Alexander the Great | |||||
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Basileus of Macedon, Hegemon of the Hellenic League, Shahanshah of Persia, Pharaoh of Egypt, Lord of Asia | |||||
"Alexander fighting king Darius III of Persia", Alexander Mosaic, Naples National Archaeological Museum.
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King of Macedonia | |||||
Reign | 336–323 BC | ||||
Predecessor | Philip II | ||||
Successor |
Alexander IV Philip III |
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Pharaoh of Egypt | |||||
Reign | 332–323 BC | ||||
Predecessor | Darius III | ||||
Successor |
Alexander IV Philip III |
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King of Persia | |||||
Reign | 330–323 BC | ||||
Predecessor | Darius III | ||||
Successor |
Alexander IV Philip III |
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King of Asia | |||||
Reign | 331–323 BC | ||||
Predecessor | New office | ||||
Successor |
Alexander IV Philip III |
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Born | 20 or 21 July 356 BC Pella, Macedon |
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Died | 10 or 11 June 323 BC (aged 32) Babylon |
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Spouse |
Roxana of Bactria Stateira II of Persia Parysatis II of Persia |
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Issue | Alexander IV | ||||
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Greek |
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Dynasty | Argead | ||||
Father | Philip II of Macedon | ||||
Mother | Olympias of Epirus | ||||
Religion | Greek polytheism |
Full name | |
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Alexander III of Macedon |
Alexander III of Macedon (20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the Great (Greek: Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ Μέγας, Aléxandros ho Mégas Koine Greek: [a.lék.san.dros ho mé.gas] ), was a king (basileus) of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon and a member of the Argead dynasty. Born in Pella in 356 BC, Alexander succeeded his father, Philip II, to the throne at the age of twenty. He spent most of his ruling years on an unprecedented military campaign through Asia and northeast Africa, and by the age of thirty he had created one of the largest empires of the ancient world, stretching from Greece to northwestern India. He was undefeated in battle and is widely considered one of history's most successful military commanders.
During his youth, Alexander was tutored by the philosopher Aristotle until the age of 16. After Philip's assassination in 336 BC, Alexander succeeded his father to the throne and inherited a strong kingdom and an experienced army. Alexander was awarded the generalship of Greece and used this authority to launch his father's Panhellenic project to lead the Greeks in the conquest of Persia. In 334 BC, he invaded the Achaemenid Empire (Persian Empire), and began a series of campaigns that lasted ten years. Following the conquest of Asia Minor, Alexander broke the power of Persia in a series of decisive battles, most notably the battles of Issus and Gaugamela. He subsequently overthrew the Persian King Darius III and conquered the Achaemenid Empire in its entirety. At that point, his empire stretched from the Adriatic Sea to the Indus River.