Chronology of the expedition of Alexander the Great into Asia
Appearance
This is a chronological summary of the expedition of Alexander the Great into Asia against the Persian Empire of king Darius III, with indication of the countries/places visited or simply crossed, including the most important battles/sieges and the cities founded (Alexandrias). The events of the expedition are shown in chronological order. For each event is given, separated by:
- date of event,
- places/cities crossed, indicated by ancient name (present name, country),
- regions, provinces or Persian satrapies of the places/cities crossed, with indication of their capital cities (where appropriate).
Expedition
Date | Event | Source |
---|---|---|
April 334 B.C. | Departure of the expedition from Amphipolis (Greece) | [1][2][3][4] |
May 334 | Troy (Turkey)―Troades, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
May 334 | Battle of the Granicus River (Biga Çay, near Dimetoka, Turkey)―Hellespontine Phrygia (capital city Dascylium (Ergili), captured by Parmenion) | [1][2][3][4] |
Jun 334 | Sardes(near Salihli, Turkey)―Lydia, capital city | [1] |
Jun 334 | Ephesus (Turkey)―Ionia | [1] |
Jul 334 | Siege of Miletus (Turkey)―Ionia, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
Sep 334 | Siege of Halicarnassus (Bodrum, Turkey)―Caria, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
? | Lycia (Turkey)―Lycia (capital city Xanthos) | [1][2][3][4] |
Dec 334 | Phaselis (near Kemer, Turkey)―Pamphylia | [1][2][3][4] |
? | Termessos (Turkey)―Pamphylia | |
Jan 333 | Perge (modern Murtina, near Aksu, Turkey)―Pamphylia, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
? | Aspendos (near Serik, Turkey)―Pamphylia | |
? | Side (near Manavgat, Turkey)―Pamphylia | |
? | Kelainai (near Dinar, Turkey)―Pisidia (capital city Sagalassos) | |
Apr 333 | Gordion (Yassihöyük, near Polatli, Turkey)―Great Phrygia, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
? | Ankyra (Ankara, Turkey)―Cappadocia (capital city Comana (Kayseri)) | |
? | Cilician Gates (Turkey)―Cilicia | |
Sep 333 | Cydnos River (Tarsus Çayi River, Turkey )―Cilicia | [1][2][3][4] |
Sep 333 | Tarsus (Turkey)―Cilicia, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
Oct 333 | Soli (Mezetlu, west of Mersin, Turkey)―Cilicia | [1][2][3][4] |
Nov 333 | Battle of Issus, Pinarus River (Payas River, near Dörtyol, Turkey)―Cilicia | [1][2][3][4] |
Nov 333 | Alexandretta or Alexandria near Issus (Iskenderun, Turkey)―Cilicia | [1][2][3][4] |
Dec 333 | Aradus Island (Arwad, 3 km off the Syrian coastal town of Tartus, Syria)―Phoenicia(Syria) | [1][2][3][4] |
Jan 332 | Byblos (40 km north of Beirut, Lebanon)―Phoenicia (Syria) | [1][2][3][4] |
Jan 332 | Sidon (Lebanon)―Phoenicia (Syria) | [1][2][3][4] |
Jan-July 332 | Siege of Tyre (Lebanon)―Phoenicia (Syria) | [1][2][3][4] |
? | Damascus (Syria)―Syria, capital city | |
??? | Jerusalem (Israel)―Syria | [1][2][3][4] |
Sep 332 | Siege of Gaza (Palestine)―Syria | [1][2][3][4] |
Dec 332 | Pelusium (Port Said, Egypt)―Egypt | [1][2][3][4] |
Jan 331 | Memphis (Egypt)―Egypt, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
Jan 331 | Alexandria (Egypt)―Egypt | [1][2][3][4] |
Feb 331 | Siwa, oracle (Egypt)―Egypt | [1][2][3][4] |
May 331 | Tyre (Lebanon)―Phoenicia (Syria) | [1][2][3][4] |
? | Damascus (Syria)―Syria | |
? | Alep (Syria)―Syria | |
Jul 331 | Thapsacus (Tipsah) (Dibsi Faray, Euphrates River, Syria)―Mesopotamia | [1][2][3][4] |
Jul 331 | Harran (Turkey)―Mesopotamia | [1][2][3][4] |
Jul 331 | Edessa or Urhai (Urfa, Turkey)―Mesopotamia | [1][2][3][4] |
Jul 331 | Tigris River (Iraq)―Mesopotamia | [1][2][3][4] |
Oct 331 | Battle of Gaugamela (Tel Gomel, Iraq)―Mesopotamia | [1][2][3][4] |
Oct 331 | Arbela (Arbil/Irbil, Iraq)―Mesopotamia (ancient Assyria), capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
Oct 331 | Babylon (on the Euphrates, Iraq)―Babylonia, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
Dec 331 | Susa (Iran)―Susiana (Elam), capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
