Alexander the Great

Birth of Alexander

356 BCE

Alexander born in Pella, Macedonia to King Phillip ll

Aristotle tutor Alexander

343 BCE

King Philip ll hires a Greek philosopher Aristotle to tutor Alexander.

Alexander join the army

340 BCE

Alexander finishes studying under Aristotle and join his father's army.

Alexxander leads the attack against the Thebans

338 BCE

Alexander's first taste of battle, and he and his father defeat the Greeks, placing all Greeks city-states except Sparta under Macedonian control.

Becomes king

336 BCE

Alexander becomes king of Macedonia at age of 20

Alexander plans his campaign against the Persians

335 BCE

The Thracians and Illyrians rise up in rebellion. The inspires the Greek city-state of Thebes to rebel, and Alexander quickly besiege 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. After subduing rebellious Greek city-states, Alexander plans his campaign against the Persians, hoping to fulfill his father's dream of conquering the empire.

Alexander supply his troops

334 BCE

Though his advisers object and Macedonia is virtually bankrupt, Alexander borrows money to supply his troops for one month and departs for Asia in the spring.

Alexander leads Macedonian army

334 BCE

In June Alexander leads he Macedonian army against the Persian at the Granicus river. After savage fighting, the Persian 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 at Gordium

333 BCE

Alexander spends the winter 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.

Creation of the city of Alexandria

331 BCE

After conquering Syria, Alexander sweeps south ans easily conquers Egypt after besieging Gaza. In 331 BCE, he creates the city of Alexandria, which is meant to be a hub of Greek commerce and culture, This is one of many cities he names after himself during his conquests.

Alexander the Great conquered Babylon

331 BCE

Alexander moves from one major Persian city to the next, conquering Babylon 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.

Argument between Alexander and Granicus

328 BCE

Suffering from the tensions of warfare and command, Alexander becomes drunk at a banquet in the fall. 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. However, this incident marks a turning point for Alexander, whose officers begin to fear him.

Alexander marries Roxane

327 BCE

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's army refuse to continue fighting

326 BCE

In may, 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 Hydases 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 forced to return to Babylon. He spends the next years trying to consolidate power in his empire.

Death of Alexander

323 BCE

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 323 B.C.