Alexander the Great Study Guide

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13 Facts About Alexander the Great

Remember that Alexander is a larger than life figure so what is attributed to him could be propaganda mixed with fact.

1. Birth
   Alexander was born around July 19/20, 356 B.C.

   •Omens at the Birth of Alexander

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. (Hephaestion is thought to have been educated along with Alexander.)
   
   
4. Who Was 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. The Promise Shown When Alexander Was 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. His Early Military Prowess
   In August 338 Alexander showed his mettle helping Philip win the Battle of Chaeronea.

   •Arrian's 'Campaigns of Alexander'

7. Alexander Succeeds His Father to the Throne
   In 336 B.C. his father Philip was assassinated, and Alexander the Great became ruler of Macedonia.
   
   
8. Alexander Was Wary of Those Around Him
   Alexander had potential rivals executed in order to secure the throne.
   
   
9. His Wives
   Alexander the Great had 3 probable wives:
   1. Roxane,
   2. Statiera, and
   3. Parysatis.
10. His Offspring
    Alexander's children were
    • Herakles, son of Alexander's mistress Barsine,

      [Sources: Alexander the Great and His Empire, by Pierre Briant and Alexander the Great, by Philip Freeman, but join the discussion: Children of Alexander]

    • Alexander IV, son of Roxane.
    Both children were killed before they reached adulthood.
    
    
11. Alexander Solved the 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' father. 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.

    •To Cut the Gordian Knot

12. Death of Alexander
    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 poison.
    
    
13. Who Were Alexander's Successors?
    The successors of Alexander are known as the Diadochi.

    •Romm's 'Ghost on the Throne: The Death of Alexander the Great and the War for Crown and Empire'
    •Briant's 'Alexander the Great and His Empire'

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