Birth and childhood

Alexander was born in July (the month of Loos Diary Macedon) in 356 BC in Pella, capital of the Macedonia state. The lineage goes back to the two major forms of ancient Greek tradition. The demigod Heracles was founder of the dynasty of Argos Macedonians and Neoptolemos, son of the hero Achilles, founded the royal house of Molossoi, State of which was the Olympics. The legendary origins of Alexander contributed decisively shape the character from the early years of his life.


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The path of Alexander in Greece

In 340 BC the student of Aristotle stopped his studies and returned to Pella, where he took an active part in political life in Macedonia. During the campaigns of Philip trusted the government of Macedonia to Alexander. At 16 years old and while his father was missing in Byzantium, suppressed a rebellion Thracians. At the battle of Chaeronea, in 338 BC, Philip crushed the united forces of Athens and Thebes, with Alexander led the cavalry. After the defeat of the Athenians went to Athens as an agent of his father.

In 337 BC Philip divorced Olympias and mnisteftike the beautiful Cleopatra. This caused disruption to previously harmonious relations with Alexander and his father forced the boy into exile on the continent with his mother. After a year father and son were reconciled, but Philip the day of marriage to Cleopatra was murdered.

After the assassination of Philip in 336 BC in Aigai, Alexander moved swiftly eliminating all potential challengers to the throne, whom he conquered. Then launched campaigns to the north and south to secure its borders. In the spring of 335 marched against the Illyrians and Trivallon, proelafnontas of Amphipolis by the blood within ten days. Having defeated the Thracians there, went to the Danube, and defeated the Trivallous attempted raid against Geton but he has had to stop the uprising of the Illyrians. After he turned north and subjugated the Agrianes and Paeonian, ensuring full sovereignty in the region.</span>

As long as Alexander was fighting in the north, the Thebans revolted and seized the garrison makedoniki Kadmeia, while in Athens and other cities dominated turmoil caused by the spreading antimakedonikoi that Alexander was dead. Alexander with an exponential path, reached Thessaly in seven days and another five in Boeotia. There, after a brief but vigorous resistance of Thebes managed to subjugate them. Then ordered the deaths of six thousand Thebans, and sold as slaves the rest of thirty thousand inhabitants of Thebes. The city itself the flattened, leaving standing only the temples and the house of the poet Pindar.</span>

Campaign against the Persians


After his victory in Greece turned against the Persians. In 335 BC Parmenion sent to secure the passage of Marmara and the spring of 334 BC 1 χρυσάφι, και σκοπό την διάλυση της Περσικής Αυτοκρατορίας, την απελευθέρωση των ελληνικών Ιωνικών πόλεων στα παράλια της Μικράς" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='#fff'">lea ving behind him the bishop of Macedonia Antipater, crossed the Hellespont with an army 30,000 pedestrians and 5,000 horsemen, supplies for 30 days and financial resources of around 70 gold ingots, and for the dissolution of the Persian Empire, the liberation of the Ionian Greek cities on the coast of Asia Asia and the recovery of the poor economy of Macedonia. Chief of the army were all Macedonians. Second class strategist after it was Parmenion, an old comrade of his father. Followed by the sons of Parmenion, Filotas and Nicanor, Amyntas, the Perdiccas, the Krateros, Ptolemy, and Meleager. Commander of the Greek allies were Antigonus, and the mercenaries Menander.</span>

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Immediately after the landing of troops in Asia, celebrated sacrifices and visited Troy and went to the river Granicus, where they waited to give battle the Persian forces guided by the local satraps and led by Memnon the Rhodian. The battle of Granicus, held in May 334 BC highlighted winner Alexander. He threatened, but thanks to the surprise of the Persian cavalry which crossed the river, the losses were only 110 men. The defeat of the Persians, opening the way for Alexander to conquer all of Asia Minor. The Sardis and delivered Ephesus, Miletus and Halicarnassus resisted but finally won. Then he turned to the mainland and conquered Lycia and Pamphylia, and through the highlands of Pisidia and Phrygia came to Gordion, where solved according to tradition, the Gordian knot, and spent the winter watching the movements of the Persians and preparing the forces </span>for a new campaign. The Ionian cities that won, removed the oligarchic and tyrannical regimes imposed by the Persians and set up democracies, while removing the heavy taxation.</span></span>

