---
title: Roxanne
author: Donald L. Wasson
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Roxanne/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Roxanne
_Authored by [Donald L. Wasson](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/DWasson/)_
After [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/)'s victory over King [Darius](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/darius/) III at the [Battle of Gaugamela](https://www.worldhistory.org/Battle_of_Gaugamela/) in 331 BCE, he had to contend with small rebellions that broke out across his [empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/). In the summer of 328 BCE, one such rebellion occurred in the eastern satrapy of [Bactria](https://www.worldhistory.org/Bactria/), a rebellion that would lead to a chance meeting with the beautiful Roxanne.
When Bactria rebelled, [Alexander](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Alexander/) and his army quickly marched to suppress it. Thirty thousand Bactrians had taken refuge in a citadel situated high above a sheer cliff, called the Rock of [Sogdiana](https://www.worldhistory.org/sogdiana/). Alexander sent a message to Arimazes, the commander of the fortress, calling for him to surrender. The reluctant Arimazes replied asking if Alexander could fly because he would need “winged soldiers” to defeat him. The proud Alexander was not about to let the nearly impossible stop him. He asked for the best cliff-climbers among his army, promising a reward for the first man to reach the top of the cliff: Three hundred men volunteered. By morning, while only losing thirty men, they reached the top — surrender immediately followed. It was here, according to the one historian, that Alexander first saw among the captives the lovely Roxanne and immediately fell in love.
Another version of the story, related by the historian [Plutarch](https://www.worldhistory.org/plutarch/), has Oxyartes, the [satrap](https://www.worldhistory.org/Persian_Governor/) of Bactria, hold a banquet immediately after the surrender in Alexander's honor. One of the dancers that night caught Alexander's eye. It was the sixteen-year-old daughter of Oxyartes: Roxanne, a name that means “little star.” She was considered by many of those who saw her as the most beautiful woman they had ever seen — even more beautiful than the wife of the fallen King Darius. According to Plutarch, while she may have been the only woman Alexander ever loved, there was another possible reason for the marriage. He wrote:
> As for his marriage with Roxana, whose youthfulness and beauty had charmed him at a drinking entertainment, where he first happened to see her taking part in a dance, it was indeed a love affair, yet it seemed at the same time to be conducive to the object he had in hand. For it gratified the conquered people to see him choose a wife from among themselves
Because Alexander and his army were called to [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) elsewhere, a marriage between Alexander and Roxanne would have to wait. Eventually, however, Oxyartes and the new Persian king broke bread together, a Macedonian custom. The marriage between Roxanne and Alexander which finally took place in 327 BCE has continued to be a point of contention among historians. Was it a marriage of love or a political alliance as Plutarch suggested? Such marriages were something Alexander's father had done on a number of occasions. It is also unlikely that Alexander would have taken advantage of Roxanne without marriage, another violation of his policies. It follows, therefore, that the marriage was in line with Alexander's policy of uniting the two cultures — [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) and Persian. Alexander would later insist that many of his commanders take Persian wives (something that would lead to bitter feelings after his [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/)).
Little is known of Roxanne following her marriage until Alexander's death in 323 BC. While some historians indicate she may have travelled with him into [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/) and was at his side in [Babylon](https://www.worldhistory.org/babylon/), the one thing that is agreed upon by all is that she was pregnant at the time of his death. Her next appearance was in Macedonia where she awaited the birth of her son, the future Alexander IV, along with her mother-in-[law](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/law/) [Olympias](https://www.worldhistory.org/Olympias/). While she waited, the fate of the empire waited with her.
Alone among Alexander's generals, [Perdiccas](https://www.worldhistory.org/Perdiccas/) wanted to wait until the baby's birth to decide the future of the empire. For selfish reasons, Perdiccas had hoped to keep the empire together, for he would then be able to serve as regent for the young king. The other generals — [Ptolemy I](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ptolemy_I/), [Antigonus I](https://www.worldhistory.org/Antigonus_I/), and [Seleucus I Nicator](https://www.worldhistory.org/Seleucos_I/)— did not want to wait but demanded the empire be divided among them. This argument would eventually lead to what historians call the Successor Wars. Roxanne, with the support of Olympias, was hoping the empire would remain intact for the yet unborn Alexander. There were, however, other possible claimants, including Alexander the Great's half-brother, Phillip Arrhidacus, a child of Phillip and Philinna of Larissa, but since he was thought to be “dim-witted,” the young Arrhidacus was not considered too powerful of a threat.
Were there other claimants? Roxanne seems to have wanted to be sure her son was the only one and sent for Alexander's “other” wife Statira. According to Plutarch,
> Roxana, who was now with child, and upon that account much honoured by the Macedonians, being jealous of Statira, sent for her by a counterfeit letter, as if Alexander had been still alive, and when she had her in her power, killed her and her sister, and threw their bodies into a well, which they filled with earth…
Jealously and indecision caught up with Roxanne. Wanting to maintain his own small portion of the empire, [Cassander](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cassander/), son of [Antipater](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Antipater/) and heir to Macedonia, had Roxanne and the thirteen-year-old Alexander IV killed in 310 BCE. With the death of his son, Alexander's lineage died as well.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## Bibliography
- MacLean Rogers, G. *Alexander: The Ambiguity of Greatness.* Random House, 2005
- McCarty, N. *Alexander the Great.* Gramercy Books, 2004
- Plutarch. *Life of Alexander.*
- Sheppard, R. *Alexander the Great at War.* Metro Books, 2004
## About the Author
Donald has taught Ancient, Medieval and U.S. History at Lincoln College (Normal, Illinois)and has always been and will always be a student of history, ever since learning about Alexander the Great. He is eager to pass knowledge on to his students.
## Timeline
- **c. 344 BCE - 310 BCE**: Life of [Roxanne](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roxanne/), wife of [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/).
- **c. Mar 327 BCE**: [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/) marries the Bactrian girl [Roxanne](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roxanne/).
- **322 BCE - 275 BCE**: The [Wars of the Diadochi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Wars_of_the_Diadochi/), also known as the Wars of [Alexander](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Alexander/)'s Successors.
- **310 BCE**: Assassination of [Roxanne](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roxanne/) and [Alexander](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Alexander/) IV, wife and son of [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/).
## Cite This Work
### APA
Wasson, D. L. (2012, March 08). Roxanne. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Wasson, Donald L.. "Roxanne." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 08, 2012. .
### MLA
Wasson, Donald L.. "Roxanne." *World History Encyclopedia*, 08 Mar 2012, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Donald L. Wasson](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/DWasson/ "User Page: Donald L. Wasson"), published on 08 March 2012. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.