Chronology of the expedition of Alexander the Great into Asia
Introduction 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 o 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 *