Roxana

Roxana (also spelled Rhoxane, Roxane, or Roxanne) was a Bactrian princess and one of the wives of Alexander the Great.

Biography: Roxana was the daughter of Oxyartes, a Bactrian nobleman who opposed Alexander the Great during his conquest of the Achaemenid Empire. She was captured by Alexander's forces in 327 BCE. Impressed by her beauty, Alexander married her that same year, solidifying his position in the region and attempting to bridge the gap between his Macedonian forces and the local population. This marriage was considered controversial by many of Alexander's generals, who viewed it as an alliance with a former enemy.

After Alexander's death in 323 BCE, Roxana gave birth to his posthumous son, Alexander IV. She and her son were under the protection of Alexander's mother, Olympias, in Macedon. Following Olympias' death, Roxana and Alexander IV were placed under the care of Cassander, one of Alexander's successors, who initially treated them with respect but later, around 309 BCE, had them assassinated to eliminate any future claim to the throne by Alexander IV.

Significance: Roxana's marriage to Alexander the Great represents a crucial moment in his efforts to consolidate his empire through diplomatic alliances. Her tragic story, along with that of her son, highlights the instability and brutal power struggles that characterized the Diadochi period following Alexander's death. She remains a figure of historical intrigue and a symbol of the complex interactions between different cultures during the Hellenistic period. Her name has also been used in literature, music, and art throughout history.