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

Expedition

Date Event Source April 334 B.C. Departure of the expedition from Amphipolis (Greece) May 334 Troy (Turkey)―Troades, capital city May 334 Battle of the Granicus River (Biga Çay, near Dimetoka, Turkey)―Hellespontine Phrygia (capital city Dascylium (Ergili), captured by Parmenion) Jun 334Sardes (near Salihli, Turkey)―Lydia, capital city Jun 334Ephesus (Turkey)―Ionia Jul 334 Siege of Miletus (Turkey)―Ionia, capital city Sep 334 Siege of Halicarnassus (Bodrum, Turkey)―Caria, capital city ? Lycia (Turkey)―Lycia (capital city Xanthos) Dec 334 Phaselis (near Kemer, Turkey)―Pamphylia ? Termessos (Turkey)―Pamphylia Jan 333 Perge (modern Murtina, near Aksu, Turkey)―Pamphylia, capital city ? 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 ? Ankyra (Ankara, Turkey)―Cappadocia (capital city Comana (Kayseri))? Cilician Gates (Turkey)―CiliciaSep 333 Cydnos River (Tarsus Çayi River, Turkey )―Cilicia Sep 333 Tarsus (Turkey)―Cilicia, capital city Oct 333 Soli (Mezetlu, west of Mersin, Turkey)―Cilicia Nov 333 Battle of Issus, Pinarus River (Payas River, near Dörtyol, Turkey)―Cilicia Nov 333 Alexandretta or Alexandria near Issus (Iskenderun, Turkey)―Cilicia Dec 333 Aradus Island (Arwad, 3 km off the Syrian coastal town of Tartus, Syria)―Phoenicia(Syria) Jan 332 Byblos (40 km north of Beirut, Lebanon)―Phoenicia (Syria) Jan 332 Sidon (Lebanon)―Phoenicia (Syria) Jan-July 332 Siege of Tyre (Lebanon)―Phoenicia (Syria) ? Damascus (Syria)―Syria, capital city??? Jerusalem (Israel)―Syria Sep 332 Siege of Gaza (Palestine)―Syria Dec 332 Pelusium (Port Said, Egypt)―Egypt Jan 331 Memphis (Egypt)―Egypt, capital city Jan 331 Alexandria (Egypt)―Egypt Feb 331 Siwa, oracle (Egypt)―Egypt May 331 Tyre (Lebanon)―Phoenicia (Syria) ? Damascus (Syria)―Syria? Alep (Syria)―SyriaJul 331 Thapsacus (Tipsah) (Dibsi Faray, Euphrates River, Syria)―Mesopotamia Jul 331 Harran (Turkey)―Mesopotamia Jul 331 Edessa or Urhai (Urfa, Turkey)―Mesopotamia Jul 331 Tigris River (Iraq)―Mesopotamia Oct 331 Battle of Gaugamela (Tel Gomel, Iraq)―Mesopotamia Oct 331 Arbela (Arbil/Irbil, Iraq)―Mesopotamia (ancient Assyria), capital city Oct 331 Babylon (on the Euphrates, Iraq)―Babylonia, capital city Dec 331 Susa (Iran)―Susiana (Elam), capital city ? Battle of the Persian Gate (Darvazeh-ye Fars, northeast of Yasuj, Iran)―PersiaJan 330 Persepolis (Iran)―Persia, capital city ? Pasargadae (plain of Morghab, Iran)―PersiaJun 330 Deh Bid Pass (Zagros Range) to modern Yazd and Esfahan, Iran―Persia/Media Jun 330 Ecbatana (Hamadan, Iran)―Media, capital city Jun 330 Rhagae (Rey, Iran)―Media Jun 330 Caspian Gates (between modern Eyvanakey and Aradan or Tehran and Semnan, Iran, Media/Parthia border)―Media/Parthia Jul 330 Alexander's detour from modern Semnan to the Dasht-e-Kavir desert (Iran)―ParthiaJul 330 Thara (near Ahuan, between Semnan and Qusheh, Iran) where the Persian king Darius III was killed―Parthia Jul 330 Hecatompylos (Shahrud, Iran)―Parthia, capital city Jul 330 Zadracarta―Hyrcania, largest city Aug 330 Hyrcanian campaign (Caspian Sea/Elburz Range, Iran)―Hyrcania Sep 330 Susia (Tus, near Mashhad, Iran)―Parthia ? Nisa-Alexandroupolis (Bagir Village, 18 km southwest of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan)???