Alexander, king of Macedonia, is one of the most legendary representatives of antiquity. Despite his very short life, the young king was able to enslave the impregnable Persian empire in just 12 years of his reign. And until now, there are many legends and myths about the great commander. The biography of Alexander the Great still contains many white spots. So, who is he, this great man who amazed everyone with his art of war?

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The formation of a great commander

The Greek king, the great commander Alexander the Third is one of the brightest personalities in history. He was also called the Great and at the same time they noted the cruelty and ruthlessness of this ambitious conqueror, who changed the whole course of history, the fate of not only his own, but also many other peoples of the world. The growth of Alexander the Great by today's standards was low - 150 cm, but for that time it was considered average.

The birthplace of the great conqueror is the city of Pella, year - 356 BC. The father was the Macedonian king Philip II, who laid the foundation for future great conquests. Without this man, the future huge empire simply would not exist.

The exam may require information about the name of Alexander's mother. Her name was Olympias, in character she fully corresponded to him, she was an unusual, reasonable, stately and strong woman.

The future ruler and conqueror was especially attached to the Olympics and relied on it in everything. Mother played an important role in the life of Alexander the Great.

Important! Mostly they pay more attention to Philip II, but thanks to the mother of Alexander the Great, she helped her son reach unprecedented heights.

Olympias, a priestess of Dionysus, a snake tamer, contributed to the suicide of Philip's seventh wife and children. It was she who became the regent of her son. While he was in the East, she was an adviser and assistant in all matters. The intellectual development of the future commander was handled by the Greek philosopher Aristotle.

This is a Macedonian teacher in the field of politics and methods of government. Father Philip II participated in numerous military campaigns, so he was practically not at home. The boy was raised by Aristotle, who paid special attention to the study of politics, ethics, as well as medicine, literature and philosophy. We can say that in his youth the future conqueror received a classical Greek education of that era.

Having become the king of Macedonia at the age of twenty, in the first years of his reign he proved himself to be a great strategist and conqueror, capable of creating a huge empire, the territory of which reached the borders of India itself. A life oversaturated with military campaigns ended too early - in 323 BC, Alexander was only 33 years old. courage and activities of the young king have become an integral part of the culture and history of the whole world.

The exploits of the great commander are reflected in the work of writers, artists and filmmakers, among them the following can be noted:

• works of famous authors of antiquity: Diodorus, Siculo and Plutarch. Diodorus Siculus, historian of antiquity, wrote a biography of the great commander, which was included in the historical collections "Library of History". Sikulo dedicated a number of poems and songs to the Macedonian king, which are among the first documents in Latin;
• the Italian poet Dante Alighieri wrote about Alexander in the 12th song of the 3rd part "" under the title "Hell", where the narration was dedicated to tyrants;
• the figure of the conqueror still inspires many directors. A striking example is the film of the same name starring Colin Farrell, released in 2004.

A life full of conquest

At the age of only 16, he was forced to temporarily replace his father on the throne of Macedonia, who went on a military campaign to conquer.

Two years later, the young ruler had to defend the interests of his state and endure first military test- the battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC. The Macedonian army defeated the Greek army. In 336 BC, after Philip II was killed by the head of the imperial guard, his son took the throne of Macedonia.

The ascent of the young king to the throne was not easy. The death of his father created problems in the government and revived the hope of the Greeks for independence from Macedonia. It also halted preparations for an invasion of Macedonian troops into Asia with the aim of subjugating the Persian Empire. After destroying the enemies within the government, dealing with conspirators and enlisting the support of the Macedonian army, the king decided first of all to strengthen the position of Macedonia in Greece. what territories were conquered by the army of Alexander the Great during his reign.

Corinth

In 336 BC. Alexander was appointed commander-in-chief of the military League of Corinth. In the city he met with the famous philosopher Diogenes. The extravagant philosopher lived in a barrel, and greatly surprised the young ruler with such a lifestyle. Because the king agreed to any desire of the philosopher. He invited the ruler to move away, as he covered the sun. Surprised by the answer, the young warrior said: "If I were not Alexander, I would like to be Diogenes."

Thebes

In 335 BC. The rebel city of Thebes was destroyed and all its people were enslaved. Having established a firm position in Greece, he decided to complete the plans of his father Philip and free the Greeks who were in slavery of the Persian Empire.

Conquest of Asia

In 334 BC. The Macedonian army arrived in Asia at the same time as a huge fleet with the aim of attacking the Persians. There is evidence that before Alexander went to Troy to pay tribute to the great Greek warrior Achilles.

In the same year, the Gordian knot was broken. According to legend, the person who managed to do this soon became the ruler of all of Asia. Legend was brought to life.

In 333 BC the great military leader won the battle with the troops of the Persian king Darius the Third and freed all the Greek cities, whose inhabitants welcomed him as a liberator.

