Charles Upham | Timeline

Charles Hazlitt Upham, VC & Bar (21 September 1908 – 22 November 1994) was a New Zealand soldier who was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) twice during the Second World War - for gallantry in Crete in May 1941, and in Egypt, in July 1942. He was the most recent of three people to receive the VC twice, the only one to receive two VCs during the Second World War and the only combat soldier to receive the award twice. As a result, Upham is often described as the most highly decorated Commonwealth soldier of that war, as the VC is the Commonwealth's highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy. (Intro from Wikipedia)

September 21, 1908 - Christchurch, New Zealand - Charles Hazlitt Upham is born

January(?) 1(?), 1917 - Near Winchester, South Canterbury, New Zealand - Elementary school at Waihi School, near Winchester, South Canterbury

January(?) 1(?), 1923 - Christchurch - Enrolls at Christ's College, Christchurch

January(?) 1(?), 1927 - Canterbury, New Zealand - Attends Canterbury Agricultural College

January(?) 1(?), 1930 - Canterbury - Earns his diploma in Agriculture. During the next years he works on Canterbury sheep stations for the next six years

March 1(?), 1937 - Timaru, New Zealand - Joins the Valuation Department as assistant district valuer in Timaru

February 1(?), 1939 - Canterbury - Returns to Canterbury Agricultural College to complete a diploma in valuation and farm management

September 18, 1939 - Burnham Camp, S. of Christchurch - Enlists in the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) at the age of 30, and is posted to the 20th Canterbury-Otago Battalion, part of the New Zealand 2nd Division =(START)

December 25, 1939 - Christchurch - Christmas at home

December 28, 1939 - Burnham Camp - Returns to Burnham

December 30, 1939 - Burnham Camp - The Battalion is inspected by Major-General B.C. Freyberg

January 3, 1940 - Christchurch - The battalion marches through Christchurch for an official farewell

January 5, 1940 - Burnham Camp | Lyttelton - The Battalion marches to Burnham station and goes by train to Lyttelton. Upham embarks on the "Sobieski" as a Sergeant

January 18, 1940 - Freemantle, Western Australia - The "Sobieski" reaches Freemantle, escorted by HMS Ramillies

January 30, 1940 - Colombo, Ceylon - The convoy reaches Colombo

February 5, 1940 - Gulf of Aden - HMS Ramillies leaves the NZ convoy in the Gulf of Aden

February 8, 1940 - Aden - Stop at Aden to refuel

February 12, 1940 - Port Tewfik | Maadi, Egypt - The 20th Battalion reaches Egypt. Later it travels by train to Maadi Camp, via Zagazig, Benha and Cairo

April 8, 1940 - South of Helwan - The Battalion marches 21,5 miles during an exercise

April 22, 1940 - El Saff ridge - The troops leave for the El Saff area and take defensive positions on El Saff ridge

April 26, 1940 - Maadi, Egypt - Back to Camp Maadi

July 1(?), 1940 - Mersa Matruh area, Western Desert - The battalion leaves Maadi for the Western Desert, Mersa Matruh area. Upham is persuaded to join an Officer Cadet Training Unit

July 20, 1940 - Garawla - A new camp is built at Garawla

August 1(?), 1940 - Maadi, Egypt - The battalion returns to Maadi

September 1, 1940 - Amiriya, Western Desert - The Battalion moves to Amiriya, Western Desert

September 27, 1940 - Baggush - The battalion moves to Baggush

January 13, 1941 - Helwan - The Battalion moves to Helwan

March 13, 1941 - Alexandria, Egypt - The battalion departs for Greece on board the "City of Norwich"

March 15, 1941 - Piraeus, Greece - The convoy arrives at Piraeus. Upham rejoins the battalion after passing through OCTU (as a Second-Lieutenant)

March 16, 1941 - Athens - Leave in Athens

March 17, 1941 - Larisa, Greece - The battalion moves north to take defensive position in the Aliakmon Line. Reaches Larisa

March 18, 1941 - Katerini, Greece - The Battalion arrives at Katerini. The New Zealand Division was to take up a defensive position from the sea to Ryakia

March 19, 1941 - Ryakia - Upham's company takes position at Ryakia

April 10, 1941 - Lava, W-SW of Katerini - Due to the rapid advance of the germans, the battalion moves to Lava

April 15, 1941 - Lava | Servia, Greece - The war reaches 20th battalion when german artillery and dive-bombers appear

