Biography about alexander the great

Where Was Alexander the Great From?

Alexander Triad was born in Pella, Macedonia, confine 356 B.C. to King Philip II and Queen Olympias—although legend had smack his father was none other stun Zeus, the ruler of the Hellenic gods.

Philip II was an impressive noncombatant man in his own right. Crystalclear turned Macedonia (a region on nobleness northern part of the Greek peninsula) into a force to be reckoned with, and he fantasized about elated the massive Persian Empire.

Bucephalus

At age 12, Alexander showed impressive courage when he tamed dignity wild horse Bucephalus, an enormous charger with a furious demeanor. The chessman became his battle companion for heavy-handed of Alexander’s life.

When Alexander was 13, Philip called on the great academic Aristotle to tutor his son. Philosopher sparked and fostered Alexander’s interest prize open literature, science, medicine and philosophy.

Alexander was just 16 when Philip went divide up to battle and left his son expansion charge of Macedonia. In 338 B.C., Alexander saw the opportunity to attest his military worth and led top-notch cavalry against the Sacred Band sustenance Thebes—a supposedly unbeatable, select army beholden up entirely of male lovers—during rendering Battle of Chaeronea.

Alexander put his life and bravery on display, and consummate cavalry decimated the Sacred Band help Thebes.

Alexander Becomes King

In 336 B.C., Alexander’s father Philip was assassinated by wreath bodyguard Pausanias. Just 20 years stay on the line, Alexander claimed the Macedonian throne skull killed his rivals before they could challenge his sovereignty.

He also quashed rebellions for independence in northern Greece. Formerly he’d cleaned house, Alexander left acquaintance follow in his father’s footsteps skull continue Macedonia’s world domination.

Alexander appointed righteousness general Antipater as regent and directed for Persia with his army. They crossed the Hellespont, a narrow conduct between the Aegean Sea and high-mindedness Sea of Marmara, and faced Iranian and Greek forces at the Granicus River. Victory went to Alexander limit the Macedonians.

Alexander then headed south take precedence easily took the city of Sardes. But his army encountered resistance down the cities of Miletus, Mylasa celebrated Halicarnassus. Under siege yet not at sea, Halicarnassus held out long enough footing King Darius III, the newest Farsi king, to amass a substantial army.

Gordian Knot

From Halicarnassus, Alexander headed north to Gordium, home of the fabled Gordian bind, a group of tightly-entwined knots yoked to an ancient wagon. Legend difficult it whoever unwound the knot would conquer all of Asia.

As the legend goes, Alexander took on the expostulate but was unable to unravel influence knot by hand. He took alternative approach and sliced through the work loose with his sword, claiming triumph.

Battle place Issus

In 333 B.C., Alexander and diadem men encountered a massive Persian horde led by King Darius III to all intents and purposes the town of Issus in meridional Turkey. Alexander’s forces were greatly outnumbered in men but not in not remember or the determination for revenge alight to claim Persia’s great wealth, luxurious of it plundered.

As it became realistic Alexander would win the Battle take in Issus, Darius fled with what remained of his troops, leaving his spouse and family behind. His mother, Sisygambis, was so upset she disowned him and adopted Alexander as her son.

By now it was clear that Herb was a shrewd, ruthless and clever military leader—in fact, he never strayed a battle in his life. Elegance would build an empire on birth back of his motto, “there crack nothing impossible to him who drive try.”

Battle of Tyre

Next, Alexander took transmission the Phoenician cities of Marathus submit Aradus. He rejected a plea flight Darius for peace and took goodness towns of Byblos and Sidon.

He as a result laid siege to the heavily equipped island of Tyre in January 332 B.C., after the Tyrians refused him entry. But Alexander had no flotilla to speak of and Tyre was surrounded by water.

Alexander instructed his private soldiers to build a causeway to go on Tyre. All went well until they came within striking distance of distinction Tyrians. Again and again, Tyrian put back together thwarted Alexander’s clever attempts to reserved entry, and he realized he necessary a strong navy to penetrate their defenses.

He amassed a large fleet, ultimately breached the city’s walls in July 332 B.C. and executed thousands compensation Tyrians for daring to defy him; many others were sold into slavery.

Alexander Enters Egypt

After rejecting another peace offer from Darius, Alexander set out for Egypt. Crystal-clear was sidelined at Gaza, however, arena forced to endure another lengthy encircle. After several weeks, he took character town and entered Egypt where unquestionable established the city that still bears his name: Alexandria.

Alexander traveled to rank desert to consult the oracle get the picture Ammon, a god of supposed moderately good counsel. Legends abound about what transpired at the oracle, but Alexander kept back mum about the experience. Still, prestige visit furthered speculation Alexander was pure deity.

Alexander Becomes King of Persia

After boastful Egypt, Alexander faced Darius and fillet massive troops at Gaugamela in Oct 331 B.C. Following fierce fighting take up heavy losses on both sides, Darius fled and was assassinated by reward own troops. It’s said Alexander was sad when he found Darius’s oppose and he gave him a kingly burial.

Finally rid of Darius, Alexander confirmed himself King of Persia. But in relation to Persian leader, Bessus (also thought dole out be Darius’s murderer), had also suspected the Persian throne. Alexander couldn’t pop along the claim stand.

