Page 73 - All About History - Issue 58-17

King Porus
King Porus was reportedly an extremely tall
man and a brave warrior. Fighting from atop
his own war elephant, he refused to leave
the field until the battle was completely lost
and he himself had been wounded. Once
defeated, Alexander asked him how he
wished to be treated. Porus proudly replied,
“Treat me like a king.” Alexander was so
impressed with his valour and dignity that he
immediately reinstated Porus as the governor
of the new Macedonian province.

BATTLEOF

THEHYDASPES
HYDASPES RIVER, NORTHWESTERN INDIA, MAY 326 BCE

Written by Marc DeSantis

lexander III of Macedon, better known as the Jhelum), Porus lined up his army, including
Alexander the Great, built an empire that hundreds of armoured elephants, on the opposite
stretched from Greece in the west to Iran bank. A contested river crossing is one of the most
in the east in little more than a decade. In trying of military operations, ancient or modern.
A thecourseofdoing this,heclashedwith Alexander had to summon all of his famed tactical
themightyPersian Empire,itselfone ofthelargest genius to overcome it.
territories the world has ever seen. Alexander’s Fought in May 326 BCE, the Hydaspes would
famous battles with the Persian king Darius III, be the first battle in which the Macedonians faced
beginning with the Granicus River in 334 BCE, war elephants. Alexander had first encountered
followed by Issus in 333 BCE and culminating in these animals at Gaugamela, where they had been
the final victory at Gaugamela in 331 BCE, are still part of Darius’ army, but they had taken no part
studied by military tacticians today. in the actual fighting. Here, they would prove to
However, while Gaugamela is often held up as be frightening opponents. The Indians would also
Alexander’s greatest battle, he didn’t stop there. provetobesomeofthefiercestcombatantsthat
Insisting that he should hold all of Persia’s domains, Alexander ever encountered, and the Hydaspes itself
he set about conquering its far-flung provinces. was the most difficult of the four set-piece battles
After spending 329-327 BCE taking Bactria and that he fought in his career.
Sogdia,the Macedonian waspoisedtoenforce his Though Porus wouldbedefeated, hisnobility was
suzerainty overthelastofDarius’lands:India. To suchthat Alexanderallowed himtokeephis throne.
Alexander, this was an almost mythical land, where In addition, Porus’ spirited showing at Hydaspes
theOlympiangodDionysushadoncetrod.Itwas persuaded the Macedonian rank-and-file that going
here that the King of the Four Quarters of the World even deeper into India was a terrible idea. Beyond
finally discoveored his limitations. Porus’ realm, they soon learned, lay a vast land filled
In 327 BCE, Alexander moved south down the with other larger and more powerful kingdoms with
Hindu Kush mountain range and continued on many more elephants.
through Bajaur and Swat. He crossed the Indus River Alexander’s unhappy and exhausted soldiers
over a bridge of boats and quickly found a local had had enough. With their clothes and gear
Indian cavalry ally in Taxiles of Taxila, who sought Alexander’s deteriorating in the hot and humid climate and
Theelephantsandchariotsweremore
prestigiousthancavalryinIndian aid against a rival Indian ruler, Porus, king of the nothing to look forward to except more bloodshed,
armies.ThetypicalIndianhorsemanwas Pauravas in today’s Punjab region. theywouldgonofurther.Alexander wasforcedto
unarmoured and armed with javelins — not When Alexander attempted to traverse the give up his dreams of conquering India and turned
muchofamatchforAlexander’scrack wide and deep Hydaspes River (now known as his army around, headed towards home.
Companion cavalry.

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