Finally, the Greek cities were free, but D aria managed to escape. It was necessary not only to strengthen the position of Macedonia among the Greeks, but also to seize the lands of the barbarians and Persians completely, thus creating the Macedonian Empire. It was these two desires that prompted Alexander to make a number of military decisions:

• during the hostilities of the period 332-325. BC, the Persian empire was completely enslaved.
• 332 BC Phoenicia, Syria and Egypt were conquered, the inhabitants of their conqueror called the son of Amun. Only representatives of the family dynasty of the pharaoh received a similar title.
• 331 BC Again, a victory was won over the army of Darius, after which the conquest of the capitals of the Persian Empire began: Babylon, Susa, Persepolis and Pasargada. After the death of Darius at the hands of Besso, the conquest of the Persian Empire in 327 BC. has been completed.

The death of the great conqueror

At the age of 33, the victorious king was at the peak of his glory, but misfortunes were not long in coming. Numerous spending on military action led the people and the government into intolerance towards the new regime.

To avoid problems, the great conqueror built military fortified cities in all strategic points of the territory of the empire, appointing their rulers to their closest military leaders. All cities were called Alexandria. All attempts to revolt against his rule were nipped in the bud.

Attention! The capital of the Macedonian Empire was moved to Babylon, which at that time was located in the very center of the conquered territory.

In the hope of putting an end to the strife between his empire, the Greeks and Persia, Alexander the Great married Statera, the eldest daughter of the Persian king Darius, and many of his close associates married Persian women.

On the eve of a new trip to Saudi Arabia, June 10, 323 BC., Alexander died suddenly. The death is believed to have been caused by malaria. Although this information is not confirmed by ancient documents and may be erroneous.

Other reasons could be: liver cirrhosis or poisoning. During a noisy feast, secret enemies brought a goblet of poisoned wine to the emperor. The true circumstances of the death of the Macedonian ruler are still unknown.

It is worth noting a very interesting fact regarding the heritage throne after death Macedonian king. Despite the fact that he had two sons, none of them took the throne of his father. As predicted in the Bible centuries before Alexander's reign, his empire was divided among the four generals of his army.

conqueror of women's hearts

Not only the wars of Alexander the Great ended with triumphant victories and brought him fame, but his personal life was no less eventful.

His ability to win women's hearts has become one of the favorite topics of many poets and writers of our day. There were many women, but those who deserve special attention were able to win the heart young emperor.

The first wife of Alexander the Great, Roxana, was considered one of the most beautiful women in Asia. Perhaps the choice was due to this very reason, as you know, the Conqueror was distinguished by special vanity. The second wife of the emperor was Stateira, the eldest daughter of the Persian king Darius. The third wife was Parisatis, daughter of Artaxerxes III, King of Persia. In addition to official wives, there were a large number of mistresses.

Unshakable character

From an early age, Alexander began to study the art of war and diplomacy. Thanks to his stubborn and unshakable character, he firmly knew what he wanted and could independently make serious decisions regarding both strategic decisions and transformations in all other areas of life.

The king limited himself to food without any problems and for a long time remained completely indifferent to the opposite sex. He had other important goals. But if his leadership was not recognized by others, he was ready to sacrifice everything to be in the spotlight. Many ancient historians speak of him as a proud, self-centered person.

The great military leader had a special charisma, therefore he enjoyed authority among his soldiers, was distinguished by great courage, fought on the front line shoulder to shoulder with ordinary soldiers.

Biography of Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great, biography

Conclusion

Alexander the Great is a very interesting person and unique in its own way.. commander serves as an example for many. Studying the biography of the great conqueror will be a very useful thing, it will leave a bright imprint in the mind and heart of any person.

According to ancient documents, the death of Alexander the Great occurred on June 10, 323 BC. e. The greatest commander was only 32 years old. Until now, historians cannot figure out the reason for his death. The sudden death of Alexander the Great, who did not determine his heir, led to the collapse of his empire and the creation of several states, headed by military leaders and close associates of the great king.

Return to Babylon

In 323 BC. e. the Hellenic army was returning to the west. Alexander the Great completed his campaign to the east, reaching India. He managed to create a huge empire that stretched from the Balkans to Iran and from Central Asia to Egypt. In the history of mankind, there have never been such huge states that appeared literally overnight by the will of one commander.

The death of Alexander the Great overtook in Babylon. It was a huge oasis with many channels taking water from the Euphrates. The city often suffered from diseases and epidemics. Perhaps this is where the King of Kings caught the infection.

Funeral of Hephaestion

In the last year of his life, Alexander became shaky and suspicious. His mourning was caused by the death of his best friend and close military leader Hephaestion. The whole of May was spent in the hassle associated with the organization of the funeral. For Hephaestion, a huge ziggurat was built, which was decorated with numerous trophies obtained during the campaign in the east.

