Alexander the Great Sources

Arrian  Anabasis Alexandri Plutarch  Life of Alexander Diodorus  Bibliotheca, Book 17 Q. Curtius Rufus Birth and Youth:

Son of Philip II and Olympias Born 20 July, 356 Aristotle hired to tutor the prince (343) 340: Alexander subdues the Maedi 338: Commanded the Companion Cavalry at Chaeronea on 4 Aug. Pella Mosaic Accession

October 336: Philip assassinated Alexander succeeds unopposed  Attalus, Cleopatra and her son executed  Alexander assumed hegemony of the League of Corinth 335:  Campaigns in Thrace, Illyria, Paeonia Thebes

Sept. 335:  Macedonian garrison besieged  Word spread of Alexander’s death Alexander:  Marched to Boeotia in 12 days  Thebes razed, early Oct.  “They spared neither woman nor child” (Arrian Anab. 8.8) Alexander’s Early reign Crossing the Hellespont

Spring 334:  Crossed into Asia at Sestos/Abydus  30,000 infantry; 5000 cavalry Battle of the River Granicus June, 334. Persians:  Chose to defend Asia Minor  20,000 mercenaries; 20,000 horse Alexander:  Cavalry battle  Clitus narrowly saves Alexander  2000 Athenian mercenaries captured Asia Minor Issus

Sept. 333  Alexander arrives in Cilicia  One month illness Nov. 333  Darius III with main Persian army  Battle of Issus  Alexander captures royal family Issus Levant

Siege of Tyre  Jan - Aug 332 Darius offers terms Siege of Gaza  Sept - Oct 332 Asia Minor Egypt

Alexander crowned Pharaoh  November 332 Temple of Ammon at Siwa  , "Rejoice, son. And consider this greeting to have come from the god." (Diod.17.51.1) Alexandria: 7 April 331 March to Thapsacus in July 331 Egypt Gaugamela

Darius with 600,000 at Gaugamela Alexander with 60,000 01 Oct. 331  Alexander defeats Persian army  Darius escapes again Babylon and Susa fall Alexander in Persepolis  January 330 Persepolis Death of Darius

Persepolis burned, May 330 Ecbatana Darius murdered, July 330 Conspiracy of Philotas  Philotas and Parmenion executed Alexander, an Asian King

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

 “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

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

May, 326:  Battle of the Hydaspes River Nov. 326 – July 325  March south along the Indus  Alexander turns for home India Gedrosian Desert To Babylon

Hephaestion:  Dies of alcohol poisoning  Fall 324 Alexander falls ill:  May 323 Alexander Dead  11 June, 323