Alexander the Great was born into the kingdom of Macedonia in 356 B.C. as the son of Queen Olympias and King Philip II. From the day of birth, Alexander was prepared for military rule. Alexander, as a royal, was educated by one of the top successors in Greek history, Aristotle, who was a famous philosopher. Aristotle taught Alexander in subjects such as science, and other academics. Alexander learned his military tactics from his father, King Philip.
             Alexander had a harsh family life, as his parents did not get along, and his father obtained many other lovers. As far as we know, Alexander had one immediate sister, Cleopatra, and one retarded half brother, Philip Arridaeus, from one of Philip's other women.
             To help cope with his uneasy family life, Alexander made friends with a young boy his age named Hephaestion, who later on could have possibly been one of Alexander's lovers. "Alexander and Hephaestion remained devoted to each other throughout their lives" (Alexander the Great, 1).
             When Alexander was just sixteen, King Philip II left him as regent of Macedonia while he went off to fight a battle. During that time, Alexander led his first expedition to Bulgaria, where he battled barbarians and established his first city, Alexandropolis. After that mission, young Alexander became a general in this father's army.
             In 336 B.C., King Philip II was assassinated at his daughter Cleopatra's wedding. By then, Alexander was 20, and he succeeded his father's throne. He was now known as King Alexander III.
             As new king, Alexander took over his father's planned war on Persia. The plan was to unite his kingdom with southwest Asia.
             "Alexander dreamed of a Hellenistic Empire. He wanted to connect Greek and Persian cultures into one new culture. He planned to do this by founding new cities and rebuilding old ones into culture centers. Alexander established more than 70 c...