The king ordered that a decree be sent to all parts of the empire that his friend should be revered as a hero (in fact, this was the status of a demigod). Being an extremely religious and superstitious person, Alexander attached great importance to such things. Among other things, he surrounded himself with numerous prophets and oracles.

Journey on the Euphrates

Babylon annoyed Alexander. He briefly left the bustling city to explore the banks of the Euphrates and neighboring swamps. The king was going to organize a sea expedition around. He explored the banks of the river, trying to figure out how to place 1200 ships near Babylon, which were soon to set off.

During this voyage, the wind tore off the head of the ruler of his red hat with a gilded ribbon, which he wore as a diadem. The prophets, to whom the monarch listened, decided that this case was a bad omen that did not bode well. When the death of Alexander the Great became a fait accompli, many close associates remembered that incident on one of the Euphrates canals.

The onset of the disease

At the end of May, the king returned to Babylon. He stopped his mourning on the occasion of the death of a friend and began to feast with his associates. Festive sacrifices were made to the gods, and long-awaited gifts began to be distributed in the army - a lot of wine and meat. In Babylon, the success of Nearchus' expedition to the Tsar was noted, and he was also eager to go on another campaign.

In the first days of June, Alexander developed a strong fever. He tried to get rid of the disease by taking baths and making generous sacrifices to the gods. Rumors of the king's illness leaked into the city. When on June 8 a crowd of excited Macedonians broke into the residence of their ruler, the king greeted his supporters, but his whole appearance indicated that the monarch was held in public through force.

Death of Alexander

The next day, June 9, Alexander fell into a coma, and on the 10th the doctors pronounced him dead. For many centuries, historians of different generations have offered a variety of theories about what caused the death of a young commander, always distinguished by good health. In modern science, the most common point of view is that the cause of the death of Alexander the Great is far from mystical.

Most likely, the king caught malaria. She noticeably weakened the body, and he could not cope with pneumonia (according to another version - leukemia). The discussion about the second fatal disease continues to this day. According to a less common theory, the cause of Alexander's death was West Nile fever.

Versions of poisoning

It is important that none of the king's companions died from an infectious disease. Perhaps the monarch ruined his health with regular drinking. During the last holiday, he did not stop feasts for a single day, where alcohol was consumed in huge quantities.

Modern researchers drew attention to the symptoms that accompanied the illness of the commander. He suffered from convulsions, frequent vomiting, muscle weakness and an irregular pulse. All this indicates poisoning. Therefore, the versions of the death of Alexander the Great also include the theory of improper treatment of the monarch.

Doctors might have given him white hellebore or hellebore to ease his first ailment, but in the end they only made matters worse. Even in Antiquity, there was a popular version about the poisoning of Alexander by his commander Antipater, who was threatened with removal from the post of governor in Macedonia.

king's tomb

323 BC e. (the year of the death of Alexander the Great) became mourning for the entire vast empire. While ordinary residents mourned the untimely death of the monarch, his close associates decided what to do with the body of the deceased. It was decided to embalm him.

In the end, the body was taken over by Ptolemy, who began to rule in Egypt. The mummy was transported to Memphis, and then to Alexandria, a city founded and named after the great commander. Many years later, Egypt was conquered by the Romans. Emperors considered Alexander the greatest role model. The rulers of Rome often made pilgrimages to it. The last reliable information about it dates back to the beginning of the 3rd century, when the emperor Caracalla visited this place, placing his ring and tunic on the tomb. Since then, the trail of the mummy has been lost. Today, nothing is known about her future fate.

Regency of Perdiccas

Information about the last orders of the king, made before he finally fell into a coma, remains controversial. The empire of Alexander the Great after his death was to receive an heir. The monarch understood this and, sensing his approaching end, could appoint a successor. In Antiquity, a legend was spread that the weakening ruler handed over his ring with the seal to Perdikka, a faithful military leader who was to become regent for Queen Roxana, who was in her last month of pregnancy.

A few weeks after Alexander's death, she gave birth to a son (also Alexander). The regency of Perdikkas was unstable from the very beginning. After the death of Alexander the Great, the power of the successor began to be challenged by other close associates of the deceased king. In historiography, they remained known as the Diadochi. Almost all governors in the provinces declared their independence and created their own satrapies.

Diadochi

In 321 BC. e. Perdiccas, during a campaign in Egypt, died at the hands of his own military leaders, dissatisfied with his despotism. After the death of Alexander the Great, his power finally plunged into the abyss of civil wars, where each contender for power fought with everyone. The bloodshed continued for twenty years. These conflicts went down in history as the Wars of the Diadochi.

Gradually, the commanders got rid of all the relatives and relatives of Alexander. The king's brother Arrhidaeus, sister Cleopatra, mother Olympias were killed. The son (formally named Alexander IV) lost his life at the age of 14, in 309 BC. e. The great monarch had another child. The illegitimate son Hercules, born of the concubine Barsina, was killed at the same time as his half-brother.

