-
356 BCE
birth of alexander
born in macedonia -
343 BCE
Aristotle to tutor Alexander
Philip hires the Greek philosopher Aristotle to tutor Alexander.
Over the next three years, Aristotle teaches Alexander to appreciate philosophy, geography, Greek poetry, and
scientific investigation -
340 BCE
Aristotle and joins his father's army.
In 340 B.C., at age
16, 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. -
338 BCE
the Macedonians meet the Athenians and Thebans in battle at Chaeronea.
In August 338 B.C., the Macedonians meet the Athenians and Thebans in battle at Chaeronea.
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. -
336 BCE
Philip celebrates his upcoming departure to attack Persia
In October 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. -
335 BCE
the Thracians and Illyrians rise up in rebellion.
In the Spring of 335 B.C., the Thracians and Illyrians rise up in rebellion. This inspires the Greek citystate
of Thebes to rebel, and Alexander quickly besieges 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. -
334 BCE
Alexander leads the Macedonian army against the Persians at the Granicus river.
In June 334 B.C., Alexander leads the Macedonian army
against the Persians at the Granicus river. After savage fighting, the
Persians retreat, and Alexander's army moves across the southern
coast of Asia toward Gordium. -
333 BCE
Alexander spends the winter
Alexander spends the winter of 333 BCE
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. -
331 BCE
he creates the city of Alexandria
In 331 BCE, he creates the city of Alexandria, 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. -
328 BCE
He and his close companion Cleitus
Suffering from the tensions of warfare and command, Alexander becomes drunk at a banquet in the
fall of 328 B.C. He and his close companion Cleitus, who saved his life at the battle of Granicus, fall into an
argument. -
327 BCE
Alexander marries Roxane, the prince's daughter.
In the Summer of
327 B.C., 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. -
326 BCE
Alexander and his troops cross the Hindu Kush into northern India.
In May 326 B.C., 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 Hydaspes River, after
figuring out how to attack Porus' war elephants.