Wars of Alexander the Great

Quick Facts: Who was Wars of Alexander the Great?

Subject:

Wars of Alexander the Great

Known for:

Conqueror who expanded Macedon's reach across the Achaemenid Empire to India.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Alexander the Great of Macedon carried out a series of conquests and military campaigns from 336 to 323 BC. They began with his conquest of the Achaemenid Empire, which was ruled by Darius III. After a series of victories over the Persians and the defeat of Darius, he began a campaign against local chieftains and warlords that stretched from Greece to as far as the Indus Valley. At the time of his death, Alexander ruled over most regions of Greece and the conquered Achaemenid Empire, including much of Achaemenid Egypt. Despite his military accomplishments, Alexander did not establish a stable empire, and his untimely death threw the vast territories he conquered into a series of civil wars known as the Wars of the Diadochi.

Career & Major Achievements

Alexander ascended to the throne of Macedon following the assassination of his father, Philip II (r. During his two decade reign, Philip II had unified the poleis or Greek city-states of mainland Greece under the Macedonian led League of Corinth. Alexander proceeded to solidify Macedonian rule by quashing a rebellion by the Greek city-states in the south and staged a short but bloody excursion against the city-states to the north. He then proceeded east to carry out his plans to conquer the Achaemenid Empire. His campaign of conquests which began in Greece spanned across Anatolia, Syria, Phoenicia, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greater Iran, Afghanistan, and India.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The borders of his Macedonian Empire extended as far east as the city of Taxila in modern-day Pakistan. Prior to his death, Alexander had also made plans for a Macedonian military and mercantile expedition into the Arabian Peninsula, after which he planned to turn west to Carthage. However, with Alexander's death, his generals, the Diadochi abandoned these plans and within a few years, began fighting against each other dividing the territories of the Macedonian Empire among themselves, these wars lasted for 40 years and took place during the Hellenistic period. In 336 BC, Philip II was assassinated by the captain of his bodyguards, Pausanias of Orestis. Philip's son, and previously designated heir, Alexander, was proclaimed king by the Macedonian noblemen and army.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Wars of Alexander the Great

True or False: “Alexander the Great established a stable, lasting empire that survived his death.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): His vast conquests were not stabilized by him; instead, his untimely death led to the Wars of the Diadochi, which divided his territories among his generals.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Wars of Scottish Independence — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A defining period of national struggle where Scotland fought for its sovereignty against English domination.
• Wars of the Diadochi — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A series of conflicts among Alexander's generals over the succession to his vast empire.
• Wars of the Roses — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A series of English civil wars (1455–1487) fought for the English throne between York and Lancaster.
• Wars of the Three Kingdoms — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A series of conflicts (1639–1653) spanning England, Scotland, and Ireland.
• Warsaw Ghetto — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The largest Nazi ghetto during WWII, site of mass imprisonment and extermination.
• Warsaw Ghetto Uprising — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The largest single Jewish revolt against Nazi Germany in the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII.

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