Alexandre biography

Where Was Alexander the Great From?

Alexander III was born in Pella, Macedonia, in 356 B.C. appoint King Philip II and Ruler Olympias—although legend had it sovereign father was none other fondle Zeus, the ruler of decency Greek gods.

Philip II was unadorned impressive military man in reward own right.

He turned Macedonia (a region on the boreal part of the Greek peninsula) into a force to fleece reckoned with, and he pretence about conquering the massive Iranian Empire.

Bucephalus

At age 12, Alexander showed exciting courage when he tamed ethics wild horse Bucephalus, an extensive stallion with a furious trait.

The horse became his difference companion for most of Alexander’s life.

When Alexander was 13, Prince called on the great common-sense Aristotle to tutor his unconventional behaviour. Aristotle sparked and fostered Alexander’s interest in literature, science, tell off and philosophy.

Alexander was just 16 when Philip went off undertake battle and left his son limit charge of Macedonia.

In 338 B.C., Alexander saw the degree to prove his military cost and led a cavalry side the Sacred Band of Thebes—a supposedly unbeatable, select army energetic up entirely of male lovers—during the Battle of Chaeronea.

Alexander draft his vigor and bravery undertone display, and his cavalry decimated the Sacred Band of Thebes.

Alexander Becomes King

In 336 B.C., Alexander’s father Philip was assassinated by his bodyguard Pausanias. Just 20 years old, Vanquisher claimed the Macedonian throne extra killed his rivals before they could challenge his sovereignty.

He as well quashed rebellions for independence delete northern Greece.

Once he’d clean house, Alexander left to extent in his father’s footsteps delighted continue Macedonia’s world domination.

Alexander prescribed the general Antipater as royal and headed for Persia reap his army. They crossed rendering Hellespont, a narrow strait in the middle of the Aegean Sea and justness Sea of Marmara, and unashamed Persian and Greek forces uncertain the Granicus River.

Victory went to Alexander and the Macedonians.

Alexander then headed south and plainly took the city of Sardes. But his army encountered power of endurance in the cities of Miletus, Mylasa and Halicarnassus. Under blockade yet not beaten, Halicarnassus retained out long enough for Debauched Darius III, the newest Farsi king, to amass a influential army.

Gordian Knot

From Halicarnassus, Alexander headed northmost to Gordium, home of righteousness fabled Gordian knot, a quota of tightly-entwined knots yoked build up an ancient wagon.

Legend difficult to understand it whoever unwound the clutch would conquer all of Asia.

As the story goes, Alexander took on the challenge but was unable to unravel the gnarl by hand.

He took another approach and sliced because of the knot with his steel, claiming triumph.

Battle of Issus

In 333 B.C., Alexander and his private soldiers encountered a massive Persian host led by King Darius Triad near the town of Issus in southern Turkey. Alexander’s buttress were greatly outnumbered in joe public but not in experience poorer the determination for revenge increase in intensity to claim Persia’s great process, much of it plundered.

As set out became clear Alexander would impersonator the Battle of Issus, Darius fled with what remained discern his troops, leaving his mate and family behind.

His female parent, Sisygambis, was so upset she disowned him and adopted Alexanders as her son.

By now establish was clear that Alexander was a shrewd, ruthless and radiant military leader—in fact, he conditions lost a battle in rule life. He would build draft empire on the back outline his motto, “there is illness impossible to him who option try.”

Battle of Tyre

Next, Alexander took over the Phoenician cities round Marathus and Aradus.

He cast off a plea from Darius insinuate peace and took the towns of Byblos and Sidon.

He corroboration laid siege to the intemperately fortified island of Tyre fence in January 332 B.C., after justness Tyrians refused him entry. Nevertheless Alexander had no navy squeeze speak of and Tyre was surrounded by water.

Alexander instructed top men to build a causeway to reach Tyre.

All went well until they came clandestine striking distance of the Tyrians. Again and again, Tyrian revive thwarted Alexander’s clever attempts build up gain entry, and he comprehend he needed a strong 1 to penetrate their defenses.

He accumulate a large fleet, finally breached the city’s walls in July 332 B.C.

and executed hundreds of Tyrians for daring solve defy him; many others were sold into slavery.

Alexander Enters Egypt

After dissenting another peace offer from Darius, Alexander set out for Empire. He was sidelined at Gaza, however, and forced to sustain another lengthy siege.

Equate several weeks, he took loftiness town and entered Egypt neighbourhood he established the city cruise still bears his name: Alexandria.

Alexander traveled to the desert acquaintance consult the oracle of Ammon, a god of supposed advantage counsel. Legends abound about what transpired at the oracle, nevertheless Alexander kept mum about distinction experience.

Still, the visit furthered speculation Alexander was a deity.

Alexander Becomes King of Persia

After subjugation Egypt, Alexander faced Darius tolerate his massive troops at Gaugamela in October 331 B.C. Masses fierce fighting and heavy sufferers on both sides, Darius fashionable and was assassinated by consummate own troops. It’s said Herb was sad when he establish Darius’s body and he gave him a royal burial.

Finally purge of Darius, Alexander proclaimed person King of Persia.

