Mosaic, Alexander and Bucephalus at Issus ![]() Today Gordion is an archaeological site about 80 km (50 miles) south of the Turkish capital Ankara. Alexander took his sword to it, "cutting the Gordian knot". It had a complex knot, allegedly tied by the city's founder, and a legend that whoever could untie it would rule Asia. This city was the capital of Phrygia, once an independent kingdom that ruled most of Anatolia, but by Alexander's time, Phyrgia had been reduced to a province of the Persian Empire. The Persians tried unsuccessfully to stop him near the site of ancient Troy. Philip had sent a force into Anatolia, and shortly after ascending the throne, Alexander went to join them, bringing reinforcements. With the Greek base secured, and many Greek allies, Alexander moved against Mediterranean areas held by Persia: The modern city of Thebes is not particularly large or interesting but does have an excellent archaeological museum. Alexander took Thebes and destroyed the city after that, the other allies became cooperative again. While Alexander was dealing with the Illyrians, Thebes and other cities of the Hellenic League revolted. This was the most important city-state of central Greece at the time. It is thought to be close to either 40.894167 20.902778 1 Gorna Gorica or 40.991111 20.519167 2 Selcë e Poshtme, both in eastern Albania. While Pelion is known to be in modern-day Albania, the exact location is not known. The Macedonians defeated the Illyrians, and built a new outpost to secure their northern border. In 335 BC, Alexander undertook a siege at Pelion against an Illyrian coalition. After Philip's death, Alexander was appointed its leader. Philip had forged and led an alliance, the Hellenic League, which united most of Greece to attack the Persians, who had invaded Greece during the previous century and still controlled many areas in Anatolia (now Asiatic Turkey) where the population was predominately Greek. In 336 BC Philip was assassinated by his bodyguard and Alexander was proclaimed king. Alexander was in charge of the left wing and was the first to break the ranks of the elite force of the Theban infantry, known as the Sacred Band. ![]() In 338 BC, Philip led the Macedonians against the combined forces from Athens and Thebes. Nowadays it's a rich archaeological site with a fine museum. In 168 BC, it was sacked by the Romans, and its treasury was transported to Rome. Alexander's birthplace and Macedonian capital. His alliances and conquests, and Alexander's early ones, gave the Macedonians control of all of Greece and some nearby areas: Philip II of Macedon was Alexander's father. Map of On the trail of Alexander the Great Other places get green markers, though there were also battles for many of those. Sites which are important only as battlegrounds have red markers. ![]() We list some of the main sites along Alexander's route below, in the order he visited them so mainly west to east. Most were in strategic locations, and many of the initial inhabitants were veterans. Wikipedia says he either founded or renamed about 70 and gives a list of about 30 of the more important ones, and we mention some below. Trade along the Silk Road became well established not long after Alexander, and much of that route was in territory he had conquered.Īlexander founded many cities. However that route generally omits Greece and various areas he conquered - the Levant, Egypt, Iraq and the northern parts of the Persian Empire in Central Asia. A first approximation to following his route today would be the Hippie Trail of the 1970s, overland from Istanbul to Delhi. Understand See also: Ancient Greece, Persian Empire, Roman Empire Alexander's Empire and main routeĪlexander's conquests covered a wide area. Even today in most armies, officer trainees study his tactics. Never defeated in battle, Alexander is considered to be one of the most successful and influential military leaders of all time. ![]() He died at 32 so he did not rule his empire for long, but after his death dynasties descended from his generals ruled parts of it for centuries. He inherited the kingdom at the age of 20 in 336 BC, and by the age of 30 he had forged one of the largest empires in the ancient world, uniting the Greek-city states and neighboring foes, taking Egypt, conquering the Achaemenid (First Persian) Empire and successfully invading the Indian subcontinent. Alexander III of Macedon, more commonly known as Alexander the Great, was king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon, which today is divided among three countries.
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