Alexander the Great

Sources

Ø Arrian Ø Anabasis Alexandri

Ø Plutarch Ø Life of Alexander

Ø Diodorus Ø Bibliotheca, Book 17

Ø Q. Curtius Rufus

Birth and Youth:

Ø Son of Philip II and Olympias Ø Born 20 July, 356 Ø Aristotle hired to tutor the prince (343) Ø 340: Alexander subdues the Maedi Ø 338: Commanded the Companion Cavalry at

Chaeronea on 4 Aug.

Pella Mosaic

Accession

Ø October 336: Philip assassinated Ø Alexander succeeds unopposed

Ø Attalus, Cleopatra and her son executed Ø Alexander assumed hegemony of the

League of Corinth Ø 335:

Ø Campaigns in Thrace, Illyria, Paeonia

Thebes

Ø Sept. 335: Ø Macedonian garrison besieged Ø Word spread of Alexander’s death

Ø Alexander: Ø Marched to Boeotia in 12 days Ø Thebes razed, early Oct. Ø “They spared neither woman nor

child” (Arrian Anab. 8.8)

Alexander’s Early reign

Crossing the Hellespont

Ø Spring 334: Ø Crossed into

Asia at Sestos/Abydus

Ø 30,000 infantry; 5000 cavalry

Battle of the River Granicus June, 334.

Ø Persians: Ø Chose to defend Asia Minor Ø 20,000 mercenaries; 20,000 horse

Ø Alexander: Ø Cavalry battle Ø Clitus narrowly saves Alexander Ø 2000 Athenian mercenaries captured

Asia Minor

Issus

Ø Sept. 333 Ø Alexander arrives in Cilicia Ø One month illness

Ø Nov. 333 Ø Darius III with main Persian army Ø Battle of Issus Ø Alexander captures royal family

Issus

Levant

Ø Siege of Tyre Ø Jan - Aug 332

Ø Darius offers terms Ø Siege of Gaza

Ø Sept - Oct 332

Asia Minor

Egypt

Ø Alexander crowned Pharaoh Ø November 332

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

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

Ø Alexandria: 7 April 331 Ø March to Thapsacus in July 331

Egypt

Gaugamela

Ø Darius with 600,000 at Gaugamela Ø Alexander with 60,000 Ø 01 Oct. 331

Ø Alexander defeats Persian army Ø Darius escapes again

Ø Babylon and Susa fall Ø Alexander in Persepolis

Ø January 330

Persepolis

Death of Darius

Ø Persepolis burned, May 330 Ø Ecbatana Ø Darius murdered, July 330 Ø Conspiracy of Philotas

Ø Philotas and Parmenion executed

Alexander, an Asian King

Ø Median dress Ø Claims of divinity Ø Obeisance (proscunesis) Ø Persian officers

Ø “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

Ø Jaxartes Border; 329 Ø The Sogdian Rock, 328 Ø Murder of Clitus, 328 Ø Marriage to Rhoxane, 327

India

Ø May, 326: Ø Battle of the Hydaspes River

Ø Nov. 326 – July 325 Ø March south along the Indus Ø Alexander turns for home

India

Gedrosian Desert

To Babylon

Ø Hephaestion: Ø Dies of alcohol poisoning Ø Fall 324

Ø Alexander falls ill: Ø May 323

Ø Alexander Dead Ø 11 June, 323