“For I myself believe that there was at that time no race of mankind, no city, no single individual, to which the name of Alexander had not reached.”
Arrian
Alexander’s reign began in June 336 B.C., with the death of his father Philip II of Macedon. Over a period of twenty-three years, Alexander’s father single-handedly revolutionized the idea and art of warfare. He transformed his rugged homeland of Macedonia into one of the greatest kingdoms of his age. Twenty-five hundred years ago, Macedonia occupied the northern part of the Balkan Peninsula, (portions of modern Greece, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria). Macedonia was a wealthy kingdom providing lumber for the ships of Greece, metals for Grecian weaponry and jewelry. Macedonia was also famous for its horses. Alexander’s mother, Olympias, was not a Macedonian by birth. She came from the strange kingdom of Epirus. Alexander’s parents did not get along, yet he inherited the best qualities of both parents.
Agnes Savill notes:
“From his father came his sober judgment, clear intellect, reliable, systematic and practical methods of work; from his mother was derived his passionate, warm-hearted, romantic, emotional nature.”
Alexander would never have been able to conquer the world apart from the almost miraculous advances his father secured through his wealth, leadership and military might.
Philip II was assassinated in June of 336 BC. Alexander was twenty years old.