A re-assessment of Alexander the Great's death, exposing a conspiracy by Alexander's generals after his death to undermine his empire.

Alexander the Great conquered the largest empire the world had ever seen while still in his twenties but fell fatally ill in Babylon before reaching 33 years old. His wife Roxanne was still pregnant with what would be his only legitimate son, so there was no clear-cut heir. The surviving accounts of his dying days differ on crucial detail, with the most popular version claiming Alexander uttered ‘to the strongest’ when asked to nominate a successor on his deathbed. Decades of ‘civil war’ ensued as Alexander’s hard-won empire was torn asunder by generals in the bloody ‘funeral games’ his alleged final words heralded in. The fighting for supremacy inevitably led to the extermination of his bloodline.

But was Alexander really so short-sighted and irresponsible?

Finally, after 2,340 years, the mystery is unravelled. In a forensic first, David Grant presents a compelling case for what he terms the ‘greatest succession cover up of all time’. Alexander’s lost Last Will and Testament is given new credibility and Grant deciphers events that led to its erasure from history by the generals who wanted to carve up the empire for themselves.

"This is a vitally useful piece of work: the first treatment to elicit any clear analysis of the alleged final documents from the last days of Alexander's reign. Grant has thrown light on some desperately difficult source material and the title should now be part of any library on Alexander."

"A compelling argument. No one has ever approached this ancient conundrum with the foresight Grant brings to the mystery of Alexander's death. He uses the same depth of research and insights which made his previous book on the tombs of Alexander's family so captivating."

"David Grant's book is a noteworthy re-evaluation of older scholarly theories about Alexander the Great's will and testament. It highlights how historical inquiry is a continuous process that engages and re-examines existing sources. An excellent read for students and general audiences interested in the life of Alexander the Great."