Division of the empire

Babylon (the place of death of Alexander the Great) quickly lost its power over the provinces. After the death of Perdikkas, the diadochi Antigonus and Seleucus began to play an important role on the ruins of the formerly united empire. At first they were allies. In 316 BC. e. Antigonus came to Babylon and demanded from Seleucus information about the financial costs of the war against his neighbors. The latter, fearing disgrace, fled to Egypt, where he found refuge with the local ruler Ptolemy.

The death of Alexander the Great, in short, was long in the past, and his supporters continued to fight against each other. By 311 BC. e. the following balance of power has developed. Antigonus ruled in Asia, Ptolemy - in Egypt, Cassander - in Hellas, Seleucus - in Persia.

Last War of the Diadochi

The last, fourth war of the Diadochi (308-301 BC) began because Cassander and Ptolemy decided to unite in an alliance against Antigonus. They were joined by the king of Macedonia, Lysimachus, and the founder of the Seleucid empire, Seleucus.

Antigonus was attacked first by Ptolemy. He captured the Cyclades, Sicyon and Corinth. For this, a large Egyptian landing force landed in the Peloponnese, where they surprised the garrisons of the king of Phrygia. Ptolemy's next target was Asia Minor. created a powerful foothold in Cyprus. His army and navy were based on this island. Learning about the plans of the enemy, Antigonus regrouped his troops. His army left Greece for a while. This army on 160 ships headed for Cyprus. Having landed on the island, 15 thousand people, under the leadership of Demetrius Poliorcetes, began the siege of Salamis.

Ptolemy sent almost his entire fleet to the rescue of the fortress in Cyprus. Demetrius decided to give a sea battle. As a result of the collision, the Egyptians lost all their ships. Most of them were flooded, and the transport ships went to Antigonus. In 306 BC. e. isolated Salamis capitulated. Antigonus captured Cyprus and even proclaimed himself king.

A few months after this success, the diadochus decided to deal a crushing blow to Ptolemy on his own land and equipped an expedition to Egypt. However, the satrap's army was unable to cross the Nile. In addition, Ptolemy sent agitators to the enemy's camp, who actually bought out the opponent's soldiers. Discouraged, Antigonus had to return home empty-handed.

For a few more years, opponents attacked each other at sea one by one. Antigonus succeeded in driving Lysimachus out of Phrygia. At the same time, Demetrius finally ended the campaign in Greece and went to Asia Minor in order to unite with his ally. There was no general battle. It happened only 8 years after the start of the war.

Battle of Ipsus

In the summer of 301 BC. e. The Battle of Ipsus took place. This battle was the final chord of the wars of the Diadochi. Antigonus's cavalry, led by Demetrius Poliorcetes, attacked the allied heavy cavalry, led by Seleucus' son Antiochus. The fight was fierce. Finally, the cavalry of Demetrius defeated the enemies and rushed after them in pursuit. This move turned out to be a mistake.

Pursuing the enemy, the cavalry broke away too far from the main forces of Antigonus. Seleucus, realizing that the enemy had made a miscalculation, introduced elephants into the battle. They were not dangerous for the Macedonians, who had learned to use combustibles and boards studded with nails against huge animals. However, the elephants finally cut off the riders from Antigonus.

The heavy phalanx of the Phrygian king was surrounded. It was attacked by light infantry, as well as mounted archers. The phalanx, unable to break through the blockade, stood under fire for several hours. Finally, the soldiers of Antigonus either surrendered or fled the battlefield. Demetrius decided to leave for Greece. 80-year-old Antigonus fought to the last, until he fell, struck down by an enemy dart.

Alexander's legacy

After the Battle of Ipsus, the allies finally divided the former empire of Alexander. Cassander left Thessaly, Macedonia and Hellas behind him. Lysimachus received Thrace, Phrygia and the Black Sea region. Seleucus got Syria. Their opponent Demetrius retained several cities in Greece and Asia Minor.

All the kingdoms that arose on the ruins of the empire of Alexander the Great adopted their cultural basis from it. Even Egypt, where Ptolemy reigned, became Hellenistic. Numerous countries of the Middle East have a link in the form of the Greek language. This world existed for about two centuries until it was conquered by the Romans. The new empire also absorbed many features of Greek culture.

Today, the place and year of the death of Alexander the Great are indicated in every textbook of ancient history. The premature death of the great commander became one of the most important events for all contemporaries.

The biography of which demonstrates to us the indefatigable desire of a person for a grandiose dream, became one of the most important characters in ancient history. Even in ancient times, the glory of the world's greatest commander was entrenched in him. And it is no coincidence, because it was this ruler who managed to create an empire colossal in scale.

