Who Was Alexander The Great?

In our history, Alexander the Great is still regarded as one of the greatest conquerors of the world. Over 2000 years ago, he died in Babylon at the age of thirty three years. His kingdom, extending from Greece to India, disintegrated after his death. But it is said that in his short span of life he founded about 70 cities which are still there.

The story goes that when Alexander was fourteen years old, he controlled the wild horse Bucephalus whom nobody else had been able to control. Alexander rode on this horse in all his battles and in a battle in India, the brave horse died. He put up a town and named it after the brave horse. In 359 B.C. Philip, Alexander’s father became the king of Macedonia. He raised his own army and planned an attack of the great Persian Empire. But in 336 B.C. he was murdered in a palace conspiracy. After him, at the age of twenty Alexander became the king.

Alexander had received the training of warfare from his father. Aristotle, the great philosopher was his academic adviser. A serious revolt broke out in his kingdom after the death of his father. About 334 B.C Alexander attacked the Persian Empire. He fought two battles there and achieved resounding victories.

He was a brave man and well trained in the strategy of warfare. After conquering Persia, he attacked Egypt. He also conquered Egypt and established a city at the mouth of the river Nile called Alexanderia. When Alexander entered Asia Minor, the chariot of the ancient king Gordius was shown to him and was told a myth that whoever could untie the knot binding the chariot would rule the world. Alexander seized a sword and cut the knot. Before now Alexander was the king of Macedonia, Egypt, Greece, Persia and Asia. For six more years his army kept on marching and conquered Hindu Kush, Afghanistan, Tashkent, Samarkand and Khyber Pass. After that he entered India. He started living in luxury after entering Asia.

He married a beautiful and rich princess Roxana. He fought his last battle with the brave Indian king, Poras. He won this battle with great difficulties. Alexander wished to reach the river Ganga; his soldiers had been away from their homes for more than eight years so they refused to go further. They marched back to their homes. Alexander got high fever on the way and died in June 323 B.C.

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