July 21, 356 B.C. - Pella, Macedon - Alexander III of Macedon (the Great) is born
January(?) 1(?), 345 B.C. - Pella - Menaechmus becomes Alexander's tutor
January(?) 1(?), 342 B.C. - Pella - Aristotle becomes Alexander's tutor at Pella
August 2, 338 B.C. - Chaeronea, Boeotia, Central Greece - Battle of Chaeronea against an alliance of city-states led by Athens and Thebes - Macedonian victory - Alexander commands the left wing of the macedonian army and Philip the right =(START)
January(?) 1(?), 337 B.C. - Dodona, Epirus, NW Greece - Alexander flees to Dodona with his mother and brother Alexander I of Epirus, after the marriage of his father Philip II with Cleopatra Eurydice, niece of Macedonian general Attalus
June(?) 1(?), 337 B.C. - Pella - Returns to Pella after 6 months
October 21, 336 B.C. - Aigai (Near Vergina, Northern Greece) - King Philip II of Macedon is assassinated, aged 46. Alexander succeeds his father to the throne of Macedonia at the age of 20
December 1(?), 335 B.C. - Pelium, Illyria (Albania) - Siege of Pelium - Macedonian victory. The Illyrians swear loyalty to Alexander for a time
December 15(?), 335 B.C. - Thebes, Boeotia, Central Greece - Alexander destroys the city of Thebes after the rebellion. He orders the execution of all male inhabitants and the enslavement of the women and children
April 1(?), 334 B.C. - Amphipolis, Macedon, Greece - Alexander leaves for Asia from Amphipolis at the head of a huge army
May(?) 1(?), 334 B.C. - Hellespont (Dardanelles Strait, Turkey) - Alexander crosses the Hellespont with 48,100 soldiers, 6,100 cavalry and a fleet of 120 ships (with crews numbering 38,000)
May 15(?) 334 B.C. - Granicus, Balikesir, NW Turkey - Battle of the Granicus against the Persian Achaemenid Empire - Macedonian victory - Cleitus the Black saves Alexander's life during the battle
June 1(?), 334 B.C. - Sardis (Sart, Turkey) - Accepts the surrender of the Persian provincial capital of Sardis
July 1(?), 334 - Miletus (Balat, SW Turkey) - Captures Miletus
September 1?), 334 B.C. - Halicarnassus (Bodrum, SW Turkey) - Lays siege to Halicarnassus, capturing the city and the whole region of Caria
December 1(?), 334 B.C. - Phaselis, 43km W. of Antalya, Turkey - Alexander captures Phaselis, near Kemer, Turkey
January 1(?), 333 B.C. - Perge (Murtina, near Aksu, Turkey) - Alexander occupies Perge with his army
April 1(?), 333 B.C. - Gordium (Yassıhüyük, SW of Ankara, Turkey) - At Gordium he is shown the legendary Gordian Knot. A prophecy said that whoever could untie it, he would rule the whole Asia. Alexander takes his sword and cuts it in half
September 1(?), 333 B.C. - Tarsus, South-central Turkey - Passes through Tarsus (Turkey), the Cilician capital city
October 1(?), 333 B.C. - Soli (Mezetlu, W. of Mersin, Turkey) - Alexander drives the Persians out of Cilicia. He imposes a fine of 200 talents on Soli for favoring the Persians
November 5, 333 B.C. - Issus, Anatolia (near Iskenderun, Turkey) - Battle of Issus - Macedonian victory over Persian King Darius III
January 1(?), 332 B.C. - Byblos | Sidon, Phoenicia (Lebanon) - Alexander arrives in Byblos (40 km north of Beirut, Lebanon) and Sidon
January 20(?), 332 B.C. - Tyre, Phoenicia (now Lebanon) - Alexander lays siege to Tyre, ordering the building of a causeway to the fortified island of Tyre
July 1(?), 332 B.C. - Tyre - The Macedonians storm the fortified city and capture it, killing around 6,000 soldiers inside the walls. Due to the duration of the siege and the Tyrians having executed some of his soldiers in full view of the Macedonians, Alexander orders the crucifixion of 2,000 Tyrians on the beach in reprisal. About 30,000 people are sold into slavery
September 1(?), 332 B.C. - Gaza, Persian Egypt (now Palestine) - Lays siege to Gaza and takes the city - The male population is killed. Women and children are sold into slavery. Alexander proceeds to the south towards Egypt
December 1(?), 332 B.C. - Pelusium (30km South of Port Said, Egypt) - Continues to Pelusium on the Nile Delta, where the Persian governor of Egypt surrenders the entire province to Alexander, along with the royal treasure
January 1(?), 331 B.C. - Memphis, Egypt - Crowned Pharaoh in the temple of Ptah at Memphis
February 1(?), 331 B.C. - Siwa, Egypt (near Libya) - Trip to the Siwa Oasis to consult the oracle of Amun-Ra
April 1(?), 331 B.C. - Alexandria, Egypt - Alexander the Great founds Alexandria in Egypt
May 1(?), 331 B.C. - Tyre, Phoenicia - Returns to Tyre, where he receives news of trouble back in Macedon