Alexander the Great: a short biography

The father of the future commander was the Macedonian king Philip II, who managed to subjugate a significant part of the Greek territories by the middle of the 4th century. Alexander the Great, whose biography begins around 356 BC, was born in the capital of the state - Pella. In childhood, he managed to get an excellent education. The fact that the young man was brought up by the most famous thinker of the ancient era, Aristotle, speaks volumes. The latter sought to instill in his ward the qualities of an ideal sovereign - wise, just and courageous. The ideas of the philosopher to a large extent influenced the further policy of the great ruler.

Alexander the Great: biography of the first period of reign

The young warrior ascended the throne at the age of twenty, after his father Philip was killed by aristocratic conspirators. Over the next two years (from 336 to 334 BC), the new ruler was busy restoring the shattered

empire. After restoring order in the country and eliminating the threat from the northern Thracian tribes, Alexander turns his gaze beyond the borders of his own state. For a long time, his father had nurtured the idea of ​​finally defeating what had been the main rival of Hellas by that time for more than a century and a half. This dream was realized by his son.

Alexander the Great: biography of brilliant years

In 334 BC. e. Alexander's armies cross into Asia and begin to advance deep into the possessions of the Persians. The general battle took place in the same year on the Granik River, after which a significant part ended up in the hands of the Macedonians. It was after this battle that the glory of the greatest conqueror was entrenched in the young commander. However, he did not stop there. The next two campaigns of Alexander were also

directed to the East, but now he almost did not meet any serious resistance. So Egypt was taken by him, where the ruler founded the city, which was named after him - Alexandria. Some resistance was offered in the central regions of Persia, but after in 331 King Darius III was defeated, and the city of Babylon became the capital of the Macedonian empire. Many noble Persians after that went over to his side. By 328, almost all of it was conquered, after which the ambitious commander began to prepare an invasion of India. This campaign took place in 325 BC. e. However, the heavy battles of Alexander the Great across the Indus River greatly depleted his army, which had been on campaigns for many years without returning to its homeland. The grumbling of the army forced the ruler to turn back to Babylon. Here he spent the short rest of his life, having managed to marry a noble Persian woman, but died suddenly in 323 BC. e. After the death of the great conqueror, his state could not be kept in unity, and it broke up into several small formations.

Alexander the Great is an outstanding personality of history, commander, king, creator of world power. Born in 356 BC in the Macedonian capital. Belongs to the genus of the mythical hero Hercules. While the father participated in the wars, the mother was engaged in the education of Alexander. This influenced the relationship of the future commander with his father - despite admiring his victories and military stories, he was disgusted by his mother's unpleasant stories about him.

Since childhood, everyone saw a talented child in Alexander, so they tried to develop him comprehensively - they taught politics, diplomacy, and military arts. The future commander and the best and smartest people of that time were trained.

Already at the age of twenty, Alexander took the position of ruler and took the first decisive action - he abolished taxes, took revenge on his father's enemies and confirmed the alliance with Greece. Then he decided to implement his father's plan - he made the Persian campaign, which resulted in the recognition of Macedon as a great ruler and commander.

In addition, he made a northern campaign and conquered Thebes, conquered Syria, Asia Minor and Egypt and founded Alexandria there - the first Greek-Macedonian colony in the East. He conquered Babylon, became the king of Asia, as a result of which he was repeatedly subjected to conspiracies. After the end of the war period, he carried out several reforms. He married Princess Roxana.

In February 323 BC, he put all his efforts into preparing a campaign against Carthage, but illness prevented him from carrying it out - in the same year he died of a fever. The death of the commander is still controversial, in this matter historians are divided into three groups, each of which defends its own point of view.

The great empire created by Alexander the Great fell apart after his death and laid the foundation for wars for power.

Option 2

Born in 356 BC in the Macedonian capital Pella. He died in 323 BC. Alexander is considered a descendant of the gods, since the grandfather of Amyntas III came from a younger branch of the dynasty, his mother is the Queen of Epirus Olympias from the Pyrrhid dynasty. His father King Philip II was from the Argead family. In childhood he was fond of Greek literature and culture, music, and mathematics. The training took place in Miez, the teachers were Leonid and the actor Lysimachus, then the philosopher Aristotle himself became a mentor. The Iliad became a reference book. Already at a young age, the future king showed his qualities as a ruler and strategist, he was distinguished by his quick temper, purposefulness, but also curiosity.

For the first time, the honor of ruling the kingdom presented itself to Alexander at the age of 16. He skillfully proved himself in suppressing the uprising of the Thracians and the revolt of the inhabitants of Thebes. Throughout his life, he sought to retain power, many campaigns and conquests speak of this. He managed to carry out reprisals against rivals and enemies, and is also known for the execution of his cousin Amyntas and the son of Philip and Cleopatra.

