From Wikipedia

The True Story Of Alexander The Great

Alexander III of Macedon, popularly known to history as Alexander the Great, was an Ancient Greek king (basileus) of Macedon. Born in Pella in 356 BC, Alexander succeeded his father Philip II of Macedon to the throne in 336 BC, and died in Babylon in 323 BC at the age of 32.

Philip had, after lengthy campaigns and diplomatic manouvers, managed to bring most of the city-states of mainland Greece under Macedonian hegemony, in the League of Corinth. In addition to a strong kingdom and experienced army, Alexander also inherited his father's Generalship of Greece, reconfirmed by all Greeks except the Lacedaemonains, and plans to invade Asia Minor, as part of the Greeks' long-running feud with the Achaemenid Empire of Persia. His youth and apparent inexperience prompted many of the southern Greek and neighboring barbarian states to renounce Macedonian hegemony, but with prompt action and a demonstration of force, Alexander was able to prevent rebellion amongst the Greeks. Alexander then proceeded to launch a short but successful campaign against Macedon's northern neighbors to secure his frontiers all the way north to the Danube. However, whilst he was absent in the north, Athens and Thebes revolted. Alexander hurried back and crushed the revolt, securing peace in Greece. Thus he was finally able to turn his attention towards the east and the Persians. In a series of campaigns lasting 10 years, Alexander's armies repeatedly defeated the Persians in battle, in the process overthrowing the Persian king Darius III, and conquering the entirety of the Persian Empire. Alexander then, following his desire to reach the 'ends of the world and the Great Outer Sea', invaded India, but was eventually forced to turn back by the near-mutiny of his troops.

Alexander died in 323 BC aged just 32, probably weakened by twelve years of constant military campaigning and his prolonged mourning for his life-long friend Hephaestion. There have been many suggestions as to the cause of his death; poisoning, malaria, typhoid fever, viral encephalitis, or the consequences of alcoholism, to name a few. Alexander married twice, (to Roxana of Bactria and Stateira of Persia), yet he had no legitimate heir at the time of his death. Although his son Alexander IV was accepted as king by Alexander's generals, it was in name only. Instead, his generals ('The Successors' or Diadochi) carved up the Empire between themselves, triggering forty years of internecine conflict. Modern historians hold the Classical Era to end with the death of Alexander, and the 'Hellenistic period' which followed it, was dominated, at least initially, by the Successor states which eventually emerged from this conflict. The Hellenistic culture, which developed during this period amalgamated a predominant Greek culture with Middle Eastern and Indian cultural elements.

Alexander remains one of the most well-known figures of Antiquity. He was one of the most successful military commanders in history, and he is usually considered to have been undefeated in battle.The states that emerged from Alexander's conquests lasted for centuries after his death, however, his cultural influence proved even more enduring. Alexander became the measure against which generals still compare themselves and his tactical exploits are taught in military academies throughout the world.Alexander's achievements very quickly became legendary, and he features prominently in both the history and myth of Greek and non-Greek cultures. The life of Alexander inspired its own literary tradition, in which he appeared as a legendary hero in the mould of Achilles.