Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great is known as the greatest king of all time. Alexander was born in 356 BC. He showed is bravery time after time by conquering the whole Persian Empire. Alexander the Great is the son of King Phillip of Macedonia. Throughout Alexander's childhood, he watched his father turn Macedonia into a powerful force. While in 336 BC, his father King Phillip was assassinated by a young Macedonia noble named Pausanias. After his father's death, Alexander wanted to complete what his father had started and take over all of the Persian Empire.

In 336 BC, Alexander took over the thrown of Macedonia. When he first took over, many of the nations that King Phillip had conquered rebelled against Macedonia. They felt they could gain their independence back because King Phillip was gone. Only did they know, Alexander was quick to act. He first restored power in northern Greece. Soon after that, he marched into southern Greece and restored power their too. He made the Greeks realize they had to recognize his command.

In 334 BC, Alexander's first major battle took place. Only being 22 years old, Alexander led the Macedonia army into The Battle of Granicus, which is off the coast of Asia Minor. He was against the fierce Persian King Darius III. This battle was Alexander's first true test. King Darius's army out numbered him 35,000 men against 30,000 men. During the battle, Alexander was able to charge at the middle line of the Persians, forcing King Darius III to run away from the Macedonian force. Alexander's charge was too strong for King Daruis III's army; in result of this Alexander wins The Battle of Granicus.

In the fall of 333 BC, Alexander had another tough battle in front of him. He then again met up against King Darius III's army at the Battle of Issus. At the Battle of Issus, King Darius III out numbered Alexander's army, 110,000 men against 35,000 men. With Alexander being out numbered, he still out smarted King Darius III by breaking his defense line and charging at him again. In with that, Darius III fled away again leaving his wife, mother and children behind. Being the great king Alexander was, he treated Darius III's family with great respect. This was another important victory for Alexander and the Macedonian army. This win was a great morale boost for the Greeks. It also opened the route south of Egypt for Alexander.

After the Battle of Issus was over, Alexander continued his march to Egypt taking everything on the way. He was able to receive surrenders from every major city except the city of Tyre. With that, Alexander and the Macedonian army started to build a bridge that connected the island city with the coast. After they completed the project, Alexander and his army surrounded the island with ships and finally broke the walls down and conquered the city of Tyre. After that, Darius III offered peace and several western provinces of the Persian Empire to Alexander. Alexander refused and continued his march to Egypt. While on the way, he ran into another problem with the city state of Gaza. Just like Tyre, Alexander attacked and conquered Gaza which gave Alexander and the Macedonian army complete control over the Eastern Mediterranean coast.

Alexander entered Egypt at the beginning of 331 BC. While over there, he demanded a city at the mouth of the river Nile be designed and named after him. This was the first of many for Alexander. After becoming the ruler of Egypt, Alexander