The Battle of Issus

In the spring of 333 BC conquered Cappadocia and proothike to the Cilician Gates, where he remained until October to recover from an illness. To ensure the domination of the sea began moving towards Phoinike which was the basis of the Persian navy. Darius brought together the huge forces that he commanded, in Babylon and moved to Cilicia against Alexander. Alexander crossed the Cilician Gates to meet Darius, who however managed to bring the army in rear of Alexander. The battle took place on the sandy plain of Issus. Alexander managed to open a rift in the camp of the Persian army and cavalry led him out a side attack and found the rear of Darius. Darius fled, leaving the hands of the winner of the s***e, his mother, his wife and many spoils. The Flight of Darius broke up the morale of the Persian army that was disbanded in turn.

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</span>After his victory at Issus, the march continued with the occupation lines, Byblos and Sidon. The Phoenician, Cypriot and Rhodian ships now went under the command of Alexander, and thus secured his rear and control the whole eastern Mediterranean.

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In the summer of 332 BC managed a very difficult seven months of siege and the capture of Tire. Next subjugated Palestine without problems, and Gaza after a siege. He went to the conquest of Egypt where he was welcomed as a liberator. With respect to Egyptian gods, the priests of the oracle of Zeus Ammon have done a good reception and called son of Zeus, who conceded the title and acknowledged by political expediency, so wanting to create noise around me and the divine origin. Before his departure from Egypt established in the Nile Delta to a new city called Alexandria, which became large and important commercial and cultural center.

After waiting for aid from Macedonia, dismissed the most overworked soldiers and returned to Phoinike to go to the Euphrates, where Darius was gathering troops from the eastern provinces. </span>Crossed the river Tigris, and reached the plateau of Gaugamela, some 90 km from Arvila. There he won again the Persian army dissolving all the litter of Persian forces. Darius fled with Medea, and Alexander marched to Susa and from there to Persepolis where he found the imperial treasure, consisting of approximately 180,000 talents of gold and silver. </span>The discovery of this wealth helped him overcome the economic problems grew during the campaign. After several months stay burned Persepolis (after intoxication and call a company, but it is probable that he wanted this way to show that the reign of Darius had expired) and left in the spring of 330 BC.


</span>Leaving Persepolis went to where Medea were the Ecbatana (the third capital of Persia), searching for Darius. Occupying the Ecbatana seized all power and the Persian Empire. At this point the purpose of the campaign was launched was over. The obligation of the Greek allies had done so sent back those who wished not to follow in the next campaign. Parmenion also mandated the transfer to the citadel of Ecbatana, all the Persian treasure which had occupied so distinctive to leave behind the old General, with whom he had many disagreements.


</span>Learning that the satrap of Bactria Bessus arrested Darius and assumed direct power, he continued his way and dismissed the rebels who had fled to kill Darius. </span>Alexander sent his body to be buried Darius a royal values and local customs in Persepolis. With the death of King Alexander the Great was raised as a legal successor to the Achaemenid dynasty.</span>

Campaign in the eastern satrapies

To support the new title, and to ensure control over the entire empire brought against him and other Bessus satrap who contributed to the murder of Darius. The campaign began in the eastern satrapies the clearance of Yrkanias where the mountains of Tapouron had fled and the Greek mercenaries of Darius led by Navarzani. </span>Following the submission of Yrkanias crossed Parthia and the city of Susa cancel, the satrap Sativarzanis said submission, maintaining his office. After the departure of Alexander but to Bactria, where Bessus gathered troops, Sativarzanis killed the guard who had left Alexander and gathered an army to assist the Bessus. </span>Alexander returned Sativarzanis but escaped with 2000 cavalry. The position was appointed Arsaki. Having founded a new city, Alexandria Arian, fled to the Frada Dragianis to cheimasei.


There he discovered a conspiracy which was to murder of Alexander. As instigator appeared Filotas, Parmenion son, who eventually was sentenced to death by the Assembly of the Macedonia army. Alexander fearing the reaction of Parmenion the execution of his son, ordered the murder.


In the winter of 330 BC arrived in the Indian Caucasus, where he founded another Alexandria. Bessus left off, passing the river Oxo burning his ships after crossing and moved to the NAYTAKI Sogdia. Alexander followed him in and sent Sogdia against Ptolemy, who arrested him and led him to Alexander. Bessus executed and Alexander went to the capital of Sogdia, Samarkand and then reached the river Jaxartes where he founded Alexandria extreme.


