Alexander the Great.

Birth of Alexander the Great.

356 BCE

Born in Macedonia to King Philip II.

Philip trains Alexander.

343 BCE

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.

Alexander joins his father's army.

340 BCE

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.

Macedonians meet the Athenians and Thebans.

338 BCE

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.

Alexander becomes king of Macedonia.

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.

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, showing the other city-states that Alexander is just as powerful as his father.

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.

Alexander spends the winter at Gordium, in present-day Turkey.

333 BCE

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. 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.

Alexander conquer Babylon

331 BCE

Alexander moves from one major Persian city to the next, conquering Babylon on October 18, 331 BCE, 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.

Alexander becomes drunk

328 BCE

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. Alexander accidentally stabs Cleitus with a spear, and is filled with remorse at Cleitus' death.

Alexander marries Roxane, the prince's daughter.

327 BCE

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.

Alexander and his troops cross the Hindu Kush into northern India.

326 BCE

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. After several months in India, however, Alexander's army refuses to go any farther, and he is forced to return to Babylon.

Alexander dies at the age of 32

323 BCE

He spends the next few years trying to consolidate power in his
empire. Before he can set
out on his new campaign,
Alexander falls ill with a
sudden fever and dies at the
age of 32 in June. According to legend, he leaves his empire to "the strongest" of his commanders, but after his death, his empire falls into disorder. His three commanders divide up the empire and compete for control.