In the words of one ancient historian, Alexander the Great (356–323 BC) “never engaged with any enemy whom he did not conquer, besieged no city that he did not take, and invaded no nation that he did not subjugate.” His conquests, from Egypt to India, encompassed virtually the whole world known to the Greeks—a remarkable accomplishment given that Alexander only lived to age thirty-three.
Alexander’s military victories also spread Greek customs and the Greek language throughout the Mediterranean, making it the lingua franca of the entire region. His heirs ruled parts of Alexander’s empire for the next 300 years, until they were, in turn, conquered by the Romans.
Born in the northern Greek kingdom of Macedonia, Alexander was the son of King Philip II of Macedon and one of his wives, Olympias. As a young man, Alexander was tutored by the philosopher Aristotle (384–322 BC), who instilled a love of science, literature, and philosophy in the young prince. Alexander was also renowned for his skill as a horseman; his horse, Bucephalus was one of the most famous animals of antiquity.
In 336 BC, Philip was assassinated and Alexander, at age twenty, inherited the throne. Within a few years, he had established Macedonia as the dominant power in Greece, subjugating ancient city-states such as Athens and Thebes. Next, he led his armies on a ten-year campaign across the ancient world, conquering Egypt, India, and the Persian Empire, the longtime adversary of the Greeks. His soldiers founded dozens of cities and eventually controlled an empire encompassing three continents.
Unlike some conquerors, who sought to impose their beliefs on defeated peoples, Alexander was interested in Persian culture and even adopted many of its customs. This policy angered many of his officers—especially after thousands of Alexander’s soldiers were forced to marry Persian women in a mass wedding. This event, held in the city of Susa, was intended by Alexander to promote Greek-Persian harmony.
The cause of Alexander’s death in the city of Babylon has remained a mystery. Some contemporaries suspected that he was poisoned—“overcome at last, not by the prowess of any enemy, but by a conspiracy of those whom he trusted.” However, in 1998 a team of researchers concluded that he probably died of typhoid fever.
ADDITIONAL FACTS
- Irish actor Colin Farrell (1976–) played the title role in the 2004 Oliver Stone (1946–) film Alexander. The conqueror has also been portrayed by William Shatner (1931–) and Richard Burton (1925–1984), among many other actors.
- Alexander supposedly slept with a copy of his favorite book, The Iliad, under his pillow.
- According to legend, Alexander was mummified after his death. His body was taken to Alexandria, Egypt, a city named in his honor, where it was displayed for centuries afterward.
