Alexander the Great was born in 356 BC in Pella, Macedonia to King Philip II and Olympias. He was educated by Aristotle and became king in 336 BC after his father was assassinated. Alexander then conquered the massive Persian Empire through decisive victories, defeating King Darius III. By 330 BC, he controlled an empire stretching from Greece to India. Although a military genius, Alexander died young in 323 BC in Babylon at age 32, leaving his empire to be divided among his generals after his death.

1. Alexander was born in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia in July 356 BC. His parents
were Philip II of Macedon and his wife Olympias. Alexander was educated by the
philosopher Aristotle. Philip was assassinated in 336 BC and Alexander inherited a
powerful yet volatile kingdom. He quickly dealt with his enemies at home and reasserted
Macedonian power within Greece. He then set out to conquer the massive Persian
Empire.
Against overwhelming odds, he led his army to victories across the Persian territories of
Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt without suffering a single defeat. His greatest victory was at
the Battle of Gaugamela, in what is now northern Iraq, in 331 BC. The young king of
Macedonia, leader of the Greeks, overlord of Asia Minor and pharaoh of Egypt became
'great king' of Persia at the age of 25.
Over the next eight years, in his capacity as king, commander, politician, scholar and
explorer, Alexander led his army a further 11,000 miles, founding over 70 cities and
creating an empire that stretched across three continents and covered around two
million square miles. The entire area from Greece in the west, north to the Danube,
south into Egypt and as far to the east as the Indian Punjab, was linked together in a
vast international network of trade and commerce. This was united by a common Greek
language and culture, while the king himself adopted foreign customs in order to rule his
millions of ethnically diverse subjects.
Alexander was acknowledged as a military genius who always led by example, although
his belief in his own indestructibility meant he was often reckless with his own life and
those of his soldiers. The fact that his army only refused to follow him once in 13 years
of a reign during which there was constant fighting, indicates the loyalty he inspired.
He died of a fever in Babylon in June 323 BC.
356 Born at Pella, Macedonia, to King Philip II and Olympias
336 Acceded to throne of Macedon
336 In same year, is recognised as leader of Greek-Macedonian expedition against
Persia
334 Wins Battle of the Granicus River
333 Wins Battle of Issus
332 Accomplishes siege of Tyre
331 Wins Battle of Gaugamela
328 Manslaughter of 'Black' Cleitus at Samarkand
326 Wins Battle of river Hydaspes
326 In same year, troops mutiny at river Hyphasis
324 Troops mutiny at Opis
323 Dies at Babylon

2. Alexander III of Macedon (20/21 July 356 – 10/11 June 323 BC), commonly known
as Alexander the Great was a king of Macedon, a state in the north eastern region of
Greece, and by the age of thirty was the creator of one of the largest empires in
ancient history, stretching from the Ionian Sea to the Himalaya. He was undefeated in
battle and is considered one of the most successful commanders of all time. Born in
Pella in 356 BC, Alexander was tutored by the famous philosopher Aristotle. In 336
BC he succeeded his father Philip II of Macedon to the throne after Philip was
assassinated. Philip had brought most of the city-states of mainland Greece under
Macedonian hegemony, using both military and diplomatic means.
Upon Philip's death, Alexander inherited a strong kingdom and an experienced army.
He succeeded in being awarded the generalship of Greece and, with his authority
firmly established, launched the military plans for expansion left by his father. In 334
BC he invaded Persian-ruled Asia Minor and began a series of campaigns lasting ten
years. Alexander broke the power of Persia in a series of decisive battles, like the
battles of Issus and Gaugamela. Subsequently he overthrew the Persian king Darius
III and conquered the entire of the Persian Empire. The Macedonian Empire now
stretched from the Adriatic Sea to the Indus River.
Following his desire to reach the "ends of the world and the Great Outer Sea", he
invaded India in 326 BC, but was eventually forced to turn back by the near-mutiny of
his troops. Alexander died in Babylon in 323 BC, without realizing a series of planned
campaigns that would have begun with an invasion of Arabia. In the years following
Alexander's death a series of civil wars tore his empire apart which resulted in the
formation of a number of states ruled by the Diadochi – Alexander's surviving
generals. Although he is mostly remembered for his vast conquests, Alexander's
lasting legacy was not his reign, but the cultural diffusion his conquests engendered.
Alexander founded some twenty cities that bore his name. His settlement of Greek
colonists and the resulting spread of Greek culture in the east resulted in a new
Hellenistic civilization, aspects of which were still evident in the traditions of the
Byzantine Empire until the mid-15th century. Alexander became legendary as a
classical hero and features prominently in the history and myth of Greek and non-
Greek cultures. He became the measure against which generals, even to this day,
compare themselves and military academies throughout the world still teach his
tactics .