? | Battle of the Persian Gate (Darvazeh-ye Fars, northeast of Yasuj, Iran)―Persia | |
Jan 330 | Persepolis (Iran)―Persia, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
? | Pasargadae (plain of Morghab, Iran)―Persia | |
Jun 330 | Deh Bid Pass (Zagros Range) to modern Yazd and Esfahan, Iran―Persia/Media | [1][2][3][4] |
Jun 330 | Ecbatana (Hamadan, Iran)―Media, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
Jun 330 | Rhagae (Rey, Iran)―Media | [1][2][3][4] |
Jun 330 | Caspian Gates (between modern Eyvanakey and Aradan or Tehran and Semnan, Iran, Media/Parthia border)―Media/Parthia | [1][2][3][4] |
Jul 330 | Alexander's detour from modern Semnan to the Dasht-e-Kavir desert (Iran)―Parthia [1] | |
Jul 330 | Thara (near Ahuan, between Semnan and Qusheh, Iran) where the Persian king Darius III was killed―Parthia | [1][2][3][4] |
Jul 330 | Hecatompylos (Shahrud, Iran)―Parthia, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
Jul 330 | Zadracarta―Hyrcania, largest city | [1][2][3][4] |
Aug 330 | Hyrcanian campaign (Caspian Sea/Elburz Range, Iran)―Hyrcania | [1][2][3][4] |
Sep 330 | Susia (Tus, near Mashhad, Iran)―Parthia | [1][2][3][4] |
? | Nisa-Alexandroupolis (Bagir Village, 18 km southwest of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan)???―Parthia | |
Sep 330 | Artacoana, Alexandria in Aria (Herat, Afghanistan)―Aria, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
Oct 330 | Phrada, Alexandria Prophthasia (Farah, Afghanistan)―Drangiana, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
Dec 330 | Alexandria in Arachosia (Kandahar, Afghanistan)―Arachosia, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
Winter 329 | Alexandria (Ghazni, Afghanistan)―Arachosia | [1][2][3][4] |
Apr 329 | Ortospana, Kabura (Kabul, Afghanistan)―Gandara | [1][2][3][4] |
Apr 329 | Cophen River (Kabul River, Afghanistan)―Gandara | [1][2][3][4] |
Apr 329 | Kapisa, Alexandria in the Caucasus (Bagram near Charikar, Afghanistan)―Gandara, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
May 329 | Paropamisus (Hindu Kush, Afghanistan) (Paropamisus is the western part of Gandara)―Gandara | [1][2][3][4] |
May 329 | Khawak Pass (leading from Badakhshan to Panjshir valley, 100 km northeast of Kabul, Afghanistan)―Gandara | [1][2][3][4] |
May 329 | Drapsaca (Konduz/Kondoz or Qonduz/Qondoz, Afghanistan)―Bactria | [1][2][3][4] |
May 329 | Bactra (Balkh, near Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan)―Bactria, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
May 329 | Oxus River (Gozan, (Amudar'ja River, Afghanistan/Uzbekistan border) | [1][2][3][4] |
May 329 | Alexandria Tarmita (Termez/Termiz, Uzbekistan)―Sogdia (or Transoxiana) | [1][2][3][4] |
Jun 329 | Nautaca (Uzunkir, near Shakhrisabz, between Samarkand and Karshi, Uzbekistan)―Sogdia | [1][2][3][4] |
Jun 329 | Maracanda (Samarkand, Uzbekistan)―Sogdia, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
Jul 329 | Jaxartes River (Syrdar'ya River) and Fergana Valley (Uzbekistan/Tajikistan/Kyrgyzstan)―Sogdia | [1][2][3][4] |
Jul 329 | Fergana Valley with 7 Achaemenid cities-fortresses, among which Cyropolis or Cyreschata/Kurushkatha (Uroteppa, Tajikistan)―Sogdia | [1][2][3][4] |
Jul 329 | Alexandria Eschate (Leninabad, Khodzent, Khudzhand or Hudzand, Tajikistan)―Sogdia | [1][2][3][4] |
Oct 329 | Sogdians and Scythians Massagetes (Spitamenes' revolt) (north of Jaxartes River) | [1][2][3][4] |
Nov 329 | Maracanda (Samarkand, Uzbekistan)―Sogdia | [1][2][3][4] |
Nov 329 | Tribactra (Bukhara, Uzbekistan)―Sogdia | [1][2][3][4] |
Nov 329 | Bactra (Balkh, near Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan)―Bactria | [1][2][3][4] |
Spring 328 | Alexandria Oxiane/on the Oxus (perhaps Ai Khanum/Ay Khanom???) (confluence of the Amudar'ja and Kowkcheh rivers, near Deshitiqala (Badakhshan region), northern frontier of Afghanistan )―Bactria | [1][2][3][4] |
? | Alexandria in Margiana (Mary/Merv, Turkmenistan) (founded by Craterus and refounded by Antiochus I and called Antiochia)―Margiana, capital city | |
