Alexander's Invasion Begins
In 334 BC, Alexander the Great crossed the Hellespont with an army of about 40,000 men to begin his campaign against the Achaemenid Persian Empire, ruled by Darius III.
Battle of the Granicus River
The first major battle occurred in May 334 BC at the Granicus River, where Alexander defeated a Persian force led by local satraps, securing his foothold in Asia Minor.
Siege of Tyre
In 332 BC, Alexander besieged the island city of Tyre for seven months, building a causeway to reach it, which ultimately led to the city's fall and demonstrated his engineering prowess.
Battle of Issus
In November 333 BC, Alexander decisively defeated Darius III at the Battle of Issus, capturing the Persian royal family and forcing Darius to flee eastward.
Conquest of Egypt
After Issus, Alexander marched into Egypt in 332 BC, where he was welcomed as a liberator and founded the city of Alexandria, incorporating Egypt into his empire.
Battle of Gaugamela
On October 1, 331 BC, Alexander's forces crushed Darius III's larger army at Gaugamela, leading to the collapse of Persian resistance and the capture of key cities like Babylon and Susa.
Burning of Persepolis
In 330 BC, Alexander captured and burned the Persian capital of Persepolis, possibly as revenge for the Persian destruction of Athens in 480 BC, marking the symbolic end of the Achaemenid Empire.
Death of Darius III
Darius III was assassinated by his own satrap Bessus in July 330 BC while fleeing Alexander, who then pursued Bessus and claimed the title of King of Kings.
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