What made Alexander ‘the Great’?

When Alexander was young, he showed great talent and intelligence. Recognising these qualities, his father Philip made sure Alexander received an excellent education. 

One of his teachers was the philosopher Aristotle, who taught him philosophy, science, and the arts. 

Because of Aristotle’s influence, Alexander grew to love Greek culture, which inspired him to share Greek ideas as he grew his empire. 

Alexander’s mother Olympias also had a strong influence on him. She told him that he was descended from the hero Achilles and the god Zeus. 

Believing this, Alexander felt that he had a special purpose to fulfil. 

When his father was killed in 336 BCE, Alexander became king at only 20 years old. 

At once, he took control to stop revolts in Greece by destroying the city of Thebes to warn other Greek states not to rebel. 

Soon after becoming king, Alexander decided to continue his father’s plan to take over the Persian Empire, which was the most powerful kingdom at the time.

From this point, this goal became his main focus. 

Alexander began his campaign in 334 BCE when he crossed from Greece into Asia Minor, the western region of Persia. 

His first major battle was at the Granicus River, where he defeated the Persian forces and opened the way into central Asia Minor. 

In 333 BCE, he met King Darius III of Persia at the Battle of Issus. Even though Alexander’s forces were smaller, he won the battle because of the strong Macedonian phalanx. However, Darius escaped. 

The following year, Alexander attacked the island city of Tyre and captured it after seven months of siege. 

After capturing Tyre, he moved south and entered Egypt. There, the people welcomed him as a hero who freed them from Persian rule. 

When Alexander was in Egypt, he founded the new city of Alexandria, which was named after himself.

That city would become a major centre of Greek learning and culture. 

Then, in 331 BCE, Alexander faced Darius III again at the Battle of Gaugamela, near what is now Mosul in Iraq.

Once more, he won even though the Persian army was much larger. Darius fled again, but this time he was killed by his own men.

Thanks to this victory, Alexander became the ruler of Persia. 

After taking control of Persia, Alexander wanted to push even farther east. In 327 BCE, he crossed the Hindu Kush mountains and entered India. 

His most famous conflict there was the Battle of the Hydaspes River in 326 BCE against King Porus.

The Indian army used war elephants, but Alexander defeated his enemy and still won. 

At the end of the battle, Alexander was so impressed by King Porus’s bravery that he allowed him to continue ruling his kingdom under Alexander’s control. 

Over time, Alexander’s army grew tired of constant fighting and refused to go farther east.

When his troops refused to march any more at the Hyphasis River, Alexander decided to finally turn back and start the journey home. 

On the way back to Babylon, Alexander encountered a series of challenges, including crossing the harsh Gedrosian Desert, where many of his soldiers died. 

Eventually, in 323 BCE, Alexander reached Babylon but began planning new military campaigns.  

However, in June of that year, he suddenly became sick and died at the age of 32.

Historians are still unsure about the exact cause of his death, with theories ranging from poisoning to illness. 

After Alexander’s death, his empire, which stretched from Greece to India, and was divided among his leading generals, who were known as the Diadochi.

This split led to the creation of several new kingdoms. 

Alexander the Great spread Greek culture, philosophy, and science across his vast empire, which was eventually even influence the development of the Roman Empire and Western civilisation.

His idea of a single empire encouraged trade, cultural exchange, and the blending of traditions between East and West. 

More famously, Alexander’s incredible military success also inspired future leaders such as Julius Caesar and Napoleon Bonaparte.