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# Alexander the Great

## Overview
Alexander III of Macedon (356–323 BCE), known as Alexander the Great, conquered the Persian Empire and created one of the largest empires in ancient history, spreading Greek culture from Egypt to India. @t[356 BCE..323 BCE]

## Key Facts
- Born: 356 BCE, Pella, Macedon @t[=356 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Died: 10–11 June 323 BCE, Babylon (age 32) @t[=323 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Reign: 336–323 BCE @t[336 BCE..323 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Father: Philip II of Macedon (II = Regnal number. Standard historical convention.) <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Mother: Olympias, Epirote princess [^3]
- Tutor: Aristotle <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Titles: King of Macedon, Hegemon of the Hellenic League, Pharaoh of Egypt, Great King of Persia [^3]

## Major Campaigns
- Destruction of Thebes (335 BCE): Suppressed Greek revolt; assumed leadership of the League of Corinth @t[=335 BCE] [^1]
- Battle of Granicus (334 BCE): First victory against Persia in Anatolia @t[=334 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Battle of Issus (333 BCE): Defeated Darius III (III = Regnal number. Standard historical convention.) @t[=333 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Siege of Tyre (332 BCE): Seven-month siege of the island city @t[=332 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Battle of Gaugamela (331 BCE): Decisive defeat of the Persian Empire @t[=331 BCE] [^1] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Indian campaign (327–325 BCE): Defeated King Porus at the Hydaspes @t[327 BCE..325 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->

## Death
Alexander died in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon on 10–11 June 323 BCE, confirmed by a Babylonian astronomical diary. @t[=323 BCE] The cause of death is debated: ancient sources (Arrian, Plutarch, Diodorus) describe a prolonged fever following heavy drinking; modern theories include typhoid fever and poisoning. [^4]

## Legacy
- Founded over 20 cities, most notably Alexandria in Egypt
- Spread Hellenistic culture across the Near East and Central Asia <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Empire divided among his generals (Diadochi) after his death @t[323 BCE..] [^2] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Ptolemaic Egypt, Seleucid Empire, and Antigonid Macedon emerged as successor states <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->

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[^1]: Arrian, *Anabasis of Alexander*
[^2]: Green, P. *Alexander of Macedon* (University of California Press, 1991)
[^3]: Plutarch, *Life of Alexander*; Arrian, *Anabasis of Alexander*
[^4]: Wikipedia, "Death of Alexander the Great" (citing Babylonian astronomical diary; Arrian, Plutarch, Diodorus)