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Alexander the Great Born Late July 356 BC in Pella, Macedonia Died June, 10 323 BC in The Palace of Nabukodonossor, Babylon Alexandros III Philippou Makedonon, (Alexander the Great, Alexander III of Macedon), King of Macedonia, was born in July 356 BC in Pella, Macedonia. He was one of the greatest military geniuses in history. His father, Philip II of Macedon, was a brilliant ruler and strategist. His mother was Olympias, princess of Epirus, daughter of King Neoptolemus. Arixstandros Telmisy, a renowned dream interpreter, determined that Olympias was pregnant, and that the child would have the character of a lion. Even as a young boy Alexander was fearless and strong.
At the age of twelve, he tamed the beautiful and spirited Bucephalus ("ox-head" in Greek), a horse that no one else could ride. Philip was so proud of Alexander's horsemanship that he said, O my son, seek out a kingdom worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee. Alexander knew the Iliad by heart. He loved Homer, and always slept with a copy of the Iliad under his pillow. Leonidas was Alexanders first teacher.
He was a relative of Olympias. Leonidas instilled in Alexander the Spartan way of life which made Alexander into a militaristic machine. Leonidas was replaced with Lysimachus, who taught Alexander to play the lyre, and to appreciate the arts. From age 13 to 16, together with the other boys belonging to the Macedonian aristocracy, Aristotle, at the Meta temple, taught Alexander. Alexander's actions were inspired by Dionysius, Hercules, Achilles, and Cyrus the Great.
His actions were guided by the sprit of Homer, who appeared in his dreams. The Iliad was his manual of war. Like Achilles, he was a superhuman hero and warrior. He exposed himself often to extreme danger during battle. Alexander could support pain, hunger, thirst, heat, desperation and great suffering with immense patience, like Hercules. Alexander admired the personality of Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Persian Empire, whose example and politics he imitated during the creation of his universal empire.
Like Cyrus, Alexander respected the tradition and religion of people he dominated. The Iliad taught him that he could have only two epic and noble passions: furious anger and disinterested generous friendship. Alexander is described as having an athletic frame, but not taller than any other common man in his day, and a white and reddish complexion. His eyes looked watery and his hair resembled that of a lion. He carried his head oblique. The greatest artists of the time made portraits of him.
Lysippus made sculptures, Apelles made paintings and Pyrgoteles made gems. Among the surviving monuments, we have no completely certified portraits, except the Tivoli herm and the coins struck by his successors. During Philip's expedition against Byzantium in 340 BC, Alexander, then sixteen years old, was left in charge of Macedonia. He took the throne like he was already king. He subdued the rebellious Made, a Thracian tribe. He took their capital city and drove out its inhabitants.
He created a colony of several nations in their region. He called the new city Alexandropolis. At the battle of Chaeronea, Philip defeated the allied Greek states of the Sacred Band of Thebes in September 338 BC. At that time, Alexander was only 18 and having been placed in command of the left wing of Philip's cavalry, he demonstrated personal courage when he broke the band. It is said he was the first man to charge against the Thebans. Although Philip's army was greatly outnumbered by the Athenian and Theban troops, the Macedonian phalanxes triumphed over them.
Athens and Thebes also came under Philip's rule. Sparta remained the only Greek state not under Macedonian control. The courage demonstrated by Alexander made Philip very proud. The subjects started to call him their king before he even took the throne.
In 337 BC, Philip declared war on Persia with the support of Greece. In the spring of 336 BC, Philip sent Attalus and Parmenion with the army of 10, 000 men into Asia Minor to begin the liberation of Greek coastal cities. On his way to the theater at Ege, the ancient capital of Macedonia, Philip was assassinated by his officer, Pausanias, during the celebration of his daughter's wedding to Olympias' brother, Alexander of Epirus, in July 336. Alexander was immediately presented to the army as the new King of Macedon.
Philip's last wife, Cleopatra, had an uncle and guardian, Attalus, who had been sent to Asia to share command of the forces with Parmenion. Attalus became very popular within the army. Alexander at once executed all those who were alleged to be behind Philip's murder along with all possible rivals and everyone who was opposed to him. Attalus still remained a rival to the throne, even though he was loyal to Philip. Alexander was determined to get rid of Attalus discreetly. He chose Hecataeus from Card to capture or kill Attalus.
He was sent off to Asia with a number of soldiers under orders to bring back Attalus because he was accused of high treason. If they couldnt bring him back alive they were to assassinate him. Alexander then marched south and at an assembly of the Greek League at Corinth, was confirmed as stratego's autocratic, (the supreme commander of the Hellenes against the barbarians). The Greek states were growing restless of the Macedonian domination. In the meantime a rumor of Alexander's death in Illyria had caused a revolt by the Thebans. By a forced march, Alexander took the Thebans completely by surprise, and in a few days the city, which a generation before had won the headship of Greece, was taken.
In only 14 days Alexander marched 236. 12 miles from Pelion, in Illyria, to Thebes. When the Thebans refused to surrender, Alexander had no mercy on them. The city was wiped out of existence. In the spring of 334, Alexander crossed the Dardanelles, (Hellespont), with an army of 30, 000 men into Asia. The place of concentration was Arise on the Hellespont, leaving Antipater, the general and friend of his father, as his deputy in Europe with over 13, 000 troops.
Alexander himself commanded about 35, 000. Alexander's second in command was Parmenio, who had secured a foothold in Asia Minor during Philip's lifetime. Many of his family and supporters were fixed in responsible positions. Explorers, engineers, architects, scientists, court officials and historians accompanied the army.
To meet the invader, the Persians had an army in Asia Minor waiting that was larger than Alexander's. Strategic considerations were cancelled by the Persian barons' code of chivalry, and Alexander found them waiting for him on the banks of the Granicus River. The Persian plan to tempt Alexander across the river and kill him in the melee almost succeeded, but the Persian line broke, and Alexander's victory was complete. This victory opened western Asia Minor to the Macedonians, and most cities opened their gates. Alexander could now accomplish the first part of the task belonging to him as supreme commander of the Hellenes, which was the liberation of the Greek city-states of Asia Minor. Alexander conquered the western part of Asia Minor in winter 334 - 333.
He came head to head with King Darius during the Battle of Issus on the northeast Mediterranean coast. Although Alexander was advancing south, he was surprised to find Darius approaching from his north. He fought Darius army near the town of Issus. Both sides were surprised to see each other.
Darius fled north. He didnt follow after Darius even though their camp fell into Alexanders hands. Alexander was outnumbered ten to one. Even so, he held back a reserve force, for the first time in the military history. In 332 BC, Alexander marched south from Issus into Syria and Phoenicia.
In reply to a letter from Darius offering peace, Alexander replied with resolve, demanding unconditional surrender to himself as Lord of Asia. After taking Byblos and Sidon, ...
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