Battle of the Hydaspes — India Campaign
By 326 BCE Alexander had pushed his empire to the edges of the known Greek world. He entered India through the Khyber Pass. At the Hydaspes River (modern Jhelum in Pakistan) he faced King Porus of the Pauravas, who had 30,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry, 300 chariots, and 200 war elephants. The Hydaspes was in flood; Porus patrolled the opposite bank. Alexander spent weeks conducting feints — marching his cavalry noisily to different crossing points at night until Porus stopped reacting. Then he crossed in a genuine night operation eighteen miles upstream, in a storm, with a select force. Porus deployed with his elephants in front of his infantry line. Alexander's horsemen refused to charge the elephants; Alexander sent his cavalry obliquely to attack the flanks. Craterus crossed with the remainder of the army when Porus turned to face Alexander, catching the Indians between two forces. The battle was brutal — the elephants caused tremendous Macedonian casualties. Eventually the elephants turned on their own men. Porus was captured, still fighting from his elephant. Alexander's exchange with Porus — 'How do you wish to be treated?' 'As a king treats a king.' — led to Porus being reinstated as a Macedonian vassal. At the Hyphasis River the army stopped. Twelve years of campaigning, longing for home, fear of the unknown — the men refused to march further. Alexander shut himself in his tent for three days; then he consulted the omens, found them unfavorable, and turned back. It was the one time his will was overcome.
- Year: 326 BCE
- Category: Military
