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The siege of Tyre was one Alexander's most lengthy military achievements. It was only after almost a year that he was able to capture the island city of Tyre. Tyre was a Syrian coastal city noted for its wide reaching naval trading expeditions and as favored vassal of the Persian Great King because of its location and its fleet. Alexander knew he could not trust using a Greek fleet. Consequently his objective was to steal the Persian king's naval bases along with their fleets. This would reduce the Great King's ability to cut off Alexander from Macedonia and needed supplies and reinforcements. Alexander traveled down what is now the coast of modern Syria and captured every naval port along the coast. Alexander is perhaps the only commander ever to win a naval war without fighting a major naval battle.

Tyre, besides having a fleet and two excellent harbors also hosted the Temple of Hercules, who Alexander believed he was descended from. It was important for him to perform a religious service in the temple of Hercules. The King of Tyre refused to let Alexander come onto the island portion of the city to do this and likewise refused a treaty with the Macedonia king. Inside the city was a delegation from Carthage; Tyre was the mother city to Carthage. Alexander must take the city, capture the king, the Carthaginian delegation and the temple. Not an easy task.

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