Alexander the Great
Military General and King of Macedonia
Alexander's Early Life
Alexander was born in Pella sometime in 356 BC. Pella was the capital of ancient Macedonia. Alexander was the son of Philip II and Olympias. Alexander was taught by Aristotle from roughly age thirteen to sixteen. Around age sixteen Philip II went on a military campaign where Alexander was left in charge of the Macedonia. Later on he defeated the Maedi and two years later commanded part of the Macedonian army in the battle of Battle of Chaeronea. About a year later Philip and Olympias divorced. During a feast, him and Alexander had a fight where afterwards Alexander and his mother fled to Illyria. Shortly after fleeing, he returned, but he was at risk in losing his position of heir.
Alexander's Rise to Power
In 336, King Phillip II was assassinated by Pausanias, a young Macedonian noble. At first Olympias and Alexander were thought to have done it, since they wound gain the most from Philips death. Aristotle did not believe.