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Campaign in India

After his marriage to Roxane had things Relax satraps in Central Asia in the spring of 327 BC began to conquer the Indian peninsula. Let him Amyntas in Bactria, and passing from Alexandria arrived in the river Kofina which divided the army. Sent by Perdiccas Hephaestion to prepare for the march to the Indus River, he reached a different course in the spring of 326 BC in which Indian dievike through the bridge had prepared Hephaestion and many small vessels. He continued his course towards the river Hydaspes, where the Indian king Porus waiting on the opposite side with a centralized army to stop the pass. Alexander sent soldiers to carry dismantled ships were used in crossing the Indus, and the remaining capacity and enhanced by 5000 Indians continued to Hydaspes.


The crossing of the river was difficult but eventually was successful in July 326 BC to pursue a major battle between the army of Alexander and his army of Porus, who was in 4000 cavalry, 300 chariots, 200 war elephants and </span>30,000 pedestrians. The Macedonians were met with ease cavalry Porus and eventually managed to prevail in unprecedented battle for them against elephants winning a great victory.

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</span></span>On the banks of Hydaspes founded two cities, the Nice and Bucephalus (in honor of the horse who died there). Leaving Kratero oversee the building of cities, he continued his course and after a victory in Sangala, stopped in front of the river fabric. Alexander's desire was to continue passing the river and the desert ran after him, but met strong opposition from the army. The physically and mentally tired soldiers gathered in the camp and shouted that they wanted to continue. Eventually, Alexander decided to return. After ceremonies divided into sections of the army and returned to Nice and Bucephalus, and with aid from Greece turned to the south. Building and Fleet pleontas Hydaspes rivers and Indian, with parts of the army on the left and right bank, reached a point where it has deadly battle with Mallians where he was wounded. Finally arrived in town Pattala which rebuilt and fortified.



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The way back

In return Alexander divided his troops into three parts. The first, led by Kratero followed the road to Alexandria Arachosia (Kandahar) and through the valley Etymandrou moved to Carmania, where Alexander waited. </span>The second was the fleet, led by Nearchus, pareplefse the coast of Persia, which were the countries of hours of Gedrosia and fish-eating, to the end of the bay.


The third part of the army of Alexander the Pattala began (late August 324 BC) to cross the desert Gedrosia. In the first part of the course there were difficulties but Gedrosia the desert heat and water shor***es have caused many casualties. After 60 days stopped to rest in the city Gedrosia, cigars, and went on to Carmania, where he met Kratero. In Carmania arrived and Nearchus which reported on the progress, and continued its journey to the mouth of the river Tigris. Alexander took part in the army and, after consideration by the Pasargadae went to Persepolis, where the satrap appointed Pefkesta who had saved the life of Alexander the battle to wool.


</span>In the spring of 324 BC he holidays in Susa to complete the conquest of Persia. Arranged marriages Macedonians mixed with Persian and he took a second wife to Stateira, the daughter of Darius. Paid off the debts of Greek soldiers, with an amount was 20,000 distributed gifts and talents and values to those who had andragathisei. The satraps of the territory brought there Persians and 30,000 adolescents were trained and oplisthei Makedonika, whom he called "Epigonoi.


He began to organize new campaigns and having sent Hephaestion explore the shores of the Arabian Gulf, the same elite units went to the sea via the river Eylau. </span>In Opi announced the dismissal of the elderly and injured and continued the campaign, but was the reaction of soldiers who wanted to continue with him. </span>Alexander then distributed to offices and some Persians called their relatives, which forced the Macedonians to apologize and to follow him.


Alexander returned to Babylon and began to organize the circumnavigation of Arabia and explore the coast of North Africa. Shortly before leaving for Arabia, 2 to 3 June 323 BC participated in a symposium after which manifested fever, which lasted for the next few days and forced him to postpone the departure date. After a brief improvement in his health collapsed again, without being able to walk or talk. The reputation that had already caused the dead generals to allow all soldiers to pass by his bed for the welcome. After two days he died on 13 June 323 BC. Shortly before his death he was asked to whom leave the kingdom and said "now statists', ie 'better'.

