Philip Freeman - Alexander the Great

ALSO BY PHILIP FREEMAN

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Copyright 2011 by Philip Freeman

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First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition January 2011

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Designed by Nancy Singer

Maps by Paul J. Pugliese

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Freeman, Philip, 1961

Alexander the Great / Philip Freeman.1st Simon & Schuster hardcover ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Alexander, the Great, 356323 B.C. 2. GeneralsGreece-BiographyJuvenile literature 3. GreeceKings and rulersBiographyJuvenile literature. 4. GreeceHistoryMacedonian Expansion, 359323 B.C.Juvenile literature. I.Title.

DF234.F74 2011

938.07092dc22

[B]

2010027711

ISBN 978-1-4165-9280-8

ISBN 978-1-4391-9328-0 (ebook)

FOR MY STUDENTS

TIMELINE

All dates in this book are B.C. (B.C.E.) unless otherwise noted

559 Cyrus the Great becomes king of Persia

490 First Persian invasion of Greece, battle of Marathon

480 Second Persian invasion of Greece, battle of Thermopylae

431 Peloponnesian War begins

404 Peloponnesian War ends

359 Philip ascends to throne of Macedonia

356 Birth of Alexander (July)

343 Aristotle arrives in Macedonia as Alexanders tutor

338 Philip victorious at battle of Chaeronea; Alexander visits Athens; Alexander goes into exile

337 League of Corinth meets, authorizes invasion of Persian Empire

336 Darius III becomes king of Persia; Alexander returns from exile; murder of Philip; ascension of Alexander to throne of Macedonia

335 Alexander campaigns on the Danube; revolt and destruction of Thebes

334 Alexander crosses into Asia Minor; battle of the Granicus; capture of Miletus and Halicarnassus

333 Episode of the Gordion Knot; battle of Issus

332 Siege of Tyre; capture of Gaza; Alexander enters Egypt

331 Alexander visits oracle at Siwa; battle of Gaugamela; Alexander enters Babylon

330 Persepolis captured and burned; death of Darius; conspiracy of Philotas

329 Alexander crosses the Hindu Kush, reaches the Oxus River, advances to Samarkand; defeat of Bessus

328 Murder of Cleitus the Black

327 Marriage to Roxane; pages conspiracy; Alexander invades India

326 Battle of the Hydaspes; death of Bucephalas; mutiny on the Hyphasis

325 Alexander reaches the sea; march through the Gedrosian desert; voyage of Nearchus and the fleet

324 Alexander returns to Persia; mass marriages at Susa; death of Hephaestion

323 Alexander returns to Babylon; death of Alexander in June

MACEDONIAN KINGS

PERSIAN KINGS

IF ANYONE IS SURPRISED THAT I HAVE WRITTEN
ON THIS SUBJECT EVEN THOUGH SO MANY
HISTORIANS BEFORE ME HAVE ALREADY DONE SO,
I WOULD ASK THEM TO LOOK AT ALL THE OTHER
BOOKS FIRST AND THEN READ MINE.

ARRIAN

The ancient Greek historian Arrian believed that his biography of Alexander the Great was unique and surpassed all previous works on the life of the Macedonian king. I make no such claims for my book. There are hundreds of excellent studies available on all aspects of Alexanders life, along with several comprehensive academic biographies in print that surpass mine in detail and technical argument. Why then another book on Alexander? The answer is partially selfish. I grew up fascinated by this man, so I couldnt resist the opportunity to immerse myself in the ancient and modern sources on his life, to visit sites along his journey, and to imagine him racing his horse Bucephalas across the plains of Macedonia or crossing the deserts and mountains of Iran and Afghanistan. But most important, I wanted to write a biography of Alexander that is first and foremost a story. My hope is that this narrative is authoritative and yet accessible to those who love history but may never have read a book about Alexanders life and are not experts on the ancient world.

My search for Alexander was encouraged by many friends and helpers. My colleagues at Luther College have been wonderfully supportive as I researched and wrote the book. The patient counsel of Jolle Delbourgo guided me through the world of publishing, while my editor Bob Bender, his assistant Johanna Li, and Philip Metcalf at Simon & Schuster saved me from countless mistakes. The libraries at Luther College, Bowdoin College, and Harvard University graciously helped me find the resources I needed. My local guides were most generous in sharing their knowledge as I followed Alexanders footsteps, especially Katikiotes Lazaros in Greece, Osama Iskander in Egypt, and Mine Karahan in Turkey. My wife, Alison, as always was my greatest helper and favorite photographer. Finally, to my students who cheerfully suffered through my ancient history courses and never complained when I made them read just one more book or visit one more museum, my eternal gratitude.