Alexander the Great, one of the most iconic historical figures, was born in 356 BC in Pella, Macedonia, to King Philip II and Queen Olympias. He was tutored by the famous philosopher Aristotle and received rigorous physical training. Following his father's assassination in 336 BC, Alexander succeeded him at just 20 years old and quickly secured his throne by defeating potential rivals and taking control of the Macedonian army.
Alexander then embarked on a series of conquests, beginning with the defeat of the Persians at the Battle of Granicus in 334 BC. He then marched through Asia Minor, conquering key cities and eventually defeating the Persian King Darius III at the Battle of Issus in 333 BC. Alexander continued his campaign, conquering Egypt, Babylon, and Persepolis, and eventually adopting the title of "King of Kings."
Alexander's empire stretched from Greece to India, but his growing despotism and the vastness of his empire led to discontent among his soldiers. He began his return to the West in 324 BC and eventually settled in Babylon, where he started numerous projects to build monuments and engrave his name in stone. However, his life was cut short when he died at the age of 32, reportedly due to illness, although some theories suggest poisoning.
Alexander's legacy was profound, and his death marked the beginning of the Hellenistic period in ancient Greece. Despite his ambitious project to create a universal empire, his empire was eventually divided among his generals, making it one of the shortest-lived in history.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Alexander the Great was born in the summer of 356 BC in the city of Pela, Macedonia.
2. He was the son of King Philip II and Olympia of Pyrus.
3. Alexander's teacher was the famous philosopher Aristotle.
4. Alexander was trained in history, literature, geography, mathematics, ethics, politics, philosophy, and medicine.
5. Alexander's father was assassinated in 336 BC.
6. Alexander succeeded his father at the age of 20 and was proclaimed king.
7. He received the oath of fidelity from the nobility and the representatives of the army.
8. Alexander had his half-brother Carano and his first cousin Amyntas the Fourth executed.
9. He sent a man to Asia to put an end to Attala, the commander-in-chief of the Macedonian army.
10. Alexander's mother, Olympia, had Filippo's last wife, Cleopatra Eurydice, and her young daughter, Europa, murdered.
11. Alexander faced his neighbors in a quick campaign and conquered most of Greece.
12. He visited the oracle of Delphi to seek the support of the local gods.
13. Alexander marched to Asia with an army of 37,000 troops in 334 BC.
14. He conquered cities like Sardis, Ephesus, Miletus, and Halicarnassus.
15. Alexander's first great victory against the Persians took place on the Granicus River in 334 BC.
16. He defeated the Persian king Darius III in the Battle of Issus in 333 BC.
17. Alexander conquered the Mediterranean coast, including Phoenician Syria and Gaza.
18. He stopped in Egypt and was proclaimed pharaoh.
19. Alexander founded the city of Alexandria in 331 BC.
20. He conquered Mesopotamia and took advantage of the Persian king's gathering of a powerful army.
21. Alexander defeated the Persian king in the Battle of Gaugamela.
22. He occupied and subjected the Ircania area and reached the Kabul Valley in what is now Afghanistan.
23. Alexander captured the Persian king's killer, Bessus.
24. He entered India in 327 BC and crossed the Indus River.
25. Alexander defeated local kings and reached the farthest point any Western person had reached.
26. He began his return to the West, defeating all the peoples who came his way.
27. Alexander settled in Babylon in 323 BC and began numerous works to fill the city with new and majestic monuments.
28. He died on the night of June 10, 323 BC, at the age of 32, due to an illness or possibly poisoning.
29. Alexander's death marked the beginning of the Hellenistic period in ancient Greek history.
30. His empire was divided among his generals after his death.