He was a king of Macedon, a state in northern ancient Greece.

Alexander III of Macedon commonly known as Alexander the Great , single-handedly changed the nature of the ancient world in little more than a decade.

He was undefeated in battle and is considered one of history's most successful commanders.

By the age of thirty, he had created one of the largest Empires of the ancient world.

Origin

His parents were Philip II of Macedon and his wife Olympias.

Alexander was educated by the philosopher Aristotle.

Alexander was born in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia in July 356 BC.

Olympia served as a powerful role model for Alexander.

Olympias.

Alexander succeeded his father, Philip II of Macedon,to the throne in 336 BC after Philip was assassinated.

Upon Philip's death, Alexander inherited a strong kingdom and an experienced army.

He quickly dealt with his enemies at home and reasserted Macedonian power within Greece.

He used this authority to launch his father's militaryexpansion plans.

The Macedonian Empire

The Macedonian EmpireSucceeding his father, Alexander set out to conquer the massive Persian Empire.

During a decade of campaigning, Alexander conquered the whole Persian Empire, overthrowing the Persian King Darius III.

He led his army to victories across the Persian territories of Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt without suffering a single defeat.

His greatest victory was at the Battle of Gaugamela, in what is now northern Iraq, in 331 BC.

The conquered lands included Asia Minor, Assyria , the Levant, Egypt,

Media, Mesopotamia, Persia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the steppes of

central Asia.

Over the next eight years, in his capacity as king, commander, politician, scholar and explorer he conquered many countries.

The Macedonian Empire

Alexander led his army a further11,000 miles, founding over 70 citiesand creating an empire that stretched across three continents and covered around two million square miles.

Along the way, he conquered many countries and founded multiple cities, the most popular being Alexandria in Egypt

Alexander’s Empire

Philip introduced military service as a full-time occupation.

In a remarkably short time, this led to one of the finest military machines that Asia or Greece had ever seen

The army of the kingdom of Macedonia was among the greatest military forces of the ancient world. It became formidable under King Philip II and his son, Alexander the Great.

The Army of the Kingdom of Macedonia

The latest innovations in weapons and tactics, along with unique combin-ation of military elements introduced by Philip II won an intercontinental empire

Tactical innovations included adaptations of the latest tactics applied to the traditional

Greek phalanx by men such as Epaminondas of Thebes, as well as coordinated attacks.

The various arms of his army — the phalanx, cavalry, missile troops and under Alexander III, siege engines.

A novel weapon was introduced, the sarissa, a

type of counter-weighted pike, which gave its

advantages both offensively and defensively.

For the first time in Greek warfare, cavalry became a decisive arm in battle.

The Army of the Kingdom of Macedonia

siege engines

cavalry

The phalanx

The phalanx is the name given to a particular military formation.

The phalanx is a box formation made up of infantry soldiers. The number of men may vary from eight to thirty six.

The men who made up the front ranks were required to carry spears measuring at least twelve feet in length.

This would create a wall of spears. The wall of spears served to conceal what was going on inside the formation.

The soldiers inside could take aim and kill the enemies without disturbance as they themselves would be practically invisible.

The phalanx was considered a very revolutionary development and was a very useful and potent strategy

The phalanx

Less men, complex maneuversAlexander had an expert knowledge of complex maneuvers used during battle.

His opponents would not be able to make out easily the number of men that he had at his disposal.

The complex movements that he planned using less number of men

brought in more results than a whole unit on its own would have

brought. 

Discipline and self confidence

The level of discipline and morale in his army was always high.

It was in fact an inspiration for other armies. 

Use of Mercenaries

Another tactic used by him was to employ mercenaries to come and work with his men from time to time.

Spears, bows and arrows, swords, cavalry, chariots and some light and heavy armour - these are what Alexander the Great had at his disposal

He had the advantage of having been exposed to battles along with his father.

He had also been trained by people who had honed their skills in the battlefield.

All this training and experience was put to good use by this master strategist and he went on to conquer the world

Facts about Alexander the Great Alexander the Great had three wives: Roxane, Statiera,

and Parysatis.

Alexander was married to Barsine (Stateira), a Persian Roxana

princess and daughter of Darius III in 324 BC out of political

interest.

Alexander also married Roxana, daughter of a Bactrian nobleman, out of love.

Roxane was said by contemporaries to be the most beautiful lady.

Alexander had two sons, Alexander IV of Macedon of Roxana and Heracles of Macedon from Barsine. Both children were killed

before they reached adulthood.

The greatest emotional relationship of Alexander’s life was with his friend, general and bodyguard Hephaestion, the son of a Macedonian noble.

Hephaestion had been brought up with Alexander and shared all his

secrets. This friendship lasted their whole lives.

Hephaestion’s death devastated Alexander, sending him into a six

month period of grieving.

Hephaestion held the position of second-in-command of Alexander’s forces until his death.

Hephaestion

Alexander’s horse is named Bucephalus, was his companion

throughout his journeys as far as India.

Bucephalus is described as having a black coat with a large white star on his brow and with blue eyes.

Alexander was 14 years old when he acquired and tamedBucephalus.

Alexander tamed Bucephalus ,by turning it towards the sun because he detected that it isafraid of its own shadow.

Bucephalus

Alexandra Bucephalus was a city founded in 326 BCE by Alexander the Great and named in honor of his beloved horse, Bucephalus.

Alexander’s horse, Bucephalus died at

the Battle of Granicus in his Indian

campaign.

Bucephalus

Alexander was acknowledged as a military genius who always led by example, although his belief in his own indestructibility meant he was often reckless with his own life and those of his soldiers.

The fact that his army only refused to follow him once in 13 years of a reign during which there was constant fighting, indicates the loyalty he inspired.

At the age of 32, he died of fever in Babylon in June 323 BC.

He was quick in both decision and action.

He was a very intelligent man.

He was innovative and daring in battle.

He always led from the front.

He looked after his men who were fiercely loyal.

He was ruthlessness and merciless with those who opposed him.

“ I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.”

“I had rather excel others in the knowledge

of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and dominion.”

“ There is nothing impossible to him who will try.”

-Alexander the Great

Quotes

BY S.Vanitha, Thottakurichy