At just twenty years old, Alexander inherited a kingdom. Within a few years, he would lead armies across continents, defeat the mighty Persian Empire, and build one of the largest empires of the ancient world. He never lost a major battle, faced armies many times his size, and became one of history’s most legendary conquerors.

But before Alexander was a famous king, he was a boy raised in the complicated royal court of Macedonia. He was the son of Philip II and Olympias, a student of Aristotle, a devoted admirer of Achilles, and the young rider who tamed the supposedly impossible horse Bucephalus.

Tonight, we follow his extraordinary journey from childhood and the Macedonian throne to the conquest of Greece, Persia, and vast territories across Asia — and the legacy he left behind.

Boring History for Sleep — Soft stories about the people who changed the ancient world.