A note on dates
The surviving ancient narratives about Alexander do not always give precise chronological information. Events mentioned in Babylonian astronomical diaries can be dated precisely, but for events mentioned by Greek writers, even if they give precise dates, we can only provide approximate equivalences, because Greek and Macedonian calendars did not work with a 365-day year, and thus were often out of alignment with the solar calendar. Therefore most dates here are given by season, but even these must be considered approximate.
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356 |
Summer |
Birth of Alexander |
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338 |
Summer |
Battle of Chaeronea |
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337 |
Spring |
‘League of Corinth’ created |
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336 |
Spring |
Macedonian forces under Parmenion cross into Asia |
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336 |
Assassination of Philip II: Alexander becomes king |
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335 |
Spring |
Alexander campaigns in Thrace and Illyria |
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Autumn |
Sack of Thebes |
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334 |
Spring |
Alexander crosses the Hellespont into Asia |
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Alexander at Troy |
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Battle of the Granicus |
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Summer |
Alexander liberates Greek cities of Asia |
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Autumn |
Alexander in Caria |
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Winter |
Alexander in Lycia |
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333 |
Spring |
Alexander at Gordium |
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Summer |
Alexander in Cilicia |
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Autumn |
Battle of Issus |
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Winter |
Siege of Tyre begins |
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332 |
Summer |
Siege of Tyre ends |
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Autumn |
Siege of Gaza |
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Winter |
Alexander enters Egypt |
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331 |
Spring |
Alexander visits the oracle of Amun in Siwa |
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Alexander marches from Egypt to Tyre, then to the Euphrates |
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1 October |
Battle of Gaugamela |
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20 October |
Alexander enters Babylon |
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Winter |
Alexander enters Susa |
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330 |
Spring |
Alexander enters Persepolis |
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Alexander burns the palace of Persepolis |
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Summer |
Death of Darius III; Bessus declares himself king (as Artaxerxes V) |
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Autumn |
Trial and execution of Philotas and execution of Parmenion |
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329 |
Spring |
Alexander enters Bactria and Sogdiana |
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Capture of Bessus |
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Autumn |
Alexander crosses the Jaxartes River |
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328 |
Autumn |
Killing of Cleitus |
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327 |
Spring |
Alexander captures the Sogdian Rock |
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Alexander marries Rhoxane |
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‘Pages Plot’; arrest of Callisthenes |
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Summer |
Alexander enters the Hindu Kush |
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326 |
Spring |
Alexander captures the Rock of Aornus |
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Alexander crosses the Indus River |
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Alexander defeats Porus on the Hydaspes River |
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Summer |
Alexander reaches the Hyphasis River, then returns to the Indus |
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Winter |
Alexander is wounded fighting the Malli |
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325 |
Summer |
Alexander reaches the Indus Delta |
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Autumn |
Alexander marches through Gedrosia |
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Winter |
Alexander returns to Pasargadae and Persepolis |
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324 |
Spring |
Alexander reaches Susa and rewards soldiers for the Indian campaign |
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Alexander marries Stateira and Parysatis, as part of a mass wedding |
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Alexander punishes satraps who abused their positions in his absence |
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Summer |
Alexander reorganizes his army |
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Alexander decrees the return of Greek exiles to their cities |
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Autumn |
Death of Hephaestion |
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Winter |
Alexander campaigns against the Cossaeans |
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323 |
Spring |
Alexander enters Babylon |
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June 11 |
Death of Alexander |