Alexander the Great Study Guide

• Overview
• Important Facts
• Timeline
• People
• Quiz
• Terms
• Alexander the Great Pictures
• Alexander the Great Sources
• Review of Peter Green's Alexander of Macedon

13 Facts About Alexander the Great

1. Birth
   Alexander was born around July 20, 356 B.C.
2. Parents
   Alexander was the son of King Philip II of Macedon and Olympias, daughter of King Neoptolemus I of Epirus. Olympias was not the only wife of Philip and there was much conflict between Alexander's parents.
3. Education
   Alexander was tutored by Leonidas (possibly his uncle) and the great Greek philosopher Aristotle.
4. Bucephalus
   During his youth, Alexander tamed the wild horse Bucephalus. Later, when his beloved horse died, Alexander renamed a city in India for Bucephalus.
5. Promise as Regent
   In 340 B.C., while father Philip went off to fight rebels, Alexander was made regent in Macedonia. During Alexander's regency, the Maedi of northern Macedonia revolted. Alexander put down the revolt and renamed their city Alexandropolis.
6. Early Military Prowess
   In August 338 Alexander showed his mettle helping Philip win the Battle of Chaeronea.
7. Succession
   In 336 B.C. his father Philip was assassinated, and Alexander the Great became ruler of Macedonia.
8. Wariness
   Alexander had potential rivals executed in order to secure the throne.
9. Wives
   Alexander the Great had 3 wives:
   1. Roxane,
   2. Statiera, and
   3. Parysatis.
10. Offspring
    Alexander's children were
    • Herakles, son of Alexander's mistress Barsine, and
    • Alexander IV, son of Roxane.
    Both children were killed before they reached adulthood.
11. Gordian Knot
    One of the legends about Alexander the Great is that when he was in Gordium, in Turkey, in 333 B.C., he undid the Gordian Knot which had been tied by the legendary King Midas. The prophecy about the Gordian knot was that the person who untied it would rule all of Asia. Alexander the Great is said to have undone the knot by slashing through it with a sword.
12. Death
    In 323 B.C. Alexander the Great returned to Babylonia where he became ill suddenly, and died at age 33. The cause of his death is unknown. It could have been disease or posion.
13. Diadochi
    The successors of Alexander are known as the Diadochi.

• The World of Royalty Biography of Alexander the Great - Begins with the early years of Alexander the Great and continues through his life. Site includes bibliography.
  
  
• Alexander the Great Quotes
  
  

• Overview
• Important Facts
• Timeline
• People
• Quiz
• Terms
• Alexander the Great Pictures
• Alexander the Great Sources

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