In July 356 BC, Alexander was born in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia. His parents were Philip II of Macedon and Olympias. Alexander was educated by the philosopher Aristotle. As a result of Philip’s assassination, Alexander inherited a powerful but volatile kingdom. At home, he dealt with his enemies quickly and reasserted Macedonian power in Greece. Then, he set out to conquer the vast Persian Empire.
In spite of overwhelming odds, he led his army to victories over the Persian territories of Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt without suffering a single defeat. It was at the Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC, in what is now northern Iraq, that he won his greatest victory. The young king of Macedonia, leader of the Greeks, ruler of Asia Minor, and pharaoh of Egypt, became ‘great king’ of Persia when he was only 25 years old.
Over the next eight years, as King, a commander, politician, scholar, and explorer, Alexander led his army 11,000 miles, founded over 70 cities, and built an empire spanning three continents and covering around two million square miles. Throughout the entire area from Greece in the west, across the Danube, south into Egypt, and as far east as the Indian Punjab, there was a vast international network of trade and commerce. Language and culture united these people, and the king adopted foreign customs to rule his millions of ethnically diverse subjects.
It was widely recognized that Alexander was a military genius who always led by example, even though his belief in his own indestructibility often led to reckless actions, both for himself and his soldiers. Even after a 13-year reign marked by constant violence, his army only refused to follow him once, indicating the loyalty he inspired.
In June 323 BC, he died of a fever in Babylon.
In little more than a decade, Alexander III of Macedon, aka Alexander the Great, changed the nature of ancient Europe and the ancient world as a whole.
In July 356 BC, Alexander was born in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia. His parents were Philip II of Macedon and Olympias. Alexander was educated by the philosopher Aristotle. As a result of Philip’s assassination, Alexander inherited a powerful but volatile kingdom. At home, he dealt with his enemies quickly and reasserted Macedonian power in Greece. Then, he set out to conquer the vast Persian Empire.
In spite of overwhelming odds, he led his army to victories over the Persian territories of Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt without suffering a single defeat. It was at the Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC, in what is now northern Iraq, that he won his greatest victory. The young king of Macedonia, leader of the Greeks, ruler of Asia Minor, and pharaoh of Egypt, became ‘great king’ of Persia when he was only 25 years old.
Over the next eight years, as King, a commander, politician, scholar, and explorer, Alexander led his army 11,000 miles, founded over 70 cities, and built an empire spanning three continents and covering around two million square miles. Throughout the entire area from Greece in the west, across the Danube, south into Egypt, and as far east as the Indian Punjab, there was a vast international network of trade and commerce. Language and culture united these people, and the king adopted foreign customs to rule his millions of ethnically diverse subjects.
It was widely recognized that Alexander was a military genius who always led by example, even though his belief in his own indestructibility often led to reckless actions, both for himself and his soldiers. Even after a 13-year reign marked by constant violence, his army only refused to follow him once, indicating the loyalty he inspired.
In June 323 BC, he died of a fever in Babylon.
