Alexander the Great, the military genius

CAIRO – 14 June 2022: History website shed light on the death of Alexander the Great, saying, "The young Macedonian military genius who formed an empire stretching from the eastern Mediterranean to India, passed away in Babylonia [Iraq] at the age of 33.”

Alexander was born in Macedonia. His father was King Philip II, and his mother was Queen Olympias. He received a classical education from the famous philosopher Aristotle and received a military education from his father.

At the age of 16, Alexander led his first forces into combat, and 2 years later he led a large part of his father's army, which won the Battle of Chaeronea and brought Greece under Macedonian rule. In 336 BC, Philip II was assassinated, and Alexander ascended to the throne.

Two years later, the young king led a large army into Asia Minor to carry out his father's plans to invade Persia. Alexander demonstrated an unprecedented understanding of strategic military planning and tactical maneuvers. He never lost a single battle and by 330 BC, all of Persia and Asia Minor was under his rule.

Although Alexander controlled the largest empire in world history, he launched a new eastern campaign shortly after returning from Persia. By 327 BC, he had conquered Afghanistan, Central Asia, and northern India. The following year, his army, exhausted after 8 years of fighting, refused to go any further, and Alexander led them on a difficult journey home through the inhospitable Makran Desert.

Alexander finally reached Babylon, and began building a large fleet to bring his army back to Egypt. However, in June 323 BC, Alexander fell ill and died. He may have seriously believed that he was a god as many of his subjects did, so he did not choose a successor. Within a year of his death, his army and empire had split into many warring factions. His body was later returned to Alexandria, where it was placed in a golden coffin.