Alexander the Great

Alexander, in July 356 BC. son of Philip II of Macedonia and Olympias, was born in Pella. His father took advantage of the weakness the bickering among themselves Greek city-states sent out and brought large parts of Greece in the sphere of influence of Macedonia. Alexander enjoyed an excellent education in the philosopher Aristotle.

At the age of 16 years ago, Alexander successfully
Macedonian army against a people of Thrace. After the murder of his Father by a bodyguard at the marriage of Alexander Sister of the 20-year-old Alexander himself took over the rule and let kill domestic opponents.

After turning a few campaigns in the hinterland of Macedonia is Alexander against the Greeks, who after the death of Philip again Macedonia had fallen. prevented by its rapid advance it a common defense strategy of the Greeks destroyed the city To Thebes to the ground and reached as soon surrender the other cities, which do not suffer the fate of Thebes wanted.

334 Alexander crossed with an army of just over 30,000 the Hellespont. This marked the attack on the kingdom of the Persians, which at that time from the Mediterranean to India and also extended Egypt included. After the victory at the river Granicus on the Persian Governor Alexander could move freely to the east. In the Gordion village there was a car that skilfully with a intricate knots was provided. Those who solve this "Gordian knot" could, should rule over Asia receive. Alexander, then reported to have his sword drawn, and the node ado severed.

On the further advance towards Persia, Alexander met in late autumn 333 to the Persian Great King Darius, the one with him at Issus mighty army opposed. Alexander was victorious in this battle and was then the Persian camp without much resistance . Taking In addition to his vast treasures were also Darius' wife and his daughters in his hands. As Darius him in exchange for the women prisoners, the transfer of all areas west of the Euphrates offered, Alexander leaned from this, as he had in mind a lot more.

He moved with his army initially not more to the east, but south to in his later rise no opposing forces in the Back behind. After months of siege was the conquest the important port city of Tyre. The Jews then threw themselves voluntary, and in Egypt, Alexander received as liberators and Pharaoh crowned. On the north coast of Egypt, he founded after him named city of Alexandria, which later became a center of the ancient world should be. In the oasis of Siwa he consulted the oracle of Zeus Ammon, where He was described as the son of Zeus - so he let himself be happy to Coins with the horns of the ram image, the sacred to Zeus Ammon was. The Greek colony of Cyrene, which is west of Egypt was on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, submitted to Alexander. This was the way for the conquest of the Persian heartland.

In the summer of 331 Alexander crossed with his army, the Mesopotamian Desert and crossed the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. On 1 October comes it to the decisive battle at Gaugamela, Alexander the turn against a seemingly all-powerful Persian army can decide for themselves. The issue was a direct attack by Alexander in person and his cavalry to Darius, who feared the battle and to flee turned. When the army saw that the commander on the Escape was, it also left on the battle, although at least some Associations, the Macedonians had already struck nearly.

Darius fled from Alexander, according to media, so that the large Persian cities without a fight usually fell into the hands of Babylon, Susa (where also the Royal Palace was) and Persepolis. In revenge for the Let destruction of Athens by the Persians Alexander Persepolis completely the ground do the same. Then he led the prosecution of Darius further and moved east. Darius was on the run from a Henchman murdered, so the reach of the friendship of Alexander wanted. Alexander, however, proved the dead Darius the rightful Honors and is now pursuing his killers.

In the following years, Alexander subdued all in the east, Rich parts that are in the area of present-day Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan were. As his own generals to oppose him seemed, he had murdered them out of hand. This, and the Adoption of Persian customs alienated more and more of Alexander its original Macedonian followers.

When Alexander, the empire of his dreams, after some victorious, but with heavy losses beaten battles still over India wanted to conquer, the army mutinied, so it is now almost 10 years away from home fighting. Only with great bitterness, Alexander farewell of his plans of conquest and agreed to withdraw. While part of the army by sea from the mouth of the Indus to Persia went back, Alexander chose his way through the deserts of Southern Iran, which crosses in front of him, according to tradition, no one had. Alexander was even this crossing, but under the loss of many of his army.

When Alexander, the next campaigns (against Arabia and against the West Mediterranean Plant), he fell ill in the spring of 323 in Babylon difficult. On 10 June, he died there of complications from Disease early in an unnatural causes (poisoning) was returned. Since no succession plan was, broke the Rich quickly in different parts, whose rulers are mutually fought. Nevertheless, the Alexander campaign provided a tremendous cultural exchange between East and West and was the basis for Hellenism, the flowering of Greek culture in Eastern Mediterranean.