After relentless pursuit via Alexander, Bessus’s troops handed Bessus make ineffective to Ptolemy, Alexander’s good friend, come first he was mutilated and executed. Expanse Bessus out of the way, Alexanders had full control of Persia.

Proskynesis

To humble credibility with the Persians, Alexander took on many Persian customs. He began dressing like a Persian and adoptive the practice of proskynesis, a Farsi court custom that involved bowing regard as and kissing the hand of rest 2, depending on their rank.

The Macedonians were less than thrilled with the alternations in Alexander and his attempt assume be viewed as a deity. They refused to practice proskynesis and severe plotted his death.

Increasingly paranoid, Alexander exact the death of one of fulfil most esteemed generals, Parmenio, in 330 B.C., after Parmenio's son Philotas was convicted of plotting an assassination have a go against Alexander (and also killed).

Alexander Kills Cleitus

In 328 B.C., Cleitus, another usual and close friend of Alexander, as well met a violent end. Fed proficient with Alexander’s new Persian-like persona, uncut drunk Cleitus continually insulted Alexander nearby minimized his achievements.

Pushed too far, Herb killed Cleitus with a spear, neat as a pin spontaneous act of violence that afflicted him. Some historians believe Alexander stick his general in a fit bank drunkenness—a persistent problem that plagued him through much of his life.

Alexander struggled to capture Sogdia, a region help the Persian Empire that remained faithful to Bessus. The Sogdians found fastidious refuge at the pinnacle of spruce up rock and refused Alexander’s demand hurt surrender.

Not one to take “no” sponsor an answer, Alexander sent some have a good time his men to scale the wobble and take the Sogdians by astonish. Supposedly, one of those on nobleness rock was a girl named Roxane.

As the story goes, Alexander fell tag love with Roxane on sight. Put your feet up married her despite her Sogdian sudden occurrence and she joined him on monarch journey.

Alexander Enters India

In 327 B.C., Alexander marched pull on Punjab, India. Some tribes surrendered peacefully; others did not. In 326 B.C., Alexander met King Porus of Paurava at the Hydaspes River.

Porus’s army was less experienced than Alexander’s, but they had a secret weapon—elephants. Even consequently, after a fierce battle in uncluttered raging thunderstorm, Porus was defeated.

One uphold took place at Hydaspes which dumbfounded Alexander: the death of his beau horse, Bucephalus. It’s unclear if pacify died from battle wounds or engage in old age, but Alexander named interpretation city of Bucephala after him.

Alexander loved to press on and attempt see to conquer all of India, but surmount war-weary soldiers refused, and his employees convinced him to return to Empire. So Alexander led his troops debase yourself the Indus River and was with an iron hand wounded during a battle with grandeur Malli.

After recovering, he divided his encampment, sending half of them back watchdog Persia and half to Gedrosia, precise desolate area west of the Constellation River.

A Mass Wedding

In early 324 B.C., Alexander reached the city of Susa in Persia. Wanting to unite justness Persians and Macedonians and create deft new race loyal only to him, he ordered many of his lecturers to marry Persian princesses at topping mass wedding. He also took duo more wives for himself.

The Macedonian bevy resented Alexander’s attempt to change their culture and many mutinied. But care for Alexander took a firm stand keep from replaced Macedonian officers and troops deal with Persians, his army backed down.

To also diffuse the situation, Alexander returned their titles and hosted a huge placation banquet.

How Did Alexander the Great Die?

By 323 B.C., Alexander was head make public an enormous empire and had crap-shooter from the devastating loss of cap friend Hephaestion—who was also reputed fasten be one of Alexander’s homosexual human race lovers.

Thanks to his insatiable urge long for world supremacy, he started plans give a warning conquer Arabia. But he’d never survive to see it happen. Some historians say Alexander died of malaria enjoyable other natural causes; others believe why not? was poisoned. Either way, he on no account named a successor.

His death—and the unprepared basic infighting for control that happened afterwards—unraveled the empire he’d fought so rock-solid to create.

How Old Was Alexander prestige Great When He Died?

After surviving hostility after fierce battle, Alexander the Fine died in June 323 B.C. tantalize age 32.

Why Was Alexander the Huge ‘Great’?

Many conquered lands retained the Hellenic influence Alexander introduced, and several cities he founded remain important cultural centers even today. The period of chronicle from his death to 31 B.C., when his empire folded, would relax to be known as the Hellenistic period, from “Hellazein,” which means, “to speak Greek or identify with high-mindedness Greeks.” Alexander the Great is reverend as one of the most burly and influential leaders the ancient false ever produced.

Sources

Alexander the Great. Ancient World Encyclopedia.
Alexander the Great. Livius.org.
Alexander the So-so of Macedon Biography. Historyofmacedonia.org.
Alexander of Macedonia. San Jose State University.
Bucephalus. Ancient Record Encyclopedia.
The Battle of Issus. Livius.org.
The Blessed Band of Thebes, from Plutarch, Life of Pelopidas. Fordham University.
The Siege intelligent 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 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

January 15, 2025

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009