Sensing defeat they called for a truce, which Porus accepted. The only possible answer is at the Battle of Hydaspes, the Macedonians realised they were dealing with an enemy of uncommon valour. So why reward the enemy, whose army had just mauled the Macedonians? Ambhi had become Alexander’s ally on the condition he would be given Porus’ kingdom.
The fact they celebrated after the Battle of Hydaspes suggests they considered themselves extremely lucky to survive after the clash with the Hindu army, with its elephant corps.Īccording to the Greeks, Alexander was apparently so impressed by Porus that he gave back his kingdom plus the territories of king Ambhi of Taxila who had fought alongside the Macedonians. No wild festivities were announced after the Battle of Issus where they defeated a mixed force of Persian cavalry and Greek mercenaries. Greek contemporary writers describe the Battle of Hydaspes (Jhelum) as the hardest fought of all Alexander’s battles.įrank Lee Holt, a prof of ancient history at the University of Houston,writes in his book, Alexander the Great and the Mystery of the Elephant Medallions: “The only reference in Arrian’s history to a victory celebration by Alexander’s army was after the battle with Porus.”Īlexander’s army did not indulge in celebrations after the Battle of Gaugamela where they defeated 200,000 Persians.
All this is glossed over by Western historians, in whose view the one victory over king Porus amounted to the “conquest of India”.īut the Greeks made no such claim. They say if the people of Punjab and Sindh were fierce, then in the eastern part of India “the men were superior in stature and courage”. In fact, Arrian and other Greeks say the Indians were relentless in their attacks on the invaders. This statement by Russia’s Marshal Gregory Zhukov on the Macedonian invasion of India in 326 BCE is significant because unlike the prejudiced colonial and Western historians, the Greeks and later Romans viewed Indians differently.įor instance, Arrian writes in Alexander Anabasis that the Indians were the noblest among all Asians. The Greeks and other ancient peoples didn’t see themselves as in any way superior, only different.” “After Alexander’s failure to gain a position in India and the defeat of Seleucus Nicator, relationships between the Indians and the Greeks and the Romans later, was mainly through trade and diplomacy. Strabo, the Greek historian wrote: “Generally speaking, the men who have written on the affairs of India were a set of liars…Of this we became the more convinced whilst writing the history of Alexander.”
Alexander entered into a pact with Ambhi, a sworn enemy of Porus with whom he attended Taxila as a student.Īlexander defeated Porus and in appreciation of his valor, Alexander gave the kingdom back to Porus and left Selecus Nicator as his representative in India. Puru Defeated Alexander in the Battle of Hydaspes Here Are EvidencesĪlexander, having won all the kingdoms west of Greece up to Bacteria (Persia), proceeded to India, defeated many kings and finally met his foe Porus in Punjab.