title: Chronology of the expedition of Alexander the Great into Asia
text: # Chronology of the expedition of Alexander the Great into Asia
  
  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 |
  | - | - |
  | 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 334 | Sardes (near Salihli, Turkey)―Lydia, capital city |
  | Jun 334 | Ephesus (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)―Cilicia |
  | Sep 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)―Syria |
  | Jul 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)―Persia |
  | Jan 330 | Persepolis (Iran)―Persia, capital city |
  | ? | Pasargadae (plain of Morghab, Iran)―Persia |
  | Jun 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)―Parthia |
  | Jul 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)???―Parthia |
  | Sep 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)―Gandara |
  | Sep 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 326 | Return 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)―Persia |
  | Feb 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, Susa |
  | Mar 324 | The marriages of Susa (Iran) |
  | ? | Persian Gulf, Mouth of the Tigris (Iraq/Iran)―Susiana |
  | Spring 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 |
  