The Macedonian army subjugated the Greek states by the time of Philip's death allowing Alexander to assemble an army large enough to confront the Persian Empire. The Macedonians went on to defeat the Persians, most of the armies of India, and by the time of Alexander's death were preparing for the conquest of Arabia.

The Macedonian army ruled an empire that ran from the hills of Macedon to the river Indus. Keeping this empire intact prosed a task too great for Alexander's successors.