Alexander the Great

Birth of Alexander

356 BCE

He is born in Pella. Macedonia to king Phillip

Aristotle teaches Alexander

343 BCE

he is hired to be the teacher of Alexander

Alexander dream of becoming a great warrior.

340 BCE

at age 16, Alexander finishes studying under Aristotle and joins his father's army.

Alexander leads the attack against the 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.

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.

The Thracians and Illyrians rise up in rebellion

335 BCE

the Thracians and Illyrians rise up in rebellion. 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

334 BCE

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. As they travel, they liberate a number of cities from Persian rule.

Alexander spends the winter 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.

creates the city of Alexandria

331 BCE

he creates the city of Alexandria, which is meant to be a hub of Greek commerce and culture. This is just
In 333 BC, wintering at Gordium,

Battle of Granicus, fall into an argument

328 BCE

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.

They defeat King Porus, leader of a kingdom east

326 BCE

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

Death of Alexander

323 BCE

He dies of a fever in Babylon on his way back to Greece