Chronology of the expedition of Alexander the Great into Asia

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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:

Contents

  1. date of event,
  2. places/cities crossed, indicated by ancient name (present name, country),
  3. regions, provinces or Persian satrapies of the places/cities crossed, with indication of their capital cities (where appropriate).

Expedition

DateEventSource
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 334Phaselis (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 333Cydnos River (Tarsus Çayi River, Turkey )―Cilicia [1] [2] [3] [4]
Sep 333 Tarsus (Turkey)―Cilicia, capital city [1] [2] [3] [4]
Oct 333Soli (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 331Thapsacus (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 330Rhagae (Rey, Iran)―Media [1] [2] [3] [4]
Jun 330Caspian Gates (between modern Eyvanakey and Aradan or Tehran and Semnan, Iran, Media/Parthia border)―Media/Parthia [1] [2] [3] [4]
Jul 330Alexander's detour from modern Semnan to the Dasht-e-Kavir desert (Iran)―Parthia [1]
Jul 330Thara (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 330Zadracarta―Hyrcania, largest city [1] [2] [3] [4]
Aug 330Hyrcanian campaign (Caspian Sea/Elburz Range, Iran)―Hyrcania [1] [2] [3] [4]
Sep 330Susia (Tus, near Mashhad, Iran)―Parthia [1] [2] [3] [4]
? Nisa-Alexandroupolis (Bagir Village, 18 km southwest of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan)???―Parthia
Sep 330Artacoana, Alexandria in Aria (Herat, Afghanistan)―Aria, capital city [1] [2] [3] [4]
Oct 330Phrada, 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 329Alexandria (Ghazni, Afghanistan)―Arachosia [1] [2] [3] [4]
Apr 329Ortospana, Kabura (Kabul, Afghanistan)―Gandara [1] [2] [3] [4]
Apr 329Cophen River (Kabul River, Afghanistan)―Gandara [1] [2] [3] [4]
Apr 329Kapisa, 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 329Khawak Pass (leading from Badakhshan to Panjshir valley, 100 km northeast of Kabul, Afghanistan)―Gandara [1] [2] [3] [4]
May 329Drapsaca (Konduz/Kondoz or Qonduz/Qondoz, Afghanistan)―Bactria [1] [2] [3] [4]
May 329Bactra (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 329Alexandria Tarmita (Termez/Termiz, Uzbekistan)―Sogdia (or Transoxiana) [1] [2] [3] [4]
Jun 329Nautaca (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 329Jaxartes River (Syrdar'ya River) and Fergana Valley (Uzbekistan/Tajikistan/Kyrgyzstan)―Sogdia [1] [2] [3] [4]
Jul 329Fergana 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 329Sogdians and Scythians Massagetes (Spitamenes' revolt) (north of Jaxartes River) [1] [2] [3] [4]
Nov 329Maracanda (Samarkand, Uzbekistan)―Sogdia [1] [2] [3] [4]
Nov 329Tribactra (Bukhara, Uzbekistan)―Sogdia [1] [2] [3] [4]
Nov 329 Bactra (Balkh, near Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan)―Bactria [1] [2] [3] [4]
Spring 328Alexandria Oxiane/on the Oxus (perhaps Ai-Khanoum/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 328Sogdian campaigns and attack of the Sogdian settlements in the Gissarskiy (or Hissar) Range (Pamiro-Alai region, Tajikistan)―Sogdia [1] [2] [3] [4]
Dec 328Nautaca (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 327Bactra (Balkh, near Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan)―Bactria [1] [2] [3] [4]
Spring 327Kapisa, Alexandria in the Caucasus (Bagram near Charikar, Afghanistan)―Gandara, capital city [1] [2] [3] [4]
?Cophen River (Kabul River, Afghanistan/Pakistan)―Gandara
Sep 327Passo Khyber/Khyber Pass (Afghanistan/Pakistan)―Gandara [1] [2] [3] [4]
Autumn 327Peucelaotis (Charsadda, north of Peshawar, at the Kabul River, Pakistan), occupied by Perdiccas and Hephaestion―Gandara, Pakistan [1] [2] [3] [4]
