Roxana (died c. 310 BC,[1] Ancient Greek: Ῥωξάνη, Rhōxánē; Old Iranian: *Raṷxšnā- "shining, radiant, brilliant", Persian: روشنک, romanized: Rošanak) sometimes known as Roxanne, Roxanna and Roxane was a Sogdian[2][3] or a Bactrian[4] princess whom Alexander the Great married after defeating Darius, ruler of the Achaemenid Empire, and invading Persia.

Roxana was born as the daughter of a Bactrian nobleman named Oxyartes, the satrap of Bactria and Sogdia,[1] who served Bessus, and thus probably also involved in the murder of the last Achaemenid king Darius III.

[9] The sources agree that Alexander fell passionately in love with her, but considering that he had difficulties in occupying and controlling Sogdiana his decision to marry Roxana may also have been motivated by the advantages of a political alliance.

[1] Roxana accompanied Alexander into India, where their first child died at or soon after birth near the banks of the Acesines River[14] in November 326 BC.

[18] By 317 though, Roxana's son, called Alexander IV lost his kingship as a result of intrigues started by Philip Arrhidaeus' wife, Eurydice II.

[24] The two were killed after Heracles, a son of Alexander the Great's mistress Barsine, was murdered, bringing the Argead dynasty to an end.