Why are there 24 cities all named Alexandria?

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Welcome to the highlight of your week: The House of Wisdom.

Today, we look at a leader. In just 13 years, he built a glorious empire. One that cemented himself in the annals of history. One that would rival Kingdoms of the East and West. And one that was an empire of Alexandrias…

Sit Back. Relax. And grab your cup of tea. Let’s dive in:

Why are there 24 cities all named Alexandria?

From Egypt and Greece and even all the way to Afghanistan. Well, it's because of one man that singlehandedly changed the course of history…

When Alexander the Great ascended to the throne in 336 BCE, he didn’t just inherit a kingdom—he inherited a vision: A unified world under his name.

And what better way to immortalize that vision than by founding cities in his name?

By age 20, he was King of Macedonia. His conquests stretched from Greece to Egypt and deep into Asia, creating one of the largest empires the world had ever seen. Stretching 3 continents and 2 million square miles to be exact…

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Throughout his campaigns, Alexander founded or renamed over 70 cities, across 12 countries. However, we do not know how many of those cities were really named "Alexandria" at the time as many were lost to time.

As Alexander swept through Asia Minor, the first of many Alexandrias was born. In 334 BC, he founded Alexandria Troas near ancient Troy—a city that would later become a key Roman hub.

But Alexander wasn’t just a conqueror; he was a city-builder. After the decisive Battle of Issus in 333 BC, he founded Alexandria in Cilicia. It stood as a beacon of his dominance over the Persian Empire—a forward base for further conquests.

Then came his most famous conquest: Alexandria in Egypt in 331 BC. It would cement itself into history unlike any other conquest as the heart of Alexander’s vision—a fusion of Greek and Egyptian cultures.

The city itself was meticulously planned, the story goes that Alexander mapped it out using grains of barley. But he never saw the city he so carefully envisioned as he left to continue his conquest in Persia.

Even after Alexander's Empire collapsed, the city flourished and became the capital of the Ptolemaic Kingdom. It then became the world's leading city in scholarship and science, with the famous Library of Alexandria.

Further east, Alexandria in Arachosia (modern-day Kandahar, Afghanistan) was another key city, founded around 330 BC. An impressive stretch of his empire.

Alexandria in Margiana (Turkmenistan) was used to control the northeastern part of Alexander's empire. It would become a key trading post on the Silk Road, connecting the Hellenistic world with the East.

Alexandria by the Latmus, in Turkey, was a lesser-known but significant settlement. It was a vital stopover for military campaigns and trade routes connecting the Aegean coast with the interior of Anatolia, further spreading Hellenistic culture.

Alexander even named a city after his beloved horse Bucephalus, which was founded in 326 BC. Somewhere on the banks of the Hydaspes River, in modern-day Pakistan, commemorating the victory in the Battle of the Hydaspes.

But each Alexandria wasn’t just a city—it was a symbol. A symbol of Greek culture, military power, and, of course, Alexander’s ambition. These cities would become vital in binding his success, stretching from Macedonia to India.

Alexander was as much a strategist in city planning as he was in battle. His empire would only last 15 years but each Alexandria was strategically placed, allowing for ideal defensive positions— near rivers, trade routes, or mountain passes.

In Tajikistan, he founded Alexandria Eschate, literally meaning "Alexandria the Furthest." This would become the northeastern most his empire would ever reach before his death, just 12 years and 8 months into his reign.

Alexander's vision was to conquer the whole world, yet his ambitions were short-lived.

He, undoubtedly, cemented himself into history with one of the the most impressive empires, in a timespan of just 13 years.

"He wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer."

Until Next Time,

World Scholar