Alexander the Great

Sources

ArrianAnabasis Alexandri

Plutarch Life of Alexander

Diodorus Bibliotheca, Book 17

Q. Curtius Rufus

Birth and Youth:

Son of Philip II and Olympias

Born 20 July, 356

Aristotle hired to tutor the prince (343)

340: Alexander subdues the Maedi

338: Commanded the Companion Cavalry at Chaeronea on 4 Aug.

Pella Mosaic

Accession

October 336: Philip assassinated

Alexander succeeds unopposedAttalus, Cleopatra and her son executed

Alexander assumed hegemony of the League of Corinth

335: Campaigns in Thrace, Illyria, Paeonia

Thebes

Sept. 335:Macedonian garrison besieged

Word spread of Alexander’s death

Alexander:Marched to Boeotia in 12 days

Thebes razed, early Oct.

“They spared neither woman nor child” (Arrian Anab. 8.8)

Alexander’s Early reign

Crossing the Hellespont

Spring 334: Crossed into

Asia at Sestos/Abydus

30,000 infantry; 5000 cavalry

Battle of the River Granicus

June, 334.

Persians: Chose to defend Asia Minor

20,000 mercenaries; 20,000 horse

Alexander: Cavalry battle

Clitus narrowly saves Alexander

2000 Athenian mercenaries captured

Asia Minor

Issus

Sept. 333Alexander arrives in Cilicia

One month illness

Nov. 333Darius III with main Persian army

Battle of Issus

Alexander captures royal family

Issus

Levant

Siege of TyreJan - Aug 332

Darius offers terms

Siege of GazaSept - Oct 332

Asia Minor

Egypt

Alexander crowned PharaohNovember 332

Temple of Ammon at Siwa , "Rejoice, son. And consider this

greeting to have come from the god." (Diod.17.51.1)

Alexandria: 7 April 331

March to Thapsacus in July 331

Egypt

Gaugamela

Darius with 600,000 at GaugamelaAlexander with 60,00001 Oct. 331Alexander defeats Persian armyDarius escapes again

Babylon and Susa fallAlexander in PersepolisJanuary 330

Persepolis

Death of Darius

Persepolis burned, May 330

Ecbatana

Darius murdered, July 330

Conspiracy of Philotas Philotas and Parmenion executed

Alexander, an Asian King

Median dress

Claims of divinity

Obeisance (proscunesis)

Persian officers

“It was in fact at this time that Alexander gave loose rein to his passions” (Curtius 6.6.1)

The Upper Satrapies

The Upper Satrapies

Jaxartes Border; 329

The Sogdian Rock, 328

Murder of Clitus, 328

Marriage to Rhoxane, 327

India

May, 326: Battle of the Hydaspes River

Nov. 326 – July 325March south along the Indus

Alexander turns for home

India

Gedrosian Desert

To Babylon

Hephaestion:Dies of alcohol poisoning

Fall 324

Alexander falls ill:May 323

Alexander Dead 11 June, 323