Alexander the King is the second novel of historical fiction by Peter Messmore. It is the sequel to Philip and Olympias: a Novel of Ancient Macedon. After Alexander's father, King Philip of Macedon, is assassinated Alexander becomes king of Macedon and a troubled empire. He must first solidify his Greek base and get control of his impetuous and beautiful mother, Olympias. Young King Alexander then begins one of the greatest epic journeys of military conquest in the history of western civilization. His campaign takes him to the mighty Persian Empire, where he encounters Great King Darius. Egypt is brought under his dominion and he is crowned Pharaoh. In battle after battle he is victorious. Years later, India becomes his most distant target. However Alexander's greatest enemy is himself. He is haunted by his father's death and his personal spiritual lineage. Uncut red wine, consumed in monumental drinking bouts, eventually alters his youthful appearance and his character. Alexander's life-time companion and lover, Hephaestion, is devoted to his friend yet is vexed by the king's occasional sexual-political liaisons with women.