April 18, 1941 -  Larisa - New Zealand forces begin withrawing as the allied lines face the danger of german encirclement

April 19, 1941 - Molos, near Lamia, Greece - The battalion reaches Molos

April 20, 1941 - Stilis, 10 miles E of Lamia - Upham's company leaves for Stilis, to prevent an enemy advance from the East

April 21, 1941 - Stilis - Due to the capitulation of the greeks, all British forces were to withraw from Greece

April 27, 1941 - Porto Rafti, E of Athens - 20 Battalion reaches the embarkation point at Porto Rafti. They are attacked by german stukas as german motorized units enter Athens. The Battalion embarks in tank landing craft and is taken out to the cruiser "Ajax" and the destroyer "Kingston"

April 28, 1941 - Souda Bay, Crete - HMS Ajax arrives at Souda Bay, Crete

April 30, 1941 - SE of Galatas - 20 Battalion moves to positions SE of Galatas

May 3, 1941 - SE of Galatas - Officers and NCOs are addressed by General Freyberg

May 13, 1941 - Maleme, W of Galatas - The battalion moves to the west of Galatas

May 19, 1941 - Maleme - German air attack against Maleme and Souda Bay

May 20, 1941 - Maleme - German air attack against Maleme and Souda Bay. Junkers transport airplanes disgorge hundreds of parachutes over Maleme airfield

May 22, 1941 - Platanias, Crete - Victoria Cross citation: "He commanded a forward platoon in the attack on Maleme on 22nd May and fought his way forward for over 3,000 yards unsupported by any other arms and against a defence strongly organised in depth. During this operation his platoon destroyed numerous enemy posts but on three occasions sections were temporarily held up.

In the first case, under a heavy fire from a machine gun nest he advanced to close quarters with pistol and grenades, so demoralizing the occupants that his section was able to "mop up" with ease.

Another of his sections was then held up by two machine guns in a house. He went in and placed a grenade through a window, destroying the crew of one machine gun and several others, the other machine gun being silenced by the fire of his sections.

In the third case he crawled to within 15 yards of an M.G. post and killed the gunners with a grenade.

When his Company withdrew from Maleme he helped to carry a wounded man out under fire, and together with another officer rallied more men together to carry other wounded men out.

He was then sent to bring in a company which had become isolated. With a Corporal he went through enemy territory over 600 yards, killing two Germans on the way, found the company, and brought it back to the Battalion's new position. But for this action it would have been completely cut off.

During the following two days his platoon occupied an exposed position on forward slopes and was continuously under fire. Second Lieutenant Upham was blown over by one mortar shell, and painfully wounded by a piece of shrapnel behind the left shoulder, by another. He disregarded this wound and remained on duty. He also received a bullet in the foot which he later removed in Egypt."

May 25, 1941 - Galatas - Victoria Cross citation: "At Galatas on 25th May his platoon was heavily engaged and came under severe mortar and machine-gun fire. While his platoon stopped under cover of a ridge Second-Lieutenant Upham went forward, observed the enemy and brought the platoon forward when the Germans advanced. They killed over 40 with fire and grenades and forced the remainder to fall back.

When his platoon was ordered to retire he sent it back under the platoon Sergeant and he went back to warn other troops that they were being cut off. When he came out himself he was fired on by two Germans. He fell and shammed dead, then crawled into a position and having the use of only one arm rested his rifle in the fork of a tree and as the Germans came forward he killed them both. The second to fall actually hit the muzzle of the rifle as he fell."

May 30, 1941 - Sphakiá, Crete - Victoria Cross citation: "On 30th May at Sphakia his platoon was ordered to deal with a party of the enemy which had advanced down a ravine to near Force Headquarters. Though in an exhausted condition he climbed the steep hill to the west of the ravine, placed his men in positions on the slope overlooking the ravine and himself went to the top with a Bren Gun and two riflemen. By clever tactics he induced the enemy party to expose itself and then at a range of 500 yards shot 22 and caused the remainder to disperse in panic.

During the whole of the operations he suffered from dysentery and was able to eat very little, in addition to being wounded and bruised. He showed superb coolness, great skill and dash and complete disregard of danger. His conduct and leadership inspired his whole platoon to fight magnificently throughout, and in fact was an inspiration to the Battalion."

