Alexander the Great was one of the greatest military geniuses of all times. At an early age Alexander had the promise to become a great leader. Through all his victories and conquests, he has become a great hero and has had a large impact on history. Born in 356 BC in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia, Alexander was the son of Philip II, king of Macedonia, and of Olympias, a princess of Epirus. Alexander's tutor, Aristotle taught him from the age of 13 to 16 and stimulated his interest in science, medicine, and philosophy. In the summer of 336 BC Philip was assassinated, and Alexander ascended to the Macedonian throne. He soon showed his power when the large city of Thebes revolted in 335. Alexander tactics became very useful when he gained his throne. Alexander took over Egypt, where hieroglyphic inscriptions show that he probably presented himself as the successor to the Persian king as the land's ruler rather than as an Egyptian pharaoh. On the coast, west of the Nile River Alexander founded a new city in 331 BC named Alexandria after himself, the first of the many cities he would later go on to establish as far east as Afghanistan. During his time in Egypt Alexander also paid a mysterious visit to the oracle of the god Ammon. The Greeks regarded Ammon as identical to Zeus. Alexander told no one the details of his consultation to the oracle, but the news got out that he had been informed he was the son of the god and that he joyfully accepted the designation as true. Through out his rein as king he never had had full control as long as his archrival Darius of Persia was around. Alexander had already considered himself king of Persia, but his right to the throne was in question as long as Darius was still alive and at large. So in the summer of 330 BC he marched north in pursuit of Darius. Alexander had almost caught up to him but Darius was slain by his own men, finally brought to rebellion by their long resentment of his mismanagement of the Persian defense.
