Â鶹APP

Alexander The Greate And Roxane By Pietro Rotari

Top 10 Fun Facts about Roxana

 She was born in 340 BC in Afghanistan and she died in 310 BC in Amphipolis, Greece. She was the daughter of Oxyartes Bactrian chief. She was famously known as Alexander The Great’s Wife for she was married to Alexander The Great during his conquest of Asia.

They had a son known as Alexander IV  who was born in Babylon. In 311 BC a peace treaty was signed between Antigonus and Cassander which confirmed the Kingship of Alexander IV but also Cassander as his guardian, following which the Macedonians demanded his release. However, Cassander ordered Glaucias to kill Alexander and Roxana.

 Cassander imprisoned Roxana and Alexander IV, however, their detention was condemned by the Macedonian general Antigonus.  It is assumed that they were murdered after Heracles, a son of Alexander the Great’s mistress Barsine, was murdered. 

1. Roxana was the Daughter of Bactria’s Nobleman Oxyartes

 Roxana’s father was a nobleman called Oxyartes who served the satrap of Bactria and Sogdia.

She was born in 340 BC and is believed to be very beautiful as many people who had seen her considered her to be very beautiful even more beautiful than the wife of King Darius III – the powerful king of Persia.

2. Alexander Fell in Love with Roxana the Moment He Saw Her

Alexander The Greate And Roxane By Pietro Rotari

For Alexander, it was love at first sight as he found the beautiful Roxana as one of the captives when he attacked Bactria.

After Alexander killed Bessus who killed Darius III after his defeat to Alexander,  the new Satrap Oxyartes organized a banquet in Alexander’s honour. It was here where he caught a clear glimpse of Roxana and immediately fell in love.

3. Roxana of Bactria was Married to Alexander the Great in 327 BC.

Alexander The Greate And Roxane By Pietro Rotari

Their marriage took place before Alexander visited Bharat. However, Roxana was not his only wife as Alexander married Darius III’s daughter Barsine (Stateira II) and her cousin Parysatis in 324 BC in a mass wedding at Susa.

At Susa, many of Alexander’s loyal Macedonian soldiers married the Persian noblewomen. Although he was the king of ancient Macedonia for less than 13 years, Alexander the Great changed the course of history.

As one of the world’s greatest military generals, he created a vast empire that stretched from Macedonia to Egypt and from Greece to part of India. This allowed Hellenistic culture to become widespread.

4. Roxana’s Marriage to Alexander was of Political Importance

Alexander The Greate And Roxane By Pietro Rotari

Despite opposition from his companions and generals to marry Roxana to Alexander,  the marriage was also of political advantage as it made the Sogdiana army more loyal to him and less rebellious.

Alexander made a journey to India and during his stay there he appointed oxyartes as the governor of the Hindu Kush region which was next to  India. On his return to Susa, he promoted Roxana’s brother to the elite cavalry with the aim of a better acceptance of his government among the Persians.

5. Roxana,s Husband Made her Father Oxyartes

 Alexander started his journey towards Bharat and made Roxana’s father Oxyartes, the governor of the Hindu Khush region soon after having his firm hold in Persia.

 During all that time Roxanna stayed in a safe place in Susa and after he returned from Bharat, he came back to Susa and married other two wives then went to Babylon where he had his last breath on either 10 or 11 June 323 BC leaving his wife  Roxanne the daughter of  Oxyartes pregnant.

6. Roxana Conspired and Killed Alexander’s Other Two Wives

This was because she wanted no competition as she was pregnant with Alexander’s child whom she highly desired would become the king of Macedonia by being his father’s successor.

She made some secret plans and murdered both the other widows of Alexander – Barsine, the daughter of Darius III and her cousin Parysatis, the daughter of Artaxerxes III of Persia.

7. Despite Roxana killing Alexander’s other Wives She was Protected by Alexander’s Mother

It seems Roxana was the most loved wife of Alexander by Olympias.  Despite Roxana Killing Alexander’s other wives, the mother-in-Law, Alexander’s mother Olympias,  protected both  Roxana and her son in Macedonia. She ensure no harm came to them even though she was in the wrong till her death.

8. She was the Mother of Alexander IV – The Crown Prince of Macedonia

Roxanne gave birth to her son in August 323 and named him Alexander IV who became the crown Prince of Macedonia. Alexander’s mother Olympia protected them both from their enemies.

 However, after her death ( Olympia ) in 319 BC, things became difficult as Cassander and the eldest son of Antipater wanted the throne for him.

 9. Alexander IV and her were Murdered in Spring but their Death Cancelled till Summer

After Alexander died in 323 BCE, there was a  power struggle that broke out among his generals competing to be his successor. One of them, Cassander, was so determined in being his successor thus he left no stone unturned to sit on the Macedonian throne.

To achieve this he first imprisoned both Roxanne and her son Alexander IV who was hardly 14 and eventually ordered his men to poison them. They both were murdered in 310 BC, it is assumed that they were murdered in the spring 310 BC, but their death was concealed until the summer. 

They were killed after Heracles a son of Alexander the Great’s mistress Barsine, was murdered, thus, putting an end to the Royal blood of Alexander the Great. This allowed him to be Alexander’s successor.

10. Roxana’s Unborn Child Caused Some Discussion on Who was to be the King.

These discussions were between Alexander’s loyalists around Predicts and Ptolemy. They suggested that they should wait for Alexander’s child to be the next King and name either a caretaker regent or a council in his stead. The Macedonian soldiers known as the persianization opposed it.

Therefore, a temporary compromise for the Macedonian’s succession was found and Arrhidaeus was declared the Macedonian King this meant that if the unborn child was a son, he was to become a King as well. By 317  Roxana’s son, Alexander IV,  lost his right to be the king due to the intrigues started by the Philips wife, Eurydice II.