Alexander III of Macedon, better known as Alexander the Great, became king at the age of twenty and had conquered most of the known world by the time of his sudden death at 32. During his brief but eventful reign, he created a vast Empire that stretched from Greece and Egypt all the way to India. Yet, the young ruler’s dreams of further conquest were cut short by his unexpected death in Babylon in 323 BCE. Following the conqueror’s passing, his huge Empire disintegrated in the wars waged by his successors. Even so, Alexander’s lasting legacy — the Hellenistic World — endured, influencing virtually every society and culture up to the present day. Much is known about his life, his reign, and his legacy. But there is always more to unpack. Here are eight lesser-known facts about the king, general, conqueror, and legend — Alexander the Great.
1. Alexander the Great Was a Member of an Ancient Dynasty
Alexander the Great’s name is widely known. Few, however, know that before he became immortalized in history as “the Great,” the young ruler was known as Alexander III of Macedon. Alexander was born in 356 BCE to king Phillip II of Macedon, and his fourth wife, Olympias. Philip was a member of the ancient Argead dynasty, which traced its origins to a mythical period in ancient Greece. According to tradition, the dynasty’s founder, king Caranus, was one of the descendants of Heracles.
While she was not a Macedonian herself, Olympias too was a member of ancient royal lineage. Alexander’s mother was the daughter of the king of the Molossians, an ancient Greek tribe from Epirus. Olympias’ illustrious lineage did not stop there. Her family claimed relation to none other than the Trojan War hero, the legendary Achilles (!). Thus, Alexander could trace his origins to some of the most famous figures from Greek history and mythology. No wonder the young prince felt he was predestined for greatness.
