Heracles of Macedon was an illegitimate son of Alexander the Great (Alexander III) of Macedon by his mistress Barsine, daughter of Satrap Artabazus of Phrygia in 327 BC. He was the first son of Alexander, and was named after the Greek hero Heracles, from whom that royal family claimed its descent.

At the time of his birth, there was no reason to consider Heracles a possible candidate for the throne. His father was still 29 years old and about to marry the princess Roxana of Bactria, and there was little doubt at the time that they would produce legitimate heirs to the throne. Indeed, though Alexander died in 323 BC, still 33 years old, Roxana gave birth to a legitimate son, Heracles' half-brother Alexander IV, shortly afterwards. Heracles and his mother left the court soon after his birth and were not involved in the conflicts and plots between Alexander's generals over who would govern the various parts of the Empire pending the adulthood of Alexander's son.

Heracles lived in relative obscurity in Pergamum until his brother's murder by Cassander in 309 BC. Then Polyperchon, a regent of Macedon who had been replaced by Cassander and had all but disappeared for the previous six years, attempted to put Heracles on the throne as the only remaining heir of Alexander. Polyperchon managed to form an army of 20,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry, and challenged Cassander's army. Instead of fighting, Cassander negotiated with Polyperchon. By offering to make him a general of his own army and governor of Peloponnese, he convinced Polyperchon to change his allegiance. Polyperchon then proceeded to murder Heracles and his mother. Heracles was only 18 years old at the time of his death in late 309 BC.

*A detailed biography of Heracles' mother Barsine *A genealogical tree of Heracles