It was sometime in the spring of 323 BC when Alexander the Great – the “King of the World” – passed through the gates of ancient Babylon for the last time.
He had already conquered the city nearly a decade before. But his men were worn out from fighting in India and Persia, and Babylon was a secure place to give his army a much-needed rest.
They remained there for a few months, until, quite suddenly, Alexander became extremely ill on either the 10th or 11th of June and then died.
The cause of his death is unknown. Some say he was poisoned. Others blame malaria, typhoid fever, or complications from his battle wounds.
What is certain, however, is that he left behind no legitimate male heir, as his wife was still pregnant at the time of his death. So almost immediately a power struggle broke out as to who would succeed him. Continue reading