Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE), also known as Alexander III of Macedon, was a king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. Born in Pella, he ascended to the throne in 336 BCE at the age of 20 after his father, Philip II, was assassinated. Alexander was tutored by Aristotle, who instilled in him a love for philosophy, medicine, and scientific investigation.
He is renowned as one of history's most successful military commanders, having created one of the largest empires in the ancient world by the age of 30, stretching from Greece to northwestern India. Alexander led his army to victories across Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt without a single defeat. He conquered the Persian Empire, overthrowing Darius III, and expanded his empire to include territories between the Adriatic Sea and the Indus River. Although he desired to conquer the entire known world, his army eventually turned back, and he later died in Babylon at the age of 32.