alexander the great

  • 356 BCE

    birth of alexander

    birth of alexander
    born in macedonia
  • 343 BCE

    Aristotle to tutor Alexander

    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.

    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.

    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

    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.

    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.

    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
    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

    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

    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.

    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.

    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.