Alexander The great

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Cyril Ekierman S3Fra

Introduction

Alexander the Great was the Greek king of Macedon  from 356 BC to 323 BC. He was a very good warrior and was known to be one of the best military commanders in history. When he died, he had conquered nearly all the world known by the Greeks.

1°) Alexander’s early life

Alexander the Great or Alexander III of Macedon was born on the 20 of July 356 BC in Pella, the capital of Macedon. His father was the king Philip II of Macedon and his mother was Olympias of Epirus, Philip’s fourth wife. According to the legend, one of Philip’s ancestor was Heracles and one of Olympias ancestor was the son of Zeus and a nymph. A very famous legend says that Philip wasn’t Alexander Father, it was Zeus: Philip was scared of sleeping with Olympias because she liked sleeping with snakes in her bed! Alexander used this legend lots of times in politics, calling himself a son of Zeus.

In his early years, Alexander was raised by his nanny: Lanike. Later, Alexander was educated by a strict teacher: Leonidas, a friend of his mother. But it was Aristotle, who was Alexander's most famous and important tutor. The philosopher taught Alexander how to be the best in rhetoric and literature.

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2°) Alexander getting to the throne of Macedon

In 340 BC, Philip attacked Byzantium, leaving Alexander in Macedon to rule the country for a short time: it was the first time that Alexander would rule a country.

In 339 BC, Philip married his fifth wife: Cleopatra Eurydice. Alexander was not happy about this decision. After a fight against his father at the wedding, he left Macedon.

Soon after the incident, Alexander came back to Macedon, and a year later, in 338 BC, he was fighting with his father in the giant Battle of Chaeronea. The Battle of Chaeronea ...

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