Roxana: Wife of Alexander the Great Quiz

Answer: A great love story

Roxana's marriage to Alexander the Great was likely the result of an effort to bring unity to Alexander's conquered eastern territories. Roxana, a Bactrian noblewoman, was chosen as Alexander's wife, and he ordered his own troops to marry other Persians.

However, ancient writings add a romantic twist to all of this political convenience: that Alexander fell madly in love with Roxana upon first sight. She was already his captive, yet he made her his wife.

Answer: She was the most beautiful woman in Asia

Arrian of Nicomedia writes that Alexander's soldiers said "she was the loveliest woman they had seen in Asia..." He also claims that it was love at first sight for Alexander and "captive though she was, he refused, for all his passion, to force her to his will, and condescended to marry her." ("Anabasis" translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt)

Answer: Oxyartes

Oxyartes was a Bactrian nobleman who initially resisted Alexander's conquest. When his family fell captive to Alexander, he was amazed by the kindness which Alexander afforded them. Soon after, he submitted to Alexander. Some sources state that Alexander left him as governor of Bactria and that he enjoyed high favor with his son-in-law.

Answer: True

Alexander allowed Roxana to travel with him to India in 326 BC.

Answer: She was the daughter of his enemy

Stateira II (also known as Barsine) was the daughter of the great Persian king Darius III. Darius' mother, wife, and daughter fell into Alexander's hands soon after the Battle of Issus. Though Alexander fought Darius for dominion over land, he held no personal enmity towards the older ruler.

In fact, he treated all of Darius' female relatives with great respect. He eventually took Stateira II into his own household, as his personal consort.

Answer: Nothing - Alexander died before his son was born

Roxana gave birth to a male child approximately two months after the death of Alexander. As Alexander did not know the gender of his unborn baby, he had never named his successor.

Answer: Four years

Roxana only enjoyed the position of being the powerful leader's wife for about four years. During that time, he never slowed down his military campaigns nor lost his obsession with ruling the world. Her life in his shadow was indeed a turbulent one!

Answer: She had her murdered

Roxana, likely aided by the regent Perdiccas, contrived to have both Stateira II and her sister murdered. With her now precarious position as widowed queen, and mother to infant heir, Roxana was taking no chances in securing herself a position of power.

Answer: Yes

Olympias threw in her lot with Roxana and her grandson, Alexander IV Aegus. Unfortunately, her dominating and vindictive personality drew the hatred of many. She eventually had to submit to her enemies, and Cassander ordered her execution. Thus, Roxana lost her strongest supporter.

Answer: She was murdered along with her young son

In 316 BC, Roxana was taken captive by the powerful commander Cassander. Cassander and the other leaders agreed to a peace treaty and promised to govern the realm until Roxana's son came of age. The treaty was a ruse, however, and both mother and son were murdered (likely by poison) about seven years after their capture.