The aim : Persépolis
At the end of the year 331 before JC, Alexander sets off to Persépolis and after his victory on the fortified towns all along the road, he arrives, in January 330, in front of the gates of the citadel. He comes in without any resistance thanks to his alliance allied with the Persian Tiridates who had promised him the town. Macedonian troops give them over to plunder the presdigious town : men are slaughtered while women are enslaved.

After Persépolis, it is up to Pasargadès to fall into the hands of the Macedonians. The former Persian capitale, located at 40 kms of Persépolis, is built by Cyrus, after his victory on Mèdes.

			The Kleitos affair As fast as his empire was growing and was integrated to Persian areas, Alexander adopted more and more of their habits. During a pretty boozy banquet at Samarkand, the childhood friend of Alexander made him a remark about that. Flown into a terrible anger, the king stood up and killed him himself. Alexander’s wedding During the winter 328-327, Alexander married with Roxane, the daughter of a Persian nobleman. According to many Macedonians, the great king applied too exhaustively his policy of assimilation.

Darius’ end
Since his defeat on Gaugamèdes, Darius took refuge in the mountains of Medie, at Ectabane. From here, he tries to rally an army with the last partisans but Bessos, the satrap of Bactriane, foments a plot against him and makes him assassinate in July 330 while Alexander was approaching. This last one sees him dying in his arms and takes the opportunity to claim his royal authority when he runs after the regicide.

Darius’ revanch
Now that Darius is dead, Alexander is considered by most of the nobility as the new king in Persia. Besides, he adopts achemide habits : he surrounds with a harem of 365 concubines and he uses the same seal than Darius. Nevertheless, he can not forget his « revanch » and sets off to East, in spring 329, to « avenge Darius » by killing Bessos. He travels Panshir’s valley – in the current Afghanistan – and joins Bactriane where the venture of Bessos ends. The rebel is totured before being juged at Ectabane. During the following years, Alexander extends his empire over the areas of Bactriane and of Sogdiane, and in spring 327 before JC, he sets off to the Indus.