Even as a child, the boy experienced feelings of admiration for his father, but at the same time, a certain hostility, because he saw the relationship between his parents.

What feats did he become famous for? He united Hellas, fulfilled his father's dream - a campaign against Persia. The Battle of the Granik River in 334 BC allowed to seize power over all of Asia Minor. He conquered Palestine, Syria, many countries of the Middle East. The city of Alexandria, one of the largest cultural, scientific and commercial centers, was founded in his honor.

329 - the assassination of the Persian king David by the soldiers of Alexander. At the same time, the Macedonian king convinced the killers of David of the fall of the Persian Empire, and called himself an avenger for honor.

Gradually, the commander captured the territories now known as Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, built cities. One example is the city of Kandahar.

In 326, a campaign against India took place. However, due to the exhaustion of the army by long battles, it was necessary to abandon further advance towards Asia. Life was in danger due to being wounded in battle with local tribes.

Alexander the Great was distinguished by mercy towards the local population and their traditions. Many plans remained unfulfilled due to death in 323 BC. There are different versions, one of them is malaria, the other is poisoning. After the tragic death of the empire collapsed.

The image of Alexander the Great is an example for many military leaders, his thoughts and strategies are used today.

Macedonian - biography

Alexander the Great - the king of Macedonia and the great conqueror of the eastern lands from Thrace to China.

Alexander the Great was born in 356 BC. in the family of the Macedonian king Philip 2 and the queen of Olympias. According to ancient customs, the son did not study at home, but went to learn knowledge from relatives. Alexander was brought up by one of the greatest philosophers of that time - Aristotle, from whom he received a craving for enlightenment. Also, King Leonid played a big role in shaping his personality, captivating him with dreams of military domination over the whole world. In general, the boy's childhood passed quietly, but he lacked the attention of his father, who constantly fought. Alexander thought that he would not get the land on which he would perform his exploits.

In 336 BC Alexander's father dies, after which the son takes the chair of the king. First of all, he deals with internecine wars and eliminates the conspirators. After he starts a full-scale war with Greece. After the Battle of Chaeronea, he gains the upper hand and conquers Greece. From this moment, the great campaigns in Persia begin. Alexander gathered a large army and went to a deadly battle against the Persian king Darius 3. But after the bloody battle of Granik, the ruler of Persia fled, and Alexander took city after city with little or no resistance from local residents. He was greeted as a liberator from Persian hegemony. Alexander was amazed at the beauty and equipment of the Persian settlements, he adopted many technologies from Persian craftsmen and the military. In addition, he was generous and did not insist on a change in leadership, culture or religious beliefs. That is why riots and uprisings were not started against the young conqueror. Also, the young king married two daughters of Darius: Satire and Parisatis.

Having conquered Persia from Asia Minor to Bactria, Alexander the Great began to move on. It was a real surprise for him to realize that there were still unexplored lands beyond Persia. Until the end of his life, he was sure that the end of the earth was somewhere nearby, that he only needed to work a little to achieve power over the whole world. But Alexander remained devoted to his dream and went to India, where he first encountered elephants, but successfully defeated them. The Indian king opened the gate for him, and India was conquered. The conqueror founded his empire and went to the city of Babylon, which became his favorite, where he spent the rest of his life. He planned to go to Arabia and China, but he was never able to do so. His health was severely crippled by malaria, from which he never recovered. He died in 323 BC. leaving his comrades-in-arms a huge empire.

Most people live simple and unremarkable lives. After their death, they leave practically nothing behind, and the memory of them quickly fades. But there are those whose name is remembered for centuries, and even millennia. Let some people not know about the contribution of these personalities to world history, but their names are forever preserved in it. One of these people was Alexander the Great. The biography of this outstanding commander is still full of gaps, but scientists have done a great job to accurately reproduce the story of his life.

Alexander the Great - briefly about the deeds and life of the great king

Alexander was the son of the Macedonian king Philip II. His father tried to give him all the best and bring up a reasonable, but at the same time decisive and unshakable person in his actions, in order to keep in submission all the peoples that he would have to rule in the event of the death of Philip II. And so it happened. After his father died, Alexander, with the support of the army, was elected the next king. The first thing he did when he became ruler was to brutally crack down on all pretenders to the throne in order to guarantee his safety. After that, he crushed the rebellion of the rebellious Greek policies and defeated the armies of nomadic tribes that threatened Macedonia. Despite such a young age, twenty-year-old Alexander gathered a significant army and went to the East. For ten years, many peoples of Asia and Africa submitted to him. A sharp mind, prudence, ruthlessness, stubbornness, courage, courage - these qualities of Alexander the Great gave him the opportunity to rise above everyone else. The kings were afraid to see his army near the borders of their possessions, and the enslaved peoples obediently obeyed the invincible commander. The empire of Alexander the Great was the largest state formation of that time, spanning three continents.

