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What military experience did Alexander the Great gain as a teenager?
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Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great, detail from Alexander and Porus, painting by Charles Le Brun, 17th century; in the Louvre, Paris, France.
As a teenager, Alexander the Great gained significant military experience through several key responsibilities and engagements under the leadership of his father, Philip II:
- Command in Macedonia: In 340 BCE, while his father was occupied with an attack on Byzantium, the teenage Alexander was left in charge of Macedonia. During this time, he led a military campaign and defeated the Maedi, a Thracian people.1
- Battle of Chaeronea: At age 18, Alexander commanded the left wing of the Macedonian army at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BCE. During this decisive conflict, he displayed personal courage by leading the hetairoi (Companion) cavalry in a charge that broke the Sacred Band of Thebes, an elite military corps.12
These early exploits established his reputation as a capable commander on the battlefield before he succeeded his father as king.3