Table of Dates

356

Alexander born in Pella. The exact date is not known, but probably either 20 or 26 July.
Philip captures Potidaea.
Parmenio defeats Paeonians and Illyrians.

354

Demosthenes attacks idea of a ‘crusade against Persia’.
? Midsummer: Philip captures Methone; loses an eye in the battle.

352

Artabazus and Memnon refugees with Philip, who now emerges as potential leader of crusade against Persia.

351

Philip's fleet harassing Athenian shipping.
Demosthenes' First Philippic.

348

August: Philip captures Olynthus.
Aeschines' attempt to unite Greek states against Philip fails.

346

March: embassy to Philip from Athens.
Halus besieged by Parmenio.
April: Peace of Philocrates ratified.
Second Athenian embassy held up till July.
July: Philip occupies Thermopylae.
August: Philip admitted to seat on Amphictyonic Council, and presides over Pythian Games.
Isocrates publishes Philippus.

344

Philip appointed Archon of Thessaly for life.

343

Non-aggression pact between Philip and Artaxerxes Ochus.
Trial and acquittal of Aeschines.

343/2

Aristotle invited to Macedonia as Alexander's tutor.

342/1

Olympias' brother Alexander succeeds to throne of Epirus with Philip's backing.

340

Congress of Allies meets in Athens.
Alexander left as regent in Macedonia: his raid on the Maedi and the foundation of Alexandropolis.
Philip's campaign against Perinthus and Byzantium.

339

September: Philip occupies Elatea.
Isocrates' Panathenaicus.

338

? 2 August: Battle of Chaeronea.
Alexander among ambassadors to Athens.
Philip marries Attalus' niece Cleopatra.
Olympias and Alexander in exile.

337

Spring: Hellenic League convened at Corinth.
Recall of Alexander to Pella.
Autumn: League at Corinth ratifies crusade against Persia.

336

Spring: Parmenio and Attalus sent to Asia Minor for preliminary military operations.
June: accession of Darius III Codomannus.
Cleopatra bears Philip a son.
Wedding of Alexander of Epirus to Olympias' daughter.
Murder of Philip.
Alexander accedes to the throne of Macedonia.
Late summer: Alexander calls meeting of Hellenic League at Corinth, confirmed as captain-general of anti-Persian crusade.

335

Early spring: Alexander goes north to deal with Thrace and Illyria.
Revolt of Thebes.

334

Alexander and the attacking force cross into Asia Minor (March–April).
May: Battle of the Granicus.
General reorganization of Greek cities in Asia Minor.
Siege and capture of Miletus.
Autumn: reduction of Halicarnassus.

334/3

Alexander advances through Lycia and Pamphylia.

333

Alexander's column moves north to Celaenae and Gordium.
Death of Memnon (early spring).
Mustering of Persian forces in Babylon.
Episode of the Gordian Knot.
Alexander marches to Ancyra and thence south to Cilician Gates.
Darius moves westward from Babylon.
September: Alexander reaches Tarsus; his illness there.

333

Darius crosses the Euphrates.
? September–October: Battle of Issus.
Alexander advances southward through Phoenicia.
Marathus: first peace-offer by Darius.

332

? January: submission of Byblos and Sidon.
Siege of Tyre begun.
? June: second peace-offer by Darius refused.
29 July: fall of Tyre.
September–October: Gaza captured.
14 November (?): Alexander crowned as Pharaoh at Memphis.

331

Early spring: visit to the Oracle of Ammon at Siwah.
? 7–8 April: foundation of Alexandria.
Alexander returns to Tyre.
July–August: Alexander reaches Thapsacus on Euphrates; Darius moves his main forces from Babylon.
18 September: Alexander crosses the Tigris.
Darius' final peace-offer rejected.
30 September or 1 October: Battle of Gaugamela.
Macedonians advance from Arbela on Babylon, which falls in mid-October.
Revolt of Agis defeated at Megalopolis.
Early December: Alexander occupies Susa unopposed.

331/0

Alexander forces Susian Gates.

330

? January: Alexander reaches and sacks Persepolis.
? May: burning of temples etc. in Persepolis.
Early June: Alexander sets out for Ecbatana.
Darius retreats towards Bactria.
Greek allies dismissed at Ecbatana; Parmenio left behind there, with Harpalus as treasurer.
Pursuit of Darius renewed, via Caspian Gates.
July (after 15th): Darius found murdered near Hecatompylus.
Bessus establishes himself as ‘Great King’ in Bactria.
March for Hyrcania begins (July–August).
Late August: march to Drangiana (Lake Seistan).
The ‘conspiracy of Philotas’.
March through Arachosia to Parapamisidae.

329

March–April: Alexander crosses Hindu Kush by Khawak pass.
April–May: Alexander advancing to Bactria; Bessus retreats across the Oxus.
June: Alexander reaches and crosses the Oxus; veterans and Thessalian volunteers dismissed.
Surrender of Bessus.
Alexander advances to Maracanda (Samarkand).
Revolt of Spitamenes, annihilation of Macedonian detachment.

329/8

Alexander takes up winter quarters at Zariaspa.
Execution of Bessus.

328

Campaign against Spitamenes.
Autumn: murder of Cleitus the Black.

328/7

Defeat and death of Spitamenes.

327

Spring: capture of the Soghdian Rock.
Alexander's marriage to Roxane.
Recruitment of 30,000 Persian ‘Successors’.
The ‘Pages’ Conspiracy' and Callisthenes' end.
Early summer: Alexander recrosses Hindu Kush by Kushan pass: the invasion of India begins.

327/6

Alexander reaches Nysa (Jelalabad); the ‘Dionysus episode’.
Capture of Aornos (Pir-Sar).

326

Advance to Taxila.
Battle of the Hydaspes (Jhelum) against the rajah Porus.
Death of Bucephalas.
? July: mutiny at the Hyphasis (Beas).
Return to the Jhelum; reinforcements from Greece.
Early November: fleet and army move down-river.

326/5

Campaign against Brahmin cities; Alexander seriously wounded.

325

Revolt in Bactria: 3,000 mercenaries loose in Asia.
Alexander reaches Patala, builds harbour and dockyards.
? September: Alexander's march through Gedrosian Desert.
Defection of Harpalus from Asia Minor to Greece.
The satrapal purge begins (December).
Nearchus and the fleet reach Harmozia, link up with Alexander at Salmous (Gulashkird).
Arrival of Craterus from Drangiana.

324

January: Nearchus and fleet sent on to Susa.
The episode of Cyrus' tomb.
Alexander returns to Persepolis.
Move to Susa, long halt there (February–March).
Spring: arrival of 30,000 trained Persian ‘successors’.
The Susa mass-marriages.
March: the Exiles' Decree and the Deification Decree.
Craterus appointed to succeed Antipater as regent, and convoy troops home.
Alexander moves from Susa to Ecbatana.
Death of Hephaestion.

323

Assassination of Harpalus in Crete.
Alexander's campaign against the Cossaeans and return to Babylon (spring).
Alexander explores Pallacopas Canal; his boat-trip through the marshes.
Arrival of Antipater's son Cassander to negotiate with Alexander.
29/30 May: Alexander falls ill after a party, and dies on 10/11 June.

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