―ParthiaSep 330 Artacoana, Alexandria in Aria (Herat, Afghanistan)―Aria, capital city Oct 330 Phrada, Alexandria Prophthasia (Farah, Afghanistan)―Drangiana, capital city Dec 330 Alexandria in Arachosia (Kandahar, Afghanistan)―Arachosia, capital city Winter 329 Alexandria (Ghazni, Afghanistan)―Arachosia Apr 329 Ortospana, Kabura (Kabul, Afghanistan)―Gandara Apr 329 Cophen River (Kabul River, Afghanistan)―Gandara Apr 329 Kapisa, Alexandria in the Caucasus (Bagram near Charikar, Afghanistan)―Gandara, capital city May 329 Paropamisus (Hindu Kush, Afghanistan) (Paropamisus is the western part of Gandara)―Gandara May 329 Khawak Pass (leading from Badakhshan to Panjshir valley, 100 km northeast of Kabul, Afghanistan)―Gandara May 329 Drapsaca (Konduz/Kondoz or Qonduz/Qondoz, Afghanistan)―Bactria May 329 Bactra (Balkh, near Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan)―Bactria, capital city May 329 Oxus River (Gozan, (Amudar'ja River, Afghanistan/Uzbekistan border) May 329 Alexandria Tarmita (Termez/Termiz, Uzbekistan)―Sogdia (or Transoxiana) Jun 329 Nautaca (Uzunkir, near Shakhrisabz, between Samarkand and Karshi, Uzbekistan)―Sogdia Jun 329 Maracanda (Samarkand, Uzbekistan)―Sogdia, capital city Jul 329 Jaxartes River (Syrdar'ya River) and Fergana Valley (Uzbekistan/Tajikistan/Kyrgyzstan)―Sogdia Jul 329 Fergana Valley with 7 Achaemenid cities-fortresses, among which Cyropolis or Cyreschata/Kurushkatha (Uroteppa, Tajikistan)―Sogdia Jul 329 Alexandria Eschate (Leninabad, Khodzent, Khudzhand or Hudzand, Tajikistan)―Sogdia Oct 329 Sogdians and Scythians Massagetes (Spitamenes' revolt) (north of Jaxartes River) Nov 329 Maracanda (Samarkand, Uzbekistan)―Sogdia Nov 329 Tribactra (Bukhara, Uzbekistan)―Sogdia Nov 329 Bactra (Balkh, near Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan)―Bactria Spring 328 Alexandria 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 ? Alexandria in Margiana (Mary/Merv, Turkmenistan) (founded by Craterus and refounded by Antiochus I and called Antiochia)―Margiana, capital city Summer/Autumn 328 Sogdian campaigns and attack of the Sogdian settlements in the Gissarskiy (or Hissar) Range (Pamiro-Alai region, Tajikistan)―Sogdia Dec 328 Nautaca (Uzunkir, near Shakhrisabz, between Samarkand and Karshi, Uzbekistan)―Sogdia Mar 327 Sogdian Rock or Rock of Sisimithres (where Oxyartes and Roxana were) (Gissarskiy (or Hissar) Range, Pamiro-Alai region, Tajikistan)―Sogdia Spring 327 Bactra (Balkh, near Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan)―Bactria Spring 327 Kapisa, Alexandria in the Caucasus (Bagram near Charikar, Afghanistan)―Gandara, capital city ? Cophen River (Kabul River, Afghanistan/Pakistan)―GandaraSep 327 Passo Khyber/Khyber Pass (Afghanistan/Pakistan)―Gandara Autumn 327 Peucelaotis (Charsadda, north of Peshawar, at the Kabul River, Pakistan), occupied by Perdiccas and Hephaestion―Gandara, Pakistan Autumn 327 Arigaeum (Arigaion), capital city of the Aspasians (Nawagai, Pakistan), Alexander campaign against Aspasians and Guraei―Gandara, Pakistan Autumn 327 Massaca/Massaga, capital city of the Assacenes (Alexander campaign) (Wuch near Chakdara, lower Swat (Soastus) valley, Pakistan)―Gandara, Pakistan Autumn 327 Bazira (Bir-Kot/Barikot, lower Swat valley, Pakistan)―Gandara, Pakistan Autumn 327 Ora (Ude-Gram/Odigram, lower Swat valley, Pakistan)―Gandara, Pakistan Autumn 327 Shang-La Pass, Pakistan (4300m)―Gandara, Pakistan Autumn 327 Aornus Rock (Pir-Sar or Pir Sarai, 1600m, at the Indus River, Pakistan)―Pakistan Winter 326 Modern Hund, Pakistan (the two Macedonian armies reunited)-Pakistan Mar 326 Alexander's detour to Nysa (legend: founded by Dionysius) (near Jalalabad, at the river Chitral or Kunar (Euas) in eastern Afghanistan)―Gandara, Pakistan Spring 326 Taxila (Takshaçila, 20 km west from Islamabad, Pakistan)―Pakistan, capital city Jul 326 Battle of Hydaspes River against Porus (modern Jhelum, Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab (kingdom of Porus, Pauravas) Jul 326 Alexandria Nicaea (west bank of Jhelum, Haranpur???, Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab Jul 326 Alexandria Bucephala (east bank of