ALEXANDER THE GREAT
Alexander the Macedonian was born in Pella, in the ancient Macedonia, on July 20, 356 BC. His parents were King Philip II of Macedonia and Queen Olympias. Together with his sister, he was raised in the royal court. Growing up, Alexander rarely saw his father, who has spent his time in the military campaigns or state affairs. Although the Olympias was a great role model for the boy, he was offended by his father's absence.
In 343 BC King Philip II hired the famous philosopher Aristotle to teach his son. Over three years Aristotle taught the boy about philosophy, poetry, drama, science and politics. As Aristotle saw that because of Homer's "Iliad" Alexander dreams of becoming a hero, he has made for his student abridged version of the book that Alexander could carry everywhere.
In 341 BC sixteen years old Alexander became a soldier and went to his first military expedition, in which he fought against the Thracians. He helped his father at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC against the united armies of Athens and Thebes. When Philip II managed to unite all the countries of Greece, except Sparta, in the League of Corinth, harmony between father and son disappeared. Philip married Cleopatra Eurydice and rejected Alexander’s mother Olympias. Alexander and his mother were forced to flee from Macedonia in Epirus, until father and son have not settled their differences.
MACEDONIAN KING
In 336 BC Alexander's sister married the Molossians’ king. At the wedding celebration that followed, Macedonian nobleman Pausanias killed King Philip II. As the title of king in Macedonia was not passed down from father to son, nineteen years old Alexander was determined to take the throne. He soon won the support of the Macedonian army, which has set him as the feudal king and pledged to help him kill the potential heirs to the throne. Olympias, which has above all loved her son, has secured his place on the throne by murdering daughter of King Philip II and Cleopatra Eurydice and thereby forcing her mother to commit suicide.
Although he was a feudal king, Alexander did not immediately gained control of the League of Corinth since the states after the death of King Philip showed different interests. Member of the Corinthian League wanted themselves to govern it, and they sent out an army on Alexander. Alexander had defeated the army, and his victory meant that he now has complete control of the League of Corinth. By the autumn of 336 BC Alexander also received the full military control of the Persian Empire.
CONQUESTS OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT
As Alexander was approaching the end of his military campaigns in the north, a Greek city-state of Thebes expelled the army which he had placed there. Fearing a rebellion of other city-states, Alexander with part of his vast army - made up of 3,000 horsemen and 30,000 pedestrians – went to the south while Alexander's general continued progress through Asia Minor.
Alexander arrived to Thebes so quickly that city didn’t have time to call its allies for help. In just three days in Thebes was massacre. Alexander hoped that the destruction of Thebes would serve as a warning to other city-states that were planning rebellion. Scare tactics proved to be effective since the Greek city-states decided to pledge allegiance to the Macedonian empire.
Alexander arrived to Thebes so quickly that city didn’t have time to call its allies for help. In just three days in Thebes was massacre. Alexander hoped that the destruction of Thebes would serve as a warning to other city-states that were planning rebellion. Scare tactics proved to be effective since the Greek city-states decided to pledge allegiance to the Macedonian empire.
In 334 BC Alexander arrived at Troy where he faced the Persian king Darius III. He quickly defeated Darius's army, and by the autumn that same year he crossed the southern coast of Asia Minor to the town of Gordium, where his army remained during the winter. In the year 333 BC, Alexander and Darius’ army faced once again and although the army of Alexander of Macedonian was outnumbered, he again managed to defeat Darius, prompting the Persian king to flee.
In November of 333 BC, Alexander was proclaimed king of Persia after he caught and captured Darius III. Next in Alexander's plan was the conquest of Egypt, in which he easily succeeded. Egypt fell without offering resistance, and in 331 BC Alexander founded the great city of Alexandria.
In November of 333 BC, Alexander was proclaimed king of Persia after he caught and captured Darius III. Next in Alexander's plan was the conquest of Egypt, in which he easily succeeded. Egypt fell without offering resistance, and in 331 BC Alexander founded the great city of Alexandria.
THE END OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT
The next march of Alexander was aimed at eastern Iran, where in 327 BC he created the Macedonian colony. After the capture of the Iranian prince, he married his daughter Roxanne. In 328 BC Alexander continued his campaigns towards India, where he defeated the army of King Porus. According to history, it was a bloody battle in which the army of India had two hundred war elephants, from which the Macedonian army barely defended themselves. Porus then captured Alexander, but he gained freedom, loyalty and Porus’ forgiveness as Alexander acknowledged Porus as a king again.
Alexander wanted to go on to conquer the whole world, but his army began to show signs of rebellion. As the soldiers refused to go into further campaigns, mostly due to exhaustion and the tropical heat, Alexander had no choice but to return. During the return across India many soldiers have come upon illness, injury and death, and Alexander the Great was wounded. He recovered in 325 BC and continued his way through the Persian Gulf.
Again, finding in Babylon, he began to draw up plans for a march on Africa. However, although the army was ready, the Macedonian Alexander died suddenly on June 13, 323 BC. It is believed that the cause of death was malaria. He was thirty-two years old when he died and did not witnessed the birth of his son. Roxana gave birth to Alexander IV a few months after the death of Alexander the Great.
Again, finding in Babylon, he began to draw up plans for a march on Africa. However, although the army was ready, the Macedonian Alexander died suddenly on June 13, 323 BC. It is believed that the cause of death was malaria. He was thirty-two years old when he died and did not witnessed the birth of his son. Roxana gave birth to Alexander IV a few months after the death of Alexander the Great.