Childhood and early years

How did he spend his childhood, what kind of upbringing did the young Alexander of Macedon receive? The biography of the king is full of secrets and questions to which historians have not yet been able to give a definite answer. But first things first.

Alexander was born in the family of the Macedonian ruler Philip II, who came from the ancient Argead family, and his wife Olympias. He was born in 356 BC. e. in the city of Pella (at that time it was the capital of Macedonia). Scholars debate the exact date of Alexander's birth, some of which speak of July, while others favor October.

Since childhood, Alexander was fond of Greek culture and literature. In addition, he showed interest in mathematics and music. As a teenager, Aristotle himself became his mentor, thanks to whom Alexander fell in love with the Iliad and always carried it with him. But above all, the young man showed himself as a talented strategist and ruler. At the age of 16, due to the absence of his father, he temporarily ruled Macedonia, while managing to repel the attack of barbarian tribes on the northern borders of the state. When Philip II returned to the country, he decided to marry another woman named Cleopatra. Angry for such a betrayal of his mother, Alexander often quarreled with his father, so he had to leave for Epirus with Olympias. Philip soon forgave his son and allowed him to return.

New king of Macedonia

The life of Alexander the Great was filled with a struggle for power and keeping it in his hands. It all started in 336 BC. e. after the assassination of Philip II, when it was time to choose a new king. Alexander enlisted the support of the army and was eventually recognized as the new ruler of Macedonia. In order not to repeat the fate of his father and save the throne from other applicants, he brutally cracks down on everyone who could pose a threat to him. Even his cousin Amyntas and the young son of Cleopatra and Philip were executed.

By that time, Macedonia was the most powerful and dominant state among the Greek policies within the Corinthian Union. Hearing about the death of Philip II, the Greeks wanted to get rid of the influence of the Macedonians. But Alexander quickly dispelled their dreams and with the help of force forced them to submit to the new king. In 335, a campaign was organized against barbarian tribes threatening the northern regions of the country. The army of Alexander the Great quickly dealt with the enemies and put an end to this threat forever.

At this time, they rebelled and rebelled against the authority of the new king of Thebes. But after a short siege of the city, Alexander managed to overcome the resistance and crush the rebellion. This time he was not so lenient and almost completely destroyed Thebes, executing thousands of citizens.

Alexander the Great and the East. Conquest of Asia Minor

Even Philip II wanted to take revenge on Persia for past defeats. To this end, a large and well-trained army was created, capable of posing a serious threat to the Persians. After his death, Alexander the Great took over this business. The history of the conquest of the East began in 334 BC. e., when the 50,000th army of Alexander crossed into Asia Minor, settling in the city of Abydos.

He was opposed by a no less numerous Persian army, the basis of which was the combined formations under the command of the satraps of the western borders and Greek mercenaries. The decisive battle took place in the spring on the eastern bank of the Grannik River, where Alexander's troops destroyed the enemy formations with a swift blow. After this victory, the cities of Asia Minor fell one by one under the onslaught of the Greeks. Only in Miletus and Halicarnassus did they meet with resistance, but even these cities were eventually captured. Wanting to take revenge on the invaders, Darius III gathered a large army and set out on a campaign against Alexander. They met near the city of Iss in November 333 BC. e., where the Greeks showed excellent preparation and defeated the Persians, forcing Darius to flee. These battles of Alexander the Great became a turning point in the conquest of Persia. After them, the Macedonians were able to subjugate the territory of a huge empire almost without hindrance.

The conquest of Syria, Phoenicia and the campaign against Egypt

After a crushing victory over the Persian army, Alexander continued his victorious campaign to the South, subjugating the territories adjacent to the Mediterranean coast to his power. His army met virtually no resistance and quickly subjugated the cities of Syria and Phoenicia. Only the inhabitants of Tyre, which was located on the island and was an impregnable fortress, could give a serious rebuff to the invaders. But after a seven-month siege, the defenders of the city had to surrender it. These conquests by Alexander the Great were of great strategic importance, as they made it possible to cut off the Persian fleet from its main supply bases and secure itself in the event of an attack from the sea.

At this time, Darius III tried twice to negotiate with the Macedonian commander, offering him money and land, but Alexander was adamant and rejected both proposals, wishing to become the sole ruler of all Persian lands.

In the autumn of 332 BC. e. Greek and Macedonian army entered the territory of Egypt. The inhabitants of the country met them as liberators from the hated Persian government, which Alexander the Great was pleasantly impressed with. The biography of the king was replenished with new titles - the pharaoh and the son of the god Amon, which were assigned to him by the Egyptian priests.

