, king of the Persians, meet at Gaugamela in a decisive battle. Alexander's military skills overwhelm Darius, who orders his men to flee, and the Macedonians are victorious.

Suffering from the tensions of warfare and command, Alexander becomes drunk at a banquet in the fall

328 BCE

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.

In the Summer

327 BCE

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.

Hoping to add even more territory to his empire.

326 BCE

Alexander and his troops cross the Hindu Kush into northern India. They defeat King Porus, leader of a kingdom east of the Hydaspes 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 is forced to return to Babylon. He spends the next few years trying to consolidate power in his empire.

Alexander falls

323 BCE

Before he can set out on his new campaign, Alexander falls ill with a
sudden fever and dies at the age of 32.

Alexander moves from one major Persian city to the next

331

He 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.

The winter

333

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.