Autumn 327Arigaeum (Arigaion), capital city of the Aspasians (Nawagai, Pakistan), Alexander campaign against Aspasians and Guraei―Gandara, Pakistan [1] [2] [3] [4]
Autumn 327Massaca/Massaga, capital city of the Assacenes (Alexander campaign) (Wuch near Chakdara, lower Swat (Soastus) valley, Pakistan)―Gandara, Pakistan [1] [2] [3] [4]
Autumn 327Bazira (Bir-Kot/Barikot, lower Swat valley, Pakistan)―Gandara, Pakistan [1] [2] [3] [4]
Autumn 327Ora (Ude-Gram/Odigram, lower Swat valley, Pakistan)―Gandara, Pakistan [1] [2] [3] [4]
Autumn 327Shang-La Pass, Pakistan (4300m)―Gandara, Pakistan [1] [2] [3] [4]
Autumn 327Aornus Rock (Pir-Sar or Pir Sarai, 1600m, at the Indus River, Pakistan)―Pakistan [1] [2] [3] [4]
Winter 326Modern Hund, Pakistan (the two Macedonian armies reunited)-Pakistan [1] [2] [3] [4]
Mar 326Alexander'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 326Acesines River (Chenab, Pakistan) (crossing between Gujrat and Sialkot, Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab [1] [2] [3] [4]
Aug 326Hydraotes River (Ravi, Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab [1] [2] [3] [4]
Aug 326Sangala (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 326Alexandria on the Hyphasis (west bank, eastern border of Alexander's empire, near Amritsar, India)―Eastern Punjab [1] [2] [3] [4]
Sep 326Return to Hydaspes River (modern Jhelum, Pakistan), Nicaea and Bucephala (Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab [1]
Nov 326Departure of the fleet at the Hydaspes River (Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab [1] [2] [3] [4]
Nov-Dec 326Mallians and Oxydracae campaign (Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab [1] [2] [3] [4]
Nov-Dec 326Town of the Brahmans (Harmatelia???, Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab [1] [2] [3] [4]
Nov-Dec 326Siege 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 326Campaigns against the kingdoms of Musicanus (modern Alor, Pakistan) and Sambus (modern Sehwan, Pakistan)―Sind (capital city Thatta) [1] [2] [3] [4]
Dec 326Patala (modern Hyderabad???, Pakistan)―Sindh [1] [2] [3] [4]
Jul-Dec 325Expedition 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 325The 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 325Gedrosian Desert (Baluchistan (Makran), Pakistan/Iran)―Gedrosia [1] [2] [3] [4]
Nov 325Pura (Bampur, Iran)―Gedrosia, capital city [1] [2] [3] [4]
Dec 325Alexandria in Carmania (Golashkerd, Iran)―Carmania (capital city Harmozia/Hormuz) [1] [2] [3] [4]
Sep-Dec 325Expedition 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 325The reuniting at Hormuz―Carmania [1] [2] [3] [4]
Jan-Feb 324The 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 324Susa (Iran)―Susiana (Elam), capital city [1] [2] [3] [4]
Jan-Feb 324The return of Hephaestion and Craterus along the coastline of Carmania and Persia (from Hormuz to Susa) [1] [2] [3] [4]
Jan-Feb 324The return of Nearchus from Hormuz to Susa: Hormuz, Qeshm Island, Mond River, Karun River, Susa [1]
Mar 324The 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 324Mutiny 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 324Death 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 323Babylon (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

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  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 Arrian, James S.; Romm, Pamela Mensch (2005). Alexander the Great: selections from Arrian, Diodorus, Plutarch, and Quintus Curtius. Hackett Publishing. p. 22. ISBN   978-0-87220-727-1.

Bibliography

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