Alexander the Great Timeline
356 B.C.
Alexander born in Pella. The exact date in unknown, but probably either 20 or 26 July.
Philip
captures Potidaea.
Parmenio defeats Paeonians and Illyrians.
354 B.C.
Demosthenes attacks idea of a 'crusade against Persia'.
? Mid-summer:
Philip
captures Mathone: loses an eye in the battle.
352 B.C.
Artabazus and Memnon refugees with
Philip
, who now emerges as potential leader of crusade against Persia.
351 B.C.
Philip's fleet harassing Athenian shipping.
Demosthenes' First Philippic.
348 B.C.
August:
Philip
captures Olynthus.
Aeschines' attempt to unite Greek states against
Philip
fails.
346 B.C.
March: embassy to
Philip
from Athens.
Halus besieged by Parmeniio
April: peace of Philocrates ratified.
Second Athenian embassy held up till July.
July:
Philip
occupies Thermopylae.
August:
Philip
admitted to seat on Amphictyonic Council, and presides over Pythian Games.
Isocrates publishes Philippus.
344 B.C.
Philip
appointed Archon of Thessaly for life.
343 B.C.
Non-aggression pact between
Philip
and Artaxerxes Ochus.
Trail and acquittal of Aeschines.
343 B.C.
Aristotle invited to Macedonia al Alexander's tutor.
342 B.C.
Olympia's brother Alexander succeeds to throne of Epirus with
Philip
's backing.
340 B.C.
Congress of Allies meets in Athens.
Demosthenes awarded gold crown at Dionysia.
Alexander left as Regent in Macedonia: his raid on Maedi and the foundation of Alexandropolis.
Philip
's campaign against Perinthus and Byzantium.
339 B.C.
September:
Philip
occupies Elatea.
Isocrates' Panathenaicus.
338 ? B.C.
August 2: Battle of Chaeronea.
Alexander among ambassadors to Athens.
Philip
marries Attalus' niece Cleopatra.
Oylmpias and Alexander in exile.
337 B.C.
Spring: Hellenic League convened at Corinth.
Recall of Alexander to Pella.
Autumn: League at Corinth ratifies crusade to against Persia.
336 B.C.
Spring: Parmenoi and Attalus sent to Asia Minor for preliminary
military operations.
June: accession of Darius III Codomannus.
Cleopatra bears
Philip
a son.
Wedding of Alexander of Epirus to Olympia's daughter.
Murder of
Philip
.
Alexander accedes to the throne of Macedonia.
Late summer: Alexander calls meeting of Hellenie League at
Corinth, confirmed as Captain-General of anti-Persian crusade.
335 B.C.
Early spring: Alexander goes north to deal with Thrace and Illyria.
Revolt of Thebes.
334 B.C.
Alexander and the attacking force cross into Asia Minor.
May: Battle of the Granicus.
General reorganization of Greek cities in Asia Minor.
Siege and capture of Miletus.
Autumn: reduction of Halicarnassus.
Alexander advances through Lycia and Pamphylia.
333 B.C.
Alexander's column moves north to Celaenae and Gordium.
Death of Memnon.
Mustering of Persian forces in Babylon.
Episode of the Gordian Knot.
Alexander marches to Ancyra and thence south to Cilician Gates.
Darius moves westward from Babylon.
September: Alexander reaches Tarsus: his illness there.
Darius crosses the Euphrates.
? Sept.-Oct.: Battle if Issus.
Alexander advances southward though Phoenicia.
Marathus: first peace-offer by Darius.
332 B.C.
? January: submission of Byblos and Sidon.
Siege of Tyre begun.
? June: second peace-offer by Darius refused.
July 29: fall of Tyre.
Sept.-Oct.: Gaza captured.
? November 14: Alexander crowned as Pharaoh at Memphis.
331 B.C.
Early spring: visit to the Oracle of Ammon at Siwah.
? April 7-8: foundation of Alexanderia.
Alexander returns to Tyre.
July-August: Alexander reaches Thapsacus on Euphrates; Darius moves his main forces from Babylon.
September 18: Alexander crosses the Tigris.
Darius' final peace-offer rejected.
Sept. 30 or Oct. 1: Battle of Gaugamela.
Macedonians advance from Arbela on Babylon, which falls in mid-October.
Revolt of Agis defeated at Megalopolis.
Early December: Alexander occupies Susa unopposed.
Alexander forces Susian Gates.
330 B.C.
? January: Alexander reaches and sacks Perseplis.
? May : burning of temples etc. in Persepols.
Early June: Alexander sets out for Ecbatana.
Darius retreats toward Bactria.
Greek allies dismissed at Ecbatana; Parmenio left behind there, with Harpalus as Treasurer.
Pursuit of Darius renewed, via Caspian Gates.
July; Darius found murdered near Hecatompylus.
Bessus establishes himself as 'Great King' in Bactria.
March for Hyrcania begins.
Late August: march to Drangiana.
The 'conspiracy of Philotas'.
March though Arachosia to Parapamisidae.
329 B.C.
March-April: Alexander crosses Hindu Kush by Khawak Pass.
April-May: Alexander advancing to Bactria; Bessus retreats across the Oxus.
June: Alexander reaches and crosses the Oxus; veterans and
Thessalian volunteers dismissed.
Surrender of Bessus.
Alexander advances to Maracanda.
Revolt of Spitamenes, annihilation of Macedonian detachment
Alexander takes up winter quarters at Zariaspa.
Execution of Bessus.
328 B.C.
Campaign against Spitamenes.
Autumn: murder of Cleitus the Black.
Defeat and death of Spitamenes.
327 B.C.
Spring: capture of the Soghdian Rock.
Alexander's marriage to Roxane.
Recruitment of 30,000 Perisan 'Successors'.
The 'Pages Conspiracy' and Callisthenes' end.
Early summer: Alexander recrosses Hindu Kush by Kushan Pass: the invasion of India begins.
Alexander reaches Nysa; the 'Dionysus episode'.
Capture of Aornos.
326 B.C.
Advance to Taxila.
Battle of the Hydaspes (The Jhelum) against the rajah Porus.
Death of Bucephalas.
? July: Mutiny at the Hyphasis.
Return to the Jhelum: reinforcements move down-river.
Campaign against Brahmin cities: Alexander seriously wounded.
325 B.C.
Revolt in Bactria: 3000 mercenaries loose in Asia.
Alexander reaches Patala, builds harbor and dockyards.
? September: Alexander's march through Gedrosian Desert.
Defection of Harpalus from Asia Minor to Greece.
The satrapal purge begins.
Nearchus and the fleet reach Harmozia, link up with Alexander at Salmous.
Arrival of Craterus form Drangiana.
324 B.C.
January: Nearches and fleet sent on to Susa.
The episode of Cyrus' tomb.
Alexander returns to Persepolis.
Move to Susa, long halt there.
Spring: arrival of 30,000 trained Persian 'Successors'.
The Susa mass-marriages.
March: the Exiles' Decree and the Deification Decree.
Craterus appointed to succeed Antiparter as Regent, and convoy troops home.
Alexander moves from Susa to Ecbatana.
Death of Hephaestion.
323 B.C.
Assassination of Harpalus in Crete.
Alexander's Campaign against the Cossaeans and return to Babylon.
Alexander explores Pallacopas Canal; his boat-trip through the marshes.
Arrival of Antipater's son Cassander to negotiate with Alexander.
May 20/30: Alexander falls ill after a party; and dies on 10/11th June.
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Last Modified: August, 1998
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