July 1(?), 331 B.C. - Euphrates River, Syria - Alexander begins his eastward movement into the heart of the Persian Empire. On the way, he receives a message that the Persian king Darius assembled a huge army in Gaugamela (100 km west of Erbil, northern Iraq) and he decides to go straight to face him
October 1, 331 B.C. - Gaugamela (100km West of Erbil, Northern Iraq) - Battle of Gaugamela - Major macedonian victory over King Darius III of Persia
October 20(?), 331 B.C. - Babylon (Hillah, Central Iraq) - Enters Babylon in triumph and is recognized by persian officials as its new rightful ruler
December 1(?), 331 B.C. - East of Susa (Shush, Khuzestan, Iran) - Battle of the Uxian Defile against the Uxian tribe of the Persian Empire - Macedonian Victory
December(?) 15(?), 331 B.C. - Susa - Alexander sits on the throne of Persia at Susa
January 20, 330 B.C. - Tang-e Meyran Pass, near Yasuj, Iran - Battle of the Persian Gate - Alexander defeats the Persians under Ariobarzanes, opening the way to capture Persepolis
January 25(?), 330 B.C. - Persepolis, Persia (NE of Shiraz, Iran) - Alexander reaches Persepolis, the Empire's ceremonial capital and orders the burning and pillaging of the city in retribution for the persian invasion of Greece in 480 B.C.
June 1(?), 330 B.C. - Ecbatana (Hamedan, Western Iran) - Heads northwest to the city of Ecbatana, where Darius had taken refuge. When he arrives in the city, Darius had fled east to raise an army. He pursues the Persian king eastwards
July 1(?), 330 B.C. - Thara, near the South Caspian Sea Coast - King Darius III is murdered by one of his governors, Bessus, who proclaims himself the Persian Empire's new ruler. Alexander pauses to organize his vast new Empire and gives orders for Darius to be buried in the royal tombs of Persepolis
September 1(?), 330 B.C. - Alexandria Ariana (Herat, NW Afghanistan) - Alexander founds the city of Alexandria Ariana (Herat, Afghanistan)
October 1(?), 330 B.C. - Phrada (Farah, Western Afghanistan) - Alexander heads south to Phrada. A plot to kill him is discovered. Philotas (one of his commanders) is accused and executed. Assassins are sent to kill his father, the Macedonian general Parmenion, before he learns of his son's execution.
October 15(?), 330 B.C. - While in Phrada - Parmenion is assassinated in Ecbatana
December 1(?), 330 B.C. - Alexandria Arachosia (Kandahar, Afghanistan) - Alexander resumes his pursuit of Bessus. He founds the city of Alexandria Arachosia (Kandahar, Afghanistan)
May 1(?), 329 B.C. - Drapsaca (Kunduz, NE Afghanistan) - Alexander crosses modern Afghanistan from the southwest to the northeast and reaches Kunduz, where Bessus is captured and sent back to Persia for execution for murdering a king
May 10(?), 329 B.C. - Bactra (Balkh, Northern Afghanistan) - Takes Bactra from the sogdians
June 1(?), 329 B.C. - Maracanda (Samarkand, Uzbekistan) - Alexander the Great conquers Samarkand from the sogdians
July 1(?), 329 B.C. - Cyropolis, near Khujand, Northern Tajikistan - Siege of Cyropolis
July 20(?), 329 B.C. - Alexandria Eschate, near Khujand, Tajikistan - Alexander founds the City of Alexandria Eschate (Alexandria the farthest)
October 1(?), 329 B.C. - Syr Darya River, near Khujand, Tajikistan - Battle of Jaxartes against the Saka, an iranian people - Macedonian victory
November 1(?), 329 B.C. - Maracanda - Alexander kills Cleitus the Black with a javelin during a drunken quarrel. He would be consumed by remorse for months
April(?) 1(?), 328 B.C. - Alexandria Oxiana (on the Oxus), Al-Khanoum, Afghanistan ( or Kampir Tepe, Uzbekistan) - Alexander founds Alexandria Oxiana (on the Oxus), Al-Khanoum, Afghanistan (or Kampir Tepe, Uzbekistan)
December 1(?), 328 B.C. - Nautaca (Uzunkir, near Shakhrisabz, between Samarkand and Karshi, Uzbekistan) - General Ptolemy captures Bessus at Nautaca
March 1(?), 327 B.C. - Sogdiana, Tajikistan - Siege of the Sogdian Rock (Early Spring). Sogdiana is captured and there Alexander falls in love at first sight with Sogdian (or Bactrian) Princess Roxana
April(?) 1(?), 327 B.C. - Bactra (Balkh, Northern Afghanistan) - Returns to Bactra. Another plot to kill him is uncovered. His page Hermolaus and accomplices are stoned to death
April?) 15(?), 327 B.C. - Bactra - Marries Princess Roxana, despite opposition from his companions and generals
May(?) 1(?), 327 B.C. - Kapisa, Alexandria in the Caucasus (Bagram, Afghanistan) - Decides to cross the Hindu Kush from Alexandria in the Caucasus
May 15(?), 327 B.C. - Cophen (Kabul) River, northern Pakistan - Cophen campaign (until March 326 B.C.)