June 1, 1941 - Alexandria, Egypt - The battalion moves to the beach and board HMS Phoebe and the destroyer "Jackal", reaching Alexandria on the same day

June 2, 1941 - Helwan - Upham rejoins his battalion at Helwan

June 6, 1941 - Helwan - Parade for an inspection by the Prime Minister of New Zealand

August 17, 1941 - Geneifa | Al Kibrit (Kabrit), N. of Suez - The battalion moves to the Suez Canal zone by train

August 25, 1941 - Al Kibrit (Kabrit), N. of Suez - Assault landing exercises

September 12, 1941 - 30 miles E. of Mersa Matruh, western Desert - The battalion moves to the Western Desert

October 14, 1941 - Baggush - Divisional exercises. A divisional order-of-the-day notifies the award of the Victoria Cross to Lieutenant Upham

November 11, 1941 -  Baggush - The battalion moves west

November 19, 1941 - South of the Libyan Sheferzen | Trigh el Abd - The battalion reaches the South of the Libyan Sheferzen and close to the Trigh el Abd

November 21, 1941 - Moves north to cut the road between Bardia and Tobruk

November 24, 1941 - Gambut - 20 battalion links up with 4 brigade at Gambut

November 25, 1941 - Sidi Rezegh - Advance to Sidi Rezegh

November 26, 1941 - Belhamed - 20 Battalion receives anti-tank guns during the night

November 28, 1941 - Between Belhamed and Sidi Rezegh - The Battalion attacks the germans between Belhamed and Sidi Rezegh

December 1, 1941 - Belhamed - Orders to hold Belhamed. The Battalion is attacked and defeated by the german 15th Panzer Division. Between KIA, wounded and POWs, the battalion looses 548 men

December 5, 1941 - Baggush - The scattered elements of the Battalion move back to Baggush

December 15, 1941 - Baggush - Upham takes command of C company

January 25(?), 1941 - Al Kibrit (Kabrit), N. of Suez - During the last week of January, 20 Battalion moved to Kabrit for training

February 23, 1942 - Al Kibrit (Kabrit), N. of Suez(?) - The Battalion receives a warning of a possible german invasion in the Middle East, and prepares for a move to Syria

March 1, 1942 - Suez Canal - The Battalion begins moving to Syria, crossing the Suez Canal at midnight

March 2, 1942 - Haifa, Palestine - The Battalion reaches Haifa by train

March 3, 1942 - Damascus, Syria - Arrival in Damascus

March 4, 1942 - El Aine, 20 miles from Baalbek, Syria - The Battalion reaches its destination in Syria

May 21, 1942 - East of Homs - A week of maneuvers begin in the Forqloss area east of Homs

June 16, 1942 - Rayak - The New Zealand Division receives orders to move to the Western Desert with the utmost speed

June 19, 1942 - Ismailia - 20 Battalion reaches Ismailia by train

June 20, 1942 - Amiriya, Western Desert - 20 Battalion reaches the Western Desert, via Cairo

June 21, 1942 - Mersa Matruh area, Western Desert - 20 Battalion proceeds to Mersa Matruh

June 25, 1942 - Minqâr Qaim - Moves to Minqar Qaim

June 27, 1942 - Minqâr Qaim - German forces attack the division's positions at Minqâr Qaim

June 29, 1942 - Deir el Munassib area - 20 Battalion moves 14 miles to the SE to the Deir el Munassib area

July 7, 1942 - Mungar Wahla, El Ruweisat Ridge, Western Egypt - 20 Battalion digs in on high ground on the eastern end of Mungar Wahla

July 14, 1942 - El Ruweisat Ridge, Western Egypt - 2nd Victoria Cross citation: "Captain C. H. Upham, V.C., was commanding a Company of New Zealand troops in the Western Desert during the operations which culminated in the attack on El Ruweisat Ridge on the night of 14th–15th July, 1942. In spite of being twice wounded, once when crossing open ground swept by enemy fire to inspect his forward sections guarding our mine-fields and again when he completely destroyed an entire truck load of German soldiers with hand grenades, Captain Upham insisted on remaining with his men to take part in the final assault.

During the opening stages of the attack on the ridge Captain Upham's Company formed part of the reserve battalion, but, when communications with the forward troops broke down and he was instructed to send up an officer to report on the progress of the attack, he went out himself armed with a Spandau gun and, after several sharp encounters with enemy machine gun posts, succeeded in bringing back the required information.

Just before dawn the reserve battalion was ordered forward, but, when it had almost reached its objective, very heavy fire was encountered from a strongly defended enemy locality, consisting of four machine gun posts and a number of tanks.

