The Birth of the Great
Alexander's life begins with a bang being "born into royalty as the son of King Philip II of Macedonia and Olympias, daughter of King Neoptolemus of Epirus."(Reynolds) He would play a big role in the Hellenistic period. This is a time in ancient Greece of great cultural and intellectual advancement. During this period, Greek city-states expanded their influence through trade and colonization, and art and philosophy flourished.
The Greeks
As a young prince, Alexander the Great had a close relationship with the Greeks. He was tutored by the philosopher Aristotle, who instilled in him a love for Greek culture and ideas. Alexander was being groomed for greatness, as Freeman explains, he was "[t]utored as a boy by Aristotle, Alexander had an inquisitive mind that would serve him well when he faced formidable obstacles during his military campaigns." The early life and achievements of Alexander the Great would set the stage for his future conquests and leave a lasting impact on history
The Death of the King
The death of Alexander the Great's father, King Philip II of Macedon, would be the catalyst for Alexander's promotion to the king. On the morning of October 336 BC, Philip II was assassinated at his daughter's wedding feast in Aegae, the ancient capital of Macedon. The circumstances surrounding his death have been debated by historians and scholars for centuries, and a number of theories have been put forth to explain the event. One popular theory is that Philip II was killed by his own bodyguard, Pausanias, who had a personal vendetta against the king. According to this theory, Pausanias had been mistreated and humiliated by Philip II, and he sought revenge by stabbing the king to death during the wedding feast. However, some scholars have challenged this theory, arguing that Pausanias may have been acting as part of a larger conspiracy to overthrow Philip II and seize power in Macedon. Another theory suggests that Philip II was killed as a result of political maneuvering and power struggles among the Greek city-states. In this scenario, various factions may have conspired to eliminate Philip II as a way of weakening Macedon and gaining an advantage in the ongoing power struggles between the city-states. Regardless of the exact circumstances surrounding his death, the assassination of Philip II had far-reaching consequences for the ancient world. It paved the way for Alexander the Great to assume the throne and embark on his legendary military campaigns. (Arrian)