Alexander the Great Timeline: Key Events in Chronological Order

Alexander the Great Timeline

Alexander the Great Timeline in Chronological Order

356 BC	July 20. Alexander the Great is born in Pella, the capital of the Kingdom of Macedon.

343 BC	Alexander’s father, King Philip II of Macedon, hires Aristotle to be Alexander’s tutor.

336 BC	King Philip II is assassinated, and Alexander becomes king of Macedon at the age of 20.

334 BC	Alexander leads an army of Macedonian and Greek soldiers across the Hellespont (modern-day Dardanelles) and begins his conquest of the Persian Empire. May 11. The Battle of the Granicus River is fought, with Alexander’s forces defeating the Persians.

333 BC	Nov 1. The Battle of Issus is fought, with Alexander’s forces again defeating the Persians.

332 BC	Alexander conquers Egypt and founds the city of Alexandria. Alexander is declared the son of the Egyptian god Amun-Ra.

331 BC	Oct 1. The Battle of Gaugamela is fought, with Alexander’s forces decisively defeating the Persian army.

330 BC	Alexander captures the Persian capital city of Persepolis.

327 BC	Alexander marries Roxana, a Bactrian princess. Alexander leads an army into India, where he defeats King Porus in the Battle of the Hydaspes.

326 BC	Alexander’s army mutinies at the Hyphasis River and refuses to march any further east.

323 BC	Alexander falls ill and dies in Babylon at the age of 32. His empire is divided among his generals, marking the beginning of the Hellenistic period.