Summer/Autumn 328 | Sogdian campaigns and attack of the Sogdian settlements in the Gissarskiy (or Hissar) Range (Pamiro-Alai region, Tajikistan)―Sogdia | [1][2][3][4] |
Dec 328 | Nautaca (Uzunkir, near Shakhrisabz, between Samarkand and Karshi, Uzbekistan)―Sogdia | [1][2][3][4] |
Mar 327 | Sogdian Rock o Rock of Sisimithres (where Oxyartes and Roxana were) (Gissarskiy (or Hissar) Range, Pamiro-Alai region, Tajikistan)―Sogdia | [1][2][3][4] |
Spring 327 | Bactra (Balkh, near Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan)―Bactria | [1][2][3][4] |
Spring 327 | Kapisa, Alexandria in the Caucasus (Bagram near Charikar, Afghanistan)―Gandara, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
? | Cophen River (Kabul River, Afghanistan/Pakistan)―Gandara | |
Sep 327 | Passo Khyber/Khyber Pass (Afghanistan/Pakistan)―Gandara | [1][2][3][4] |
Autumn 327 | Peucelaotis (Charsadda, north of Peshawar, at the Kabul River, Pakistan), occupied by Perdiccas and Hephaestion―Gandara, Pakistan | [1][2][3][4] |
Autumn 327 | Arigaeum (Arigaion), capital city of the Aspasians (Nawagai, Pakistan), Alexander campaign against Aspasians and Guraei―Gandara, Pakistan | [1][2][3][4] |
Autumn 327 | Massaca/Massaga, capital city of the Assacenes (Alexander campaign) (Wuch near Chakdara, lower Swat (Soastus) valley, Pakistan)―Gandara, Pakistan | [1][2][3][4] |
Autumn 327 | Bazira (Bir-Kot/Barikot, lower Swat valley, Pakistan)―Gandara, Pakistan | [1][2][3][4] |
Autumn 327 | Ora (Ude-Gram/Odigram, lower Swat valley, Pakistan)―Gandara, Pakistan | [1][2][3][4] |
Autumn 327 | Shang-La Pass, Pakistan (4300m)―Gandara, Pakistan | [1][2][3][4] |
Autumn 327 | Aornus Rock (Pir-Sar or Pir Sarai, 1600m, at the Indus River, Pakistan)―Pakistan | [1][2][3][4] |
Winter 326 | Modern Hund, Pakistan (the two Macedonian armies reunited)-Pakistan | [1][2][3][4] |
Mar 326 | Alexander's detour to Nysa (legend: founded by Dionysius) (near Jalalabad, at the river Chitral or Kunar (Euas) in eastern Afghanistan)―Gandara, Pakistan | [1][2][3][4] |
Spring 326 | Taxila (Takshaçila, 20 km west from Islamabad, Pakistan)―Pakistan, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
Jul 326 | Battle of Hydaspes River against Porus (modern Jhelum, Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab (kingdom of Porus, Pauravas) | [1][2][3][4] |
Jul 326 | Alexandria Nicaea (west bank of Jhelum, Haranpur???, Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab | [1][2][3][4] |
Jul 326 | Alexandria Bucephala (east bank of Jhelum, Haranpur???, Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab | [1][2][3][4] |
Aug 326 | Acesines River (Chenab, Pakistan) (crossing between Gujrat and Sialkot, Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab | [1][2][3][4] |
Aug 326 | Hydraotes River (Ravi, Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab | [1][2][3][4] |
Aug 326 | Sangala (near Amritsar, India) (siege against the Mallians)―Eastern Punjab | [1][2][3][4] |
31 Aug 326 | Hyphasis River (Bias/Beas, India) (the easternmost border of Alexander's expedition, mutiny of the army)―Eastern Punjab | [1][2][3][4] |
Sep 326 | Alexandria on the Hyphasis (west bank, eastern border of Alexander's empire, near Amritsar, India)―Eastern Punjab | [1][2][3][4] |
Sep 326 | Return to Hydaspes River (modern Jhelum, Pakistan), Nicaea and Bucephala (Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab | [1] |
Nov 326 | Departure of the fleet at the Hydaspes River (Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab | [1][2][3][4] |
Nov-Dec 326 | Mallians and Oxydracae campaign (Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab | [1][2][3][4] |
Nov-Dec 326 | Town of the Brahmans (Harmatelia???, Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab | [1][2][3][4] |
Nov-Dec 326 | Siege of Multan (capital city of the Mallians (Malava)), Pakistan (where Alexander was seriously wounded by an arrow)―Eastern Punjab | [1][2][3][4] |