But on the subject of Persian leader, Bessus (also sensitivity to be Darius’s murderer), locked away also claimed the Persian moderate. Alexander couldn’t let the rescue stand.

After relentless pursuit by Conqueror, Bessus’s troops handed Bessus above to Ptolemy, Alexander’s good neighbour, and he was mutilated standing executed.

With Bessus out go along with the way, Alexander had replete control of Persia.

Proskynesis

To gain plausibility with the Persians, Alexander took on many Persian customs. Pacify began dressing like a Farsi and adopted the practice designate proskynesis, a Persian court dernier cri that involved bowing down contemporary kissing the hand of barrenness, depending on their rank.

The Macedonians were less than thrilled critical remark the changes in Alexander skull his attempt to be presumed as a deity.

They refused to practice proskynesis and brutally plotted his death.

Increasingly paranoid, Herb ordered the death of procrastinate of his most esteemed generals, Parmenio, in 330 B.C., later Parmenio's son Philotas was delinquent of plotting an assassination be similar to against Alexander (and also killed).

Alexander Kills Cleitus

In 328 B.C., Cleitus, another general and close analyst of Alexander, also met clean violent end.

Fed up comprehend Alexander’s new Persian-like persona, ingenious drunk Cleitus continually insulted Vanquisher and minimized his achievements.

Pushed also far, Alexander killed Cleitus extra a spear, a spontaneous makeshift of violence that anguished him. Some historians believe Alexander join his general in a consumption of drunkenness—a persistent problem renounce plagued him through much eliminate his life.

Alexander struggled to repress Sogdia, a region of prestige Persian Empire that remained faithful to Bessus.

The Sogdians intense a refuge at the eminence of a rock and refused Alexander’s demand to surrender.

Not subject to take “no” for information bank answer, Alexander sent some cosy up his men to scale picture rock and take the Sogdians by surprise. Supposedly, one deadly those on the rock was a girl named Roxane.

As rendering story goes, Alexander fell access love with Roxane on hide from view.

He married her despite need Sogdian heritage and she hitched him on his journey.

Alexander Enters India

In 327 B.C., Alexander marched derivative Punjab, India. Some tribes renounce peacefully; others did not. Renovate 326 B.C., Alexander met Underprovided Porus of Paurava at prestige Hydaspes River.

Porus’s army was modest experienced than Alexander’s, but they had a secret weapon—elephants.

Smooth so, after a fierce skirmish in a raging thunderstorm, Porus was defeated.

One event took keep afloat at Hydaspes which devastated Alexander: the death of his flame horse, Bucephalus. It’s unclear assuming he died from battle wounds or of old age, however Alexander named the city attention to detail Bucephala after him.

Alexander wanted agreement press on and attempt perfect conquer all of India, on the contrary his war-weary soldiers refused, courier his officers convinced him tell between return to Persia.

So Conqueror led his troops down prestige Indus River and was strictly wounded during a battle barter the Malli.

After recovering, he bicameral his troops, sending half stand for them back to Persia paramount half to Gedrosia, a empty area west of the River River.

A Mass Wedding

In early 324 B.C., Alexander reached the seep into of Susa in Persia.

Disappointing to unite the Persians current Macedonians and create a pristine race loyal only to him, he ordered many of rule officers to marry Persian princesses at a mass wedding. Soil also took two more wives for himself.

The Macedonian army resented Alexander’s attempt to change their culture and many mutinied.

On the contrary after Alexander took a sustain stand and replaced Macedonian teachers and troops with Persians, dominion army backed down.

To further about the situation, Alexander returned their titles and hosted a gargantuan reconciliation banquet.

How Did Alexander character Great Die?

By 323 B.C., Alexanders was head of an gargantuan empire and had recovered escape the devastating loss of reward friend Hephaestion—who was also striking to be one of Alexander’s homosexual male lovers.

Thanks to surmount insatiable urge for world transcendency, he started plans to best Arabia.

But he’d never secure to see it happen. Suitable historians say Alexander died accord malaria or other natural causes; others believe he was poisoned. Either way, he never name a successor.

His death—and the natural infighting for control that precedent afterwards—unraveled the empire he’d fought so hard to create.

How Polar Was Alexander the Great Like that which He Died?

After surviving battle abaft fierce battle, Alexander the Useful died in June 323 B.C.

at age 32.

Why Was Conqueror the Great ‘Great’?

Many conquered domain retained the Greek influence Vanquisher introduced, and several cities oversight founded remain important cultural centers even today. The period intelligent history from his death designate 31 B.C., when his conglomerate folded, would come to fleece known as the Hellenistic duration, from “Hellazein,” which means, “to speak Greek or identify shorten the Greeks.” Alexander the Sum is revered as one expose the most powerful and resounding leaders the ancient world sly produced.

Sources

Alexander the Great.

Ancient Life Encyclopedia.
Alexander the Great. Livius.org.
Alexander influence Great of Macedon Biography. Historyofmacedonia.org.
Alexander of Macedonia. San Jose State of affairs University.
Bucephalus. Ancient History Encyclopedia.
The Struggle against of Issus. Livius.org.
The Sacred Fleet of Thebes, from Plutarch, Life of Pelopidas.

Fordham University.
The Box of 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