W                       E                   N   Alex Ander            Gre AT   THe                    How one man built the largest     empire the ancient world had ever seen                                                                      ln  a  o   t  i  git  i  d  i  DE      WAr ConquesT romAnCe empire deATH     n   first  Editio                                   AlexAnder GreAT THe Alexander the Great chronicles the life of one of the greatest figures in history – from his birth to parents Philip II of Macedonia and Olympias, through to his death at the age of 32. It was a life in which he achieved greatness and came to be regarded as a god by the 40,000 men who, for eight long years, were prepared to follow him to the ends of the Earth. In this book we discover his early years, his tuition under Aristotle and how his training in the art of warfare helped shape him into a fearsome leader and warrior. We’ll also explore Alexander’s ascension to the throne, his ruthlessness in securing his position following his father’s assassination, and his march into Asia and beyond in his quest to build one of the greatest empires the world has ever seen. From Darius at the Granicus to Porus at the Hydaspes, we also uncover the truth about some of his key battles and greatest foes. Combining legend and myth with daunting reality, this book charts the dream of a man who was prepared to walk to the edge of the known world and who was willing to crush anything in his way. This is the story of a leader of men who, to this day, is still revered by people in whose lands he once stood – this is the story of Alexander the Great. AlexAnder GreAT THe Future PLC Richmond House, 33 Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH2 6EZ Editorial Editor Dan Peel Designer Emma Birch Editorial Director Jon White Senior Art Editor Andy Downes Written by Nick McCarty Cover images Getty Photography All copyrights and trademarks are recognised and respected Advertising Media packs are available on request Commercial Director Clare Dove [email protected] International International Licensing Director Matt Ellis [email protected] Circulation Head of Newstrade Tim Mathers Production Head of Production Mark Constance Production Project Manager Clare Scott Advertising Production Manager Joanne Crosby Digital Editions Controller Jason Hudson Production Managers Keely Miller, Nola Cokely, Vivienne Calvert, Fran Twentyman Management Chief Operations Officer Aaron Asadi Commercial Finance Director Dan Jotcham Head of Art & Design Greg Whitaker Printed by William Gibbons, 26 Planetary Road, Willenhall, West Midlands, WV13 3XT Distributed by Marketforce, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HU www.marketforce.co.uk Tel: 0203 787 9001 This bookazine is published under licence from Carlton Publishing Group. All rights in the licensed material belong to Carlton Books Limited and it may not be reproduced, whether in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Carlton Books Limited. © 2018 Carlton Books Limited The content in this book was previously published in the Carlton book Alexander the Great Alexander the Great First Edition © 2018 Future Publishing Limited We are committed to only using magazine paper which is derived from responsibly managed, certified forestry and chlorine-free manufacture. The paper in this magazine was sourced and produced from sustainable managed forests, conforming to strict environmental and socioeconomic standards. The manufacturing paper mill holds full FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification and accreditation All contents © 2018 Future Publishing Limited or published under licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price of products/services referred to in this publication. Apps and websites mentioned in this publication are not under our control. We are not responsible for their contents or any other changes or updates to them. This magazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein. Future plc is a public Chief executive Zillah Byng-Thorne company quoted on the Chairman Richard Huntingford London Stock Exchange Chief financial officer Penny Ladkin-Brand (symbol: FUTR) www.futureplc.com Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244 Part of the bookazine series 6 Contents 8 Map of Alexander’s route and timeline 10 Chapter One Beginnings 24 C hapter Two Threats 34 C hapter Three Assassination and ambition 48 C hapter Four A spear in the earth 64 C hapter Five Blood on the earth 76 C hapter Six A battle, a siege and an omen 92 Chapter Seven Babylon, Susa and Persepolis 106 Chapter Eight Plots, murder and marriage 120 C hapter Nine India and the final battle 130 Chapter Ten The final journey 140 Epilogue 142 Credits 7 Timeline 349BC 337BC 335BC Alexander acts as king Philip plans to Alexander secures 343BC in Macedonia while invade Persia. He borders by victories 357BC his father campaigns marries Cleopatra, a on the Danube. 355BC - Aristotle invited to against Byzantium. Macedonian. Alexander Memnon, the Persian Philip II marries 336BC Macedonia to act as Alexander commands and Olympias exiled. general, halts the Olympias, mother tutor to Alexander and the army and wins his Alexander returns in advances of Parmenion of Alexander Philip at war a group of his friends first battle the summer and Attalus. 356BC 354BC 342BC 338BC 336BC Birth of Alexander at Philip loses an eye Alexander persuades August: The Battle Generals Parmenion Pella, in Macedonia in battle his father to let him of Chaeronea, in which and Attalus cross the try to tame a half- Alexander commands Hellespont to Asia. Philip broken stallion. He the cavalry. After is assassinated and wins Bucephalas this, Philip II is Alexander declared king. accepted as leader of His is confirmed as leader Corinithian League of the Corinthian League. 8 334BC 332BC 330BC 326BC 324BC 328BC May: Alexander Six month Siege of Tyre. Winter: Defeats Alexander captures Alexander restores secures Macedonian Darius makes peace Persians on the The Macedonian army The Rock of Arnos. Cyrus the Great’s tomb. borders and crosses offer. His wife, Statira, approach to Perspolis. fights a guerrilla war May: he advances to Purge of local leaders the Hellespont. Victory dies in childbirth as May: Persepolis is against Spitamenes. He Hydaspes. King Porus for corruption. Mass against Persians at Alexander’s prisoner. burned. Pursues Darius is defeated. Alexander is defeated. Alexander wedding at Susa General river Granicus. Takes November: Alexander who is killed by his kills Cleitus, one of this builds a fleet to sail Craterus. October: Halicarnassus. in Egypt. own men. most loyal friends. down the Indus. Hephaeston dies 333BC 331BC 329BC 327BC 325BC 323BC March: Alexander Alexander visits Alexander reinforces Alexander and July: His men May: Alexander solves the Gordian oracle at Siwa; founds his army with his army capture mutiny. The terrible mourns at knot. Beats Darius at Alexandria. Defeats local soldiers then Sogdian Rock and march across the Hephaeston’s funeral the Battle of Issus. Darius at the Battle of advances towards defeat a leader of Gedrosian Desert. at Babylon. June: Darius flees leaving Gaugamela. October- the Hindu Kush. local resistance, Autumn: He arrives Alexander falls ill with his family. Parmenion December: Takes Chorienes. Alexander in Pura with the a fever, after ten days takes Damascus. Babylon and Susa. marries Roxana. remains of his army. he dies. 9 Chapter 1 10