Captain Upham, without hesitation, at once led his Company in a determined attack on the two nearest strongpoints on the left flank of the sector. His voice could be heard above the din of battle cheering on his men and, in spite of the fierce resistance of the enemy and the heavy casualties on both sides, the objective was captured.

Captain Upham, during the engagement, himself destroyed a German tank and several guns and vehicles with grenades and although he was shot through the elbow by a machine gun bullet and had his arm broken, he went on again to a forward position and brought back some of his men who had become isolated. He continued to dominate the situation until his men had beaten off a violent enemy counter-attack and consolidated the vital position which they had won under his inspiring leadership.

Exhausted by pain from his wound and weak from loss of blood Captain Upham was then removed to the Regimental Aid Post but immediately his wound had been dressed he returned to his men, remaining with them all day long under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire, until he was again severely wounded and being now unable to move fell into the hands of the enemy when, his gallant Company having been reduced to only six survivors, his position was finally overrun by superior enemy forces, in spite of the outstanding gallantry and magnificent leadership shown by Captain Upham."

July 16(?), 1942 - Somewhere in Libya - Upham is taken by the germans as a prisoner of war

January(?) 1(?), 1943 - Campo PG47, near Modena, Italy - Prisoner of War at Campo PG 47, near Modena, Italy, reaching there via Bari (as most of the aussie and new zealander prisoners there)

September 1(?), 1943 - Weinsberg, Germany(?) - After a failed escape attempt while recuperating in an italian hospital, he is transfered to Germany

October 14, 1944 - Colditz, near Leipzig - Upham is recaptured after a failed escape attempt and is sent to Oflag IV-C (Colditz), a prisoner camp for habitual escapers

April 16, 1945 - Colditz - Colditz is liberated by the americans. Upham tries to rejoin the fight but he is sent to Britain instead

May 11, 1945 - Buckingham Palace, London - King George VI invests Upham with his first Victoria Cross

June 20, 1945 - New Milton, Hampshire - Upham marries Molly McTamney

September 1(?), 1945 - New Zealand - Returns to New Zealand in Early September

May 31, 1946 - London, England - In London for the Victory celebrations

June 12, 1946 - London - Attend a dinner for recipients of the Victoria Cross at the Dorchester Hotel in London

June 28, 1956 - London - In London to attend the VC Centenary celebrations

July 14, 1968 - London - Arrives in London

July 18, 1968 - London - Meeting of the VC and GC Association at Chelsea Barracks in London

November 22, 1994 - Christchurch, New Zealand - Charles Upham dies, aged 86 =(END)

Alexander the Great | Timeline

Alexander III of Macedon (20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip II to the throne in 336 BC at the age of 20, and spent most of his ruling years conducting a lengthy military campaign throughout Western Asia and Egypt. By the age of thirty, he had created one of the largest empires in history, stretching from Greece to northwestern India. He was undefeated in battle and is widely considered to be one of history's greatest and most successful military commanders. (Intro from Wikipedia)

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

Roman mosaic depicting Alexander the Great

May 28, 323 B.C. - Babylon - Entertains Admiral Nearchus

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)

El Greco | Timeline

Doménikos Theotokópoulos (1541 – 7 April 1614), most widely known as El Greco, spanish for "The Greek"), was a painter, sculptor and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. The nickname "El Greco" refers both to his Greek origin and Spanish citizenship. The artist normally signed his paintings with his full birth name in Greek letters, Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος (Doménikos Theotokópoulos), often adding the word Κρής (Krēs, "Cretan"). (Wikipedia)

January(?) 1(?), 1541 - Heraklion, Crete - Doménikos Theotokópoulos, "El Greco" is born in Crete, possession of Venice
January(?) 1(?), 1563 - Heraklion - Described in a document as a "Master" =(START)
January(?) 1(?), 1567 - Venice - Looks for career in Venice
November 16, 1570 - Rome - El Greco establishes himself in Rome
November 1, 1576 - Madrid - Leaves Rome and travels to Madrid
July 1, 1577 - Toledo - El Greco establishes himself in Toledo
January(?) 1(?), 1603 - Illescas - Painting at the Capilla Mayor of the "Hospital de la Caridad"
January(?) 1(?), 1605 - Toledo - Returns to Toledo
April 7, 1614 - Toledo - El Greco dies =(END)

Detail of "The Burial of the Count of Orgazdeta"