The death of Darius III and the complete defeat of the Persian state

After the successful conquest of Egypt, Alexander did not rest for a long time, already in July 331 BC. e. his army crossed the Euphrates River and moved to Media. These were to be the decisive battles of Alexander the Great, in which the winner would gain power over all Persian lands. But Darius found out about the plans of the Macedonian commander and came out to meet him at the head of a huge army. Having crossed the Tigris River, the Greeks met the Persian army on a vast plain near Gaugamel. But, as in previous battles, the Macedonian army was victorious, and Darius left his army in the midst of the battle.

Having learned about the flight of the Persian king, the inhabitants of Babylon and Susa submitted to Alexander without resistance.

Having placed his satraps here, the Macedonian commander continued the offensive, pushing back the remnants of the Persian troops. In 330 BC. e. they approached Persepolis, which was held by the troops of the Persian satrap Ariobarzanes. After a fierce struggle, the city surrendered to the onslaught of the Macedonians. As was the case with all the places that voluntarily did not submit to the authority of Alexander, he was burned to the ground. But the commander did not want to stop there and went in pursuit of Darius, whom he overtook in Parthia, but already dead. As it turned out, he was betrayed and killed by one of his subordinates named Bess.

Advance into Central Asia

The life of Alexander the Great has now changed radically. Although he was a big fan of Greek culture and the system of government, the permissiveness and luxury with which the Persian rulers lived captivated him. He considered himself a full-fledged king of the Persian lands and wanted everyone to treat him like a god. Those who tried to criticize his actions were immediately executed. He did not spare even his friends and loyal associates.

But the matter was not over yet, because the eastern provinces, having learned about the death of Darius, did not want to obey the new ruler. Therefore, Alexander in 329 BC. e. again went on a campaign - to Central Asia. In three years, he managed to finally break the resistance. Bactria and Sogdiana offered him the greatest opposition, but they also fell before the might of the Macedonian army. This was the end of the story describing the conquests of Alexander the Great in Persia, the population of which completely submitted to his authority, recognizing the commander as the King of Asia.

Hike to India

The conquered territories were not enough for Alexander, and in 327 BC. e. he organized another campaign - to India. Entering the territory of the country and crossing the Indus River, the Macedonians approached the possessions of King Taxila, who submitted to the King of Asia, replenishing the ranks of his army with his people and war elephants. The Indian ruler hoped for Alexander's help in the fight against another king named Por. The commander kept his word, and in June 326 a great battle took place on the banks of the Gadispa River, which ended in favor of the Macedonians. But Alexander left the life of Por and even allowed him to rule his lands, as before. On the battlefields, he founded the cities of Nicaea and Bukefaly. But at the end of the summer, the rapid advance stopped near the Hyphasis River, when the army, exhausted from endless battles, refused to go further. Alexander had no choice but to turn south. Having reached the Indian Ocean, he divided the army into two parts, half of which sailed back on ships, and the rest, along with Alexander, moved by land. But this was a big mistake of the commander, because their path ran through hot deserts, in which part of the army died. The life of Alexander the Great was in danger after he was seriously injured in one of the battles with local tribes.

The last years of his life and the results of the deeds of the great commander

Returning to Persia, Alexander saw that many satraps rebelled and decided to create their own powers. But with the return of the commander, their plans collapsed, and execution awaited all the disobedient. After the massacre, the King of Asia began to strengthen the internal situation in the country and prepare for new campaigns. But his plans were not destined to come true. June 13, 323 BC e. Alexander dies of malaria at the age of 32. After his death, the commanders divided among themselves all the lands of a huge state.

So one of the greatest commanders, Alexander the Great, passed away. The biography of this person is filled with so many bright events that sometimes you wonder - is it possible for an ordinary person? The young man with extraordinary ease subjugated entire nations, who worshiped him as a god. The cities founded by him have survived to this day, recalling the deeds of the commander. And although the empire of Alexander the Great collapsed immediately after his death, but then it was the largest and most powerful state that stretched from the Danube to the Indus.

Dates of campaigns of Alexander the Great and places of the most famous battles

1. 334-300 AD BC e. - conquest of Asia Minor.
2. May 334 BC e. - a battle on the banks of the Grannik River, the victory in which made it possible for Alexander to freely subdue the cities of Asia Minor.
3. November 333 BC e. - a battle near the city of Iss, as a result of which Darius fled from the battlefield, and the Persian army was completely defeated.
4. January-July 332 BC e. - the siege of the impregnable city of Tyre, after the capture of which the Persian army was cut off from the sea.
5. Autumn 332 BC e. - July 331 BC e. - the annexation of Egyptian lands.
6. October 331 BC e. - a battle on the plains near Gavgemal, where the Macedonian army won again, and Darius III was forced to flee.
7. 329-327 BC e. - campaign in Central Asia, the conquest of Bactria and Sogdiana.
8. 327-324 BC e. - trip to India.
9. June 326 BC e. - battle with the troops of King Por near the river Gadis.