Alexander Becomes King of Macedon
Alexander became king of Macedon at twenty in 336 BC when his father was murdered at a wedding. Philip was assassinated in the theatre at Aegae during the celebrations for his daughter's marriage, by a bodyguard named Pausanias who had a personal grievance and was killed on the spot before he could be questioned. Whether Alexander or his mother Olympias knew about it has been argued for two thousand years and cannot be settled. The position he inherited looked precarious. Greece had been beaten at Chaeronea two years earlier and had not accepted it, the northern tribes were unsubdued, and an advance force was already across the Hellespont. He spent about eighteen months making it safe. Rival claimants inside the family were killed, including a cousin and an infant half-brother; the Thessalians were persuaded by an army appearing on a mountain path they had thought impassable; and the Greek league confirmed him in his father's position. He then went north, crossed the Danube, destroyed a Getic army, and was on the way back when Thebes revolted on a rumour that he was dead. He arrived in fourteen days. Thebes was stormed, some 6,000 killed and 30,000 sold into slavery, and the city razed except for the temples and the house of Pindar — a decision made, formally, by his Greek allies, and intended as a demonstration to everyone else. No Greek city revolted while he was in Asia. He also inherited the plan. The Persian expedition had been voted by the Greek league under Philip and an advance force was already in Asia, so the campaign that made his name was his father's proposal executed by his father's army.
- Year: 336 BCE
- Category: Political