Jhelum, Haranpur???, Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab Aug 326 Acesines River (Chenab, Pakistan) (crossing between Gujrat and Sialkot, Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab Aug 326 Hydraotes River (Ravi, Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab Aug 326 Sangala (near Amritsar, India) (siege against the Mallians)―Eastern Punjab 31 Aug 326 Hyphasis River (Bias/Beas, India) (the easternmost border of Alexander's expedition, mutiny of the army)―Eastern Punjab Sep 326 Alexandria on the Hyphasis (west bank, eastern border of Alexander's empire, near Amritsar, India)―Eastern Punjab Sep 326Return to Hydaspes River (modern Jhelum, Pakistan), Nicaea and Bucephala (Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab Nov 326 Departure of the fleet at the Hydaspes River (Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab Nov-Dec 326 Mallians and Oxydracae campaign (Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab Nov-Dec 326 Town of the Brahmans (Harmatelia???, Pakistan)―Eastern Punjab Nov-Dec 326 Siege of Multan (capital city of the Mallians (Malava)), Pakistan (where Alexander was seriously wounded by an arrow)―Eastern Punjab Nov-Dec 326 Alexandria on the Indus (at the confluence of Indus and Chenab) (Uch, Pakistan) (Alexandria of Opiane???)―Eastern Punjab Dec 326 Campaigns against the kingdoms of Musicanus (modern Alor, Pakistan) and Sambus (modern Sehwan, Pakistan)―Sind (capital city Thatta) Dec 326 Patala (modern Hyderabad???, Pakistan)―Sindh Jul-Dec 325 Expedition of Craterus from Patala to Hormuz: Patala, Bolan Pass, between Sibi and Quetta (Pakistan), Kandahar (Afghanistan), Hamun Lake, Hormuz (Bandare Abbas) (Iran) Aug-Dec 325 The return of Alexander: Patala-Hormuz (with Hephaestion) Aug 325 Arabius River (Hab River, crossing near modern Karachi, Pakistan)―Sind ? Arabitians and Oreitans campaigns, Pakistan―Gedrosia Autumn 325 Alexandria Rhambacia (Bela, Pakistan)―Gedrosia ? Alexandria in Makarene (120 km west of Karachi, area of Hab River, Pakistan)Autumn 325 Gedrosian Desert (Baluchistan (Makran), Pakistan/Iran)―Gedrosia Nov 325 Pura (Bampur, Iran)―Gedrosia, capital city Dec 325 Alexandria in Carmania (Golashkerd, Iran)―Carmania (capital city Harmozia/Hormuz) Sep-Dec 325 Expedition of Nearchus from Patala to Hormuz: Patala, Karachi, Hab River, Sonmiani Bay, Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar, Jask, Strait of Hormuz, Hormuz (Bandar Abbas) (Iran) Dec 325 The reuniting at Hormuz―Carmania Jan-Feb 324 The return of Alexander from Hormuz to Susa: Jan 324 Pasargad (plain of Morghab, Iran) (visit to the tomb of Cyrus the Great)―PersiaFeb 324 Persepolis (Iran)―Persia Feb 324 Susa (Iran)―Susiana (Elam), capital city Jan-Feb 324 The return of Hephaestion and Craterus along the coastline of Carmania and Persia (from Hormuz to Susa) Jan-Feb 324 The return of Nearchus from Hormuz to Susa: Hormuz, Qeshm Island, Mond River, Karun River, SusaMar 324 The marriages of Susa (Iran) ? Persian Gulf, Mouth of the Tigris (Iraq/Iran)―SusianaSpring 324 Alexandria in Susiana or Alexandria of Characene, later Alexandria Antiocheia), Karka (Charax, near Al Qurnah, Iraq)―Susiana Spring 324 Mutiny 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 Summer 324 Ecbatana (Hamadan, Iran)―Media, capital city Oct 324 Death of Hephaestion in Ecbatana (Hamadan, Iran)―Media Winter 323 Cossaeans campaign (Loristan/Luristan, Zagros Range, Iran)―Media/Babylonia Spring 323 Babylon (on the Euphrates, Iraq)―Babylonia, capital city 10 or 11 June 323 B.C. Death of Alexander in Babylon (Iraq)―Babylonia

References

Bibliography

Roger Caratini, Alessandro Magno, Storia e leggenda del più grande condottiero dell’antichità, Newton & Compton editori, 2005

External links