King of Macedonia Alexander

King of Macedonia Alexander the Great was the king from 336 to 323 B.C. of Macedonia. While in his position of leadership, Alexander the Great had the ability to accomplish many things. One of which was the fact that he was able to reunite Greece. Not only was Alexander III leading the people of Macedonia as their king he also led the Corinthian League.

Early Life

Alexander III of Macedonia was born on July twentieth of 356 B.C. in the Pella region of Macedonia. His parents were known as King Philip II of Macedon and Queen Olympia, daughter of King Neoptolemus. Alexander the Great and his sister were both raised in the Pella royal court. Alexander rarely saw his father due to his extreme workload and because his father spent most of his time engaged in military campaigns and extra-marital affairs. Because of this Alexander grew to resent his father's absence and philandering.

Alexander had many tutors in his life one his earliest ones was Leonidas, who had been hired by King Phillip to teach him math, horsemanship, and archery. Although Leonidas was a very good tutor he struggled to keep his student under control. Another one of Alexanders tutors was the philosopher Aristotle. He was hired to teach Alexander at the Temple of the Nymphs at Meiza. He would be there for the next three years while Aristotle taught him and a handful of his friends philosophy, poetry, drama, science, and politics. Alexander completed his education at Meiza in 340 B.C. A year later, while still just a teen, he became a soldier and embarked on his first military expedition, against the Thracian tribes. (Biography) Known as Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedonia was known as Alexander the Great because of many contributing factors.

One of which is his successfulness as a Military commander. An example of his success is the fact that he was up against overwhelming odds and he still led his army to victories across the Persian territories of Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt. He did this all without suffering a single defeat. His greatest victory was at the Battle of Gaugamela, in what is now northern Iraq, in 331 BC. (History) The young Alexander, leader of the Greeks, and the pharaoh of Egypt became known as the great king of Persia at the youthful the age of 25. Another factor that causes him to be known as Alexander the Great was that he changed the Ancient world. He did this single-handly in a little more than a decade. Alexander inherited a powerful yet volatile kingdom at just the age of 20. And He quickly dealt with his enemies at home and reasserted Macedonian power within Greece. Alexander the Great founded more than 70 cities in the ancient world. He named more than 20 of them "Alexandria" after himself. (Goddesses) At such a young age he was doing so much with the little experience he had in politics. Alexander the Great never lost a battle which is the main reason his is called the Great.

Accomplishments

He became the king of Persia, Babylon, Asia, and created Macedonian colonies in the region. (Biography) Before Alexander was king he took charge of the Companion Cavalry and aided his father, Philip II, in defeating the Athenian and Theban armies at Chaeronea. Alexander and his forces made it in Thebes very swiftly that the city-state did not have an opportunity to get together allies for its defense. Alexander led the massacre of Thebes just three days after his arrival. It was Alexander's hope that the destruction of Thebes would serve as a warning to city-states contemplating revolt. (Biography) His intimidation tactic proved effectual; the other city-states, including Athens, chose to pledge their alliance to the Macedonian Empire or wanted to remain neutral. Persia Alexander commenced on his Asiatic expedition, arriving in Troy that spring in 334. Alexander then faced Persian King Darius III's army near the Granicus River; Darius' forces were swiftly defeated. By fall, Alexander and his army had made it across the southern coast of Asia Minor to Gordium, where they took the winter to rest. In the summer of 333, the troops of Alexander and Darius once again went head to head in battle at Issus. (Biography)

Although Alexander's army was outnumbered, he used his flair for his military strategy to create formations that defeated the Persians again and caused Darius to flee. After capturing Darius, Alexander declared himself the king of Persia, making him a fugitive in November of 333 B.C. Egypt Next Alexander was planning his campaign to conquer Egypt. After Alexander had besieged Gaza on his way to Egypt, he easily achieved his conquest; Egypt fell without resistance. Designed in 331 as a hub for Greek culture and commerce, he created the city of Alexandria. Alexander defeated the Persians at the Battle of Gaugamela later that year. Alexander became "King of Babylon, King of Asia, King of the Four Quarters of the World with the collapse of the Persian army.

His Death Alexander the Great was thought to have died of Malaria in Babylon on June 323BC. Although it is unsure of what actually caused his death. He died in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II when he was 32 years old. Alexander the Great's body was placed in a gold sarcophagus filled with honey, which was then placed in a gold casket.

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