Sources for Alexander


Alexander's campaign initially recorded in the "Royal newspapers" a kind of official logbook maintained by the chief secretary Eumenes during the campaign, but were lost before completion. The first is known tales of Alexander's General Ptolemy and Aristobulus an engineer who followed the campaign, but have not survived until today. </span>Other authors whose work has been lost is the Kallisthenis recorded events until his death in 327 BC, Alexandria Kleitarchos who had written a rather dodekatomo novel, Onesicritus and Nearchus.


</span>The most valuable work we are the work of Flavius Arrian, 'Anabasis Alexandrou' of the 2nd century AD which was ****d on the works of Ptolemy and Aristobulus. Also an important work is the «Historia Alexandri Magni Macedonis» Kurti of Rufus (1st century), which is also ****d on previous works, but in places deemed to include the fantastic narratives. </span>Faithful is the life of Alexander the work of Plutarch's "Parallel Lives." Diffuse information is also in the works of Strabo, of Josephus, Diodorus Siculus and the others.</span>

The myth of Alexander


Alexander immediately after his death became legendary person from India to the Atlantic, following different patterns in each population. The Persians imagined that he was the son of Darius, and in Egypt it was the son of Nektanevo the last king of Egypt. In the tradition Aravopersiki Alexander called Sikander Iskantar in Farsi and Arabic and has been named "Dikeros» (Dhul-Qarnayn), therefore its appearance in currencies with ram horns, according to Egyptian standard regarded as the son of Ammon. There are several races to the parties that Alexander spent proud to be descendants of soldiers of Alexander.


Alexander stated, according to researchers with the name Dikeros and the Koran in surah al-Kahf (The Cave) (XVIII, 82-110) as a great king kateskefase gates (perhaps the Caspian Gates) to protect innocent people from </span>the barbarian Gog and Magog, and also stated that he traveled to the place where the sun sets. Data from the story on the sealing of the gates of the Koran afigitai exist in earlier works Psefdokallistheni of Josephus, and Jerome. Also in verses 18:95 and 18:98 shows as theist and sometimes considered a prophet of Islam but is not generally accepted.


The Byzantines were popular stories about Alexander, and indeed he was imagined as a saint and hermit, and has founded monasteries in the desert. Many customs in Greece created around Alexander, and in many different areas of the site and signs of ruins, displayed as if "it was Alexander. </span>In Cretan song presented to Alexander has joined the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, thus opening the Bosphorus. Very popular also is the tradition that shows the mermaid as a sister of Alexander to ask whether the sailors' lives King Alexander "and accept as answer only" damage to reign. </span>During the Turkish rule in the 18th century a popular reading was "brochure Megalexantrou.


In West Alexander became famous for his translation work Psefdokallistheni the 3rd century with "Mythistorima Alexander 'creating an epic circle around his name. </span>From the Latin translation of this has led to several variations across Europe in general and the Christian and Islamic world of the Middle Ages. In the 12th century Alverichos de Besançon wrote epic poetry with the central character and the priest Alexander Lamprecht a German song.</span>

Alexander in Art

There are many depictions of Alexander on coins minted before or after his death. These Alexander appears unbearded and lion's head over his head to symbolize the alleged origin of the generation of the Hercules.


There are also statues of Alexander, original and copies were created artists like Lysippos, who was favorite of Alexander. The form of Alexander also appears in reliefs, medals and inlaid with the famous mosaic in Pompeii depicting Alexander in battle of Issus, and is a copy of a painting of Apelles, another famous artist favored Alexander.


Throughout the course of time created works of art on Alexander. Apart from literary works, sculptures and paintings, in modern times is still a subject of music and films. Illustrative is the song 'Alexander the Great' of Iron Maiden. Films made on Alexander:


"Sikandar" (1941), Indian production, directed by Sohrab Modi on the conquest of India by Alexander (the movie seems to have lost the battle of Hydaspes).

"Alexander the Great" (1956), MGM production starring Richard Burton.

"Sikandar-e-Azam" (1965), Indian production directed by Kedar Kapoor

"Alexander" (2004), directed by Oliver Stone, with pro***onistin Colin Farrell.

There are also many references to other films and television series.


Newest novels on Alexander are:


The trilogy "Alexander" the Italian Valerio Massimo Manfred consisting of the "son of the dream," "The sand of Amun" and "The ends of the earth."

The Trilogy Mary Renault made by the "Fire AP'TON sky", "The small Persian" and "Epitaphs Games.

"The virtues of war" by Steven Presfilnt.



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