September 1(?), 327 B.C. - Khyber Pass, Afghanistan-Pakistan border - Crosses the Khyber Pass
September 15(?), 327 B.C. - Massaga, Soastus (Swat) Valley, near Thana, Pakistan - After crossing the Swat valley, Alexander takes the Assacenian capital of Massaga
October(?) 1(?), 327 B.C. - Aornus Rock (Pir Sarai, 1600m, at the Indus River, Pakistan) - Siege of Aornus
March 1(?), 326 B.C. - Nysa, near Jalalabad, Eastern Afghanistan - Detour to Nysa, said to have been founded by Dionysius
April(?) 1(?), 326 B.C. - Taxila, near Islamabad - Alexander advances to Taxila and forges an alliance with the local king
May 1(?), 326 B.C. - Jhelum River, near Jhelum, northern Pakistan - Battle of the Hydaspes River - Macedonian Victory and annexation of Punjab - King Porus surrenders
August 31, 326 B.C. - Beas River, Himachal Pradesh, Northwest India - Alexander's army mutinies. His men had not seen their homes and families for 8 years. With the rumour of huge armies waiting for them in India, they refuse to advance any further. Alexander is furious but has no choice but to turn the army around and follow the rivers of Punjab to the southwest
November 1(?), 326 B.C. - Multan, Punjab, Pakistan - Mallian Campaign and siege of Multan (until February 325 B.C.) - Alexander is wounded in the chest and nearly killed while leading the assault on Multan
December 1(?), 326 B.C. - Patala (Hyderabad, Indus River Mouth, Pakistan) - On reaching the Indus River mouth, part of the army under Admiral Nearchus board ships and return to Persia by Sea
October(?) 1(?), 325 B.C. - Gedrosian Desert, Baluchistan (Iran, southern Pakistan) - Alexander crosses the Gedrosian Desert with part of his army. It would be the greatest mistake of his career
December 1(?), 325 B.C. - Hormuz, SE Iran - Reunites with Nearchus and the rest of his army
January 1(?), 324 B.C. - Pasargadae, NE of Shiraz, Iran - Alexander arrives in Pasargadae with light troops and restores the tomb of Cyrus I
February 1(?), 324 B.C. - Persepolis, Persia (NE of Shiraz, Iran) - Returns to Persepolis after crossing the Gedrosian desert (southern Pakistan). The journey under extreme heat and shortages of food and water leads to a terrible death toll in his army. On his arrival, Alexander has several of his viceroys and governors executed for corruption and robbing temples and tombs
March 1(?), 324 B.C. - Susa (Shush, Khuzestan, Iran) - At Susa, Alexander arranges a mass marriage of macedonian officers to 80 persian noblewomen, to strenghten bonds between his two kingdoms. He marries Princess Stateira II, daughter of Darius III of Persia
April?) 1(?), 324 B.C. - Opis (20km SE of Baghdad) - His army mutinies again, offended by Alexander's apparent preference of persian ways and persian advisors. He has the ring leaders executed and makes a speech for the soldiers reminding them of the battles they fought together, after which there's an emotional reconciliation
August(?) 1(?), 324 B.C. - Ectabana (Hamedan, Western Iran) - Arrives in Ectabana
October 1(?), 324 B.C. - Ecbatana - Hephaestion, Alexander's best friend and second in command, dies of typhoid fever, aged 32
January(?) 1(?), 323 B.C. - Cossaea region (between Ectabana and Susa) - Campaign against the mountain raiders of Cossaea
April(?) 1(?), 323 B.C. - Babylon (Hillah, Central Iraq) - Alexander returns to Babylon and receives embassies from the whole known world
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| Roman mosaic depicting Alexander the Great |
May 29, 323 B.C. - Babylon - Spends the day drinking with Medius of Larissa. Alexander is struck with pain after downing a large bowl of unmixed wine in honour of Heracles. poisoning is suspected immediately
June 11, 323 B.C. - Babylon - Alexander the Great dies after days of weakness and agony, aged 32 =(END)
