He was an important king of Macedonia, who lived in the 4th century BC In just 33 years of life, Alexander the Great – also known as Alexander the Great or Alexander III – formed a huge empire, which stretched from southeastern Europe to India . Therefore, he is considered the greatest military leader of antiquity. “At just 18 years old, Alexandre began his dazzling career of victories, most of them over the great Persian Empire”, says classical archaeologist Maria Beatriz Borba Florenzano, from the University of São Paulo (USP). When he assumed the throne of Macedonia, in 336 BC, Alexander tried to maintain and expand a powerful army left by his father, King Philip II. But for that he had to go after the riches of other peoples, mainly the Persians, starting a victorious military campaign in which he had the support of some Greek city-states.
Having been educated by the Greek philosopher Aristotle from age 13 to 16, Alexander had a great admiration for Hellenic culture. “Alexander’s concern was to spread the Greek (Hellenic) culture in every place he passed. The union of the entire eastern Mediterranean under his command led to the creation of a unique culture in which Greek traits were mixed with regional traits. In addition, it favored contact and trade between peoples and the dissemination of knowledge”, says Maria Beatriz. A good example of this diffusion was the use of coins, minted for the first time by the Greeks at the end of the 7th century BC, but which only became a common practice after Alexander took the novelty to the conquered territories. He also founded more than 70 new cities and, thanks to his military expeditions and his own interest in scientific investigations, the ancient world made many advances in areas such as geography and natural history.
The Macedonian army’s main shock force were the phalanxes, groups of infantry (soldiers who fight on foot) made up of peasants and other common Macedonians. They armed themselves with long spears made of wood and tipped with iron, with lengths varying between 4.5 and 5.5 meters.
the king on horseback
This image illustrates the most likely way Alexander could have been seen in battle. Macedonian cavalry, traditionally recruited from the local aristocracy, fought under the personal command of the young king, who possibly wore a helmet that allowed a wide view and was protected by bronze armor and leggings.
cavalry on the flanks
On the battlefields, Alexander’s infantry troops were protected on the flanks by groups of cavalry. The knights also used spears and had the mission of opening gaps in the enemy army, adopting a wedge formation, which allowed for quick movements and facilitated penetration.
war gadgets
The Macedonians used war machines that resemble rudimentary catapults. Made of wood and with thick strands of ox tendon, they fired stones or iron-tipped darts, capable of piercing shields and armor at a distance of 400 meters.
2. In 334 BC, he leads an army of 14,000 Macedonians and 7,000 Greek allies in the invasion of Phrygia (in present-day Turkey). In Gordium, capital of the region, Alexander would have been challenged to untie the “Gordian knot”, which, according to local tradition, would only be undone by the man who would rule Asia. He would have settled the matter by cutting the knot with the sword…
3. A year later, Alexander wins a decisive victory against the Persians in the city of Issus. Persian King Darius III hastily flees, leaving the royal family in the hands of the conqueror. With the victory, Alexander was able to advance along the Mediterranean coast towards the south, invading Syria and Phoenicia.
4. In 332 BC, the empire extends to Egypt, which was previously under Persian rule. In addition to reorganizing the region’s administration and founding the city of Alexandria, he travels to the Siwa oasis, where an oracle hails him as pharaoh, giving him the divine right to rule Egypt.
5. After the conquest of Egypt, he returns to the Middle East region and leaves for victories in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) and in the territory of Persia (Iran). He also occupies the region of Babylon and chooses the city of Susa, capital of this province, as the place from which he will govern the empire.
6. Alexandre continues to conquer Asian territories, which today correspond to countries like Uzbekistan and Pakistan. In the year 326 BC, already within the current borders of India, the soldiers refuse to advance and Alexander allows part of them to return to Persia. The empire had reached its zenith. On June 13, 323 BC, Alexander dies in Susa, victim of a serious intestinal disorder.