Nov-Dec 326 | Alexandria on the Indus (at the confluence of Indus and Chenab) (Uch, Pakistan) (Alexandria of Opiane???)―Eastern Punjab | [1][2][3][4] |
Dec 326 | Campaigns against the kingdoms of Musicanus (modern Alor, Pakistan) and Sambus (modern Sehwan, Pakistan)―Sind (capital city Thatta) | [1][2][3][4] |
Dec 326 | Patala (modern Hyderabad???, Pakistan)―Sindh | [1][2][3][4] |
Jul-Dec 325 | Expedition of Craterus from Patala to Hormuz: Patala, Bolan Pass, between Sibi and Quetta (Pakistan), Kandahar (Afghanistan), Hamun Lake, Hormuz (Bandare Abbas) (Iran) | [1][2][3][4] |
Aug-Dec 325 | The return of Alexander: Patala-Hormuz (with Hephaestion) | [1][2][3][4] |
Aug 325 | Arabius River (Hab River, crossing near modern Karachi, Pakistan)―Sind | [1][2][3][4] |
? | Arabitians and Oreitans campaigns, Pakistan―Gedrosia | |
Autumn 325 | Alexandria Rhambacia (Bela, Pakistan)―Gedrosia | [1][2][3][4] |
? | Alexandria in Makarene (120 km west of Karachi, area of Hab River, Pakistan) | |
Autumn 325 | Gedrosian Desert (Baluchistan (Makran), Pakistan/Iran)―Gedrosia | [1][2][3][4] |
Nov 325 | Pura (Bampur, Iran)―Gedrosia, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
Dec 325 | Alexandria in Carmania (Golashkerd, Iran)―Carmania (capital city Harmozia/Hormuz) | [1][2][3][4] |
Sep-Dec 325 | Expedition of Nearchus from Patala to Hormuz: Patala, Karachi, Hab River, Sonmiani Bay, Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar, Jask, Strait of Hormuz, Hormuz (Bandar Abbas) (Iran) | [1][2][3][4] |
Dec 325 | The reuniting at Hormuz―Carmania | [1][2][3][4] |
Jan-Feb 324 | The return of Alexander from Hormuz to Susa: | [1][2][3][4] |
Jan 324 | Pasargad (plain of Morghab, Iran) (visit to the tomb of Cyrus the Great)―Persia [1] | |
Feb 324 | Persepolis (Iran)―Persia | [1][2][3][4] |
Feb 324 | Susa (Iran)―Susiana (Elam), capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
Jan-Feb 324 | The return of Hephaestion and Craterus along the coastline of Carmania and Persia (from Hormuz to Susa) | [1][2][3][4] |
Jan-Feb 324 | The return of Nearchus from Hormuz to Susa: Hormuz, Qeshm Island, Mond River, Karun River, Susa [1] | |
Mar 324 | The marriages of Susa (Iran) | [1][2][3][4] |
? | Persian Gulf, Mouth of the Tigris (Iraq/Iran)―Susiana | |
Spring 324 | Alexandria in Susiana or Alexandria of Characene, later Alexandria Antiocheia), Karka (Charax, near Al Qurnah, Iraq)―Susiana | [1][2][3][4] |
Spring 324 | Mutiny of the army at Opis (east bank of the Tigris, not far from the confluence of Tigris and Diyala rivers, south of Baghdad, Iraq)―Babylonia | [1][2][3][4] |
Summer 324 | Ecbatana (Hamadan, Iran)―Media, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
Oct 324 | Death of Hephaestion in Ecbatana (Hamadan, Iran)―Media | [1][2][3][4] |
Winter 323 | Cossaeans campaign (Loristan/Luristan, Zagros Range, Iran)―Media/Babylonia | [1][2][3][4] |
Spring 323 | Babylon (on the Euphrates, Iraq)―Babylonia, capital city | [1][2][3][4] |
10 or 11 June 323 B.C. | Death of Alexander in Babylon (Iraq)―Babylonia | [1][2][3][4] |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt Arrian, John Rooke; Arrian's History of the expedition of Alexander the Great: and conquest of Persia. J. Davis, 1813. 1813. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn Nigel Cawthorne; Alexander the Great. Haus Publishing. 2004. ISBN 978-1-904341-56-7. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn Waldemar Heckel; The wars of Alexander the Great, 336-323 B.C. Taylor & Francis. 2003. ISBN 978-0-415-96855-3. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn Arrian, James S. Romm, Pamela Mensch; Alexander the Great: selections from Arrian, Diodorus, Plutarch, and Quintus Curtius. Hackett Publishing. 2005. ISBN 978-0-87220-727-1. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
Bibliography
- Roger Caratini, Alessandro Magno, Storia e leggenda del più grande condottiero dell’antichità, Newton & Compton editori, 2005
External links
- Lendering, Jona, Alexander the Great: Chronology