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Alexander Meets an Indian King Alexander Meets an Indian King In his campaigns in India, Alexander fought a number Alexander, informed of his approach, rode out to of difficult battles. At the Battle of the Hydaspes River, meet him. ...When they met, he reined in his horse and he faced a strong opponent in the Indian king Porus. looked at his adversary with admiration: he was a mag- After defeating Porus, Alexander treated him with respect, nificent figure of a man, over seven feet high and of according to Arrian, Alexander’s ancient biographer. great personal beauty; his bearing had lost none of its pride; his air was of one brave man meeting another, of a king in the presence of a king, with whom he had Arrian, The Campaigns of Alexander fought honorably for his kingdom. Throughout the action Porus had proved himself a man Alexander was the first to speak. ‘‘What,’’ he said, indeed, not only as a commander but as a soldier of the ‘‘do you wish that I should do with you?’’ ‘‘Treat me as truest courage. When he saw his cavalry cut to pieces, a king ought,’’ Porus is said to have replied. ‘‘For my most of his infantry dead, and his elephants killed or part,’’ said Alexander, pleased by his answer, ‘‘your re- roaming riderless and bewildered about the field, his be- quest shall be granted. But is there not something you havior was very different from that of the Persian King would wish for yourself? Ask it.’’ ‘‘Everything,’’ said Darius: unlike Darius, he did not lead the scramble to Porus, ‘‘is contained in this one request.’’ save his own skin, but so long as a single unit of his The dignity of these words gave Alexander even more men held together, he fought bravely on. It was only pleasure, and he restored to Porus his sovereignty over when he was himself wounded that he turned the ele- his subjects, adding to his realm other territory of even phant on which he rode and began to withdraw. ... greater extent. Thus, he did indeed use a brave man as Alexander, anxious to save the life of this great and gal- a king ought, and from that time forward found him in lant soldier, sent ...[to him] an Indian named Meroes, every way a loyal friend. a man he had been told had long been Porus’ friend. Porus listened to Meroes’ message, stopped his elephant, and dismounted; he was much distressed by thirst, so What do we learn from Arrian’s account about when he had revived himself by drinking, he told Q Alexander’s military skills and Indian methods of Meroes to conduct him with all speed to Alexander. fighting? by the infantry. The battle turned into a rout, although CHRONOLOGY Macedonia and the Conquests Darius managed to escape. After his victory, Alexander of Alexander entered Babylon and then proceeded to the Persian capi- tals at Susa and Persepolis, where he acquired the Persian Reign of Philip II 359–336 B.C.E. treasuries and took possession of vast quantities of gold Battle of Chaeronea; Philip II 338 B.C.E. and silver. conquers Greece B C E By 330 . ., Alexander was again on the march. After Reign of Alexander the Great 336–323 B.C.E. Dariuswaskilledbyoneofhisownmen,Alexandertook Alexander invades Asia; Battle 334 B.C.E. the title and office of the Great King of the Persians. But of Granicus River he was not content to rest with the spoils of the Persian Empire. Over the next three years, he moved east and Battle of Issus 333 B.C.E. northeast, as far as modern Pakistan. By the summer of Battle of Gaugamela 331 B.C.E. 327 B.C.E., he had entered India, which at that time was Fall of Persepolis, the Persian capital 330 B.C.E. divided into a number of warring states. In 326 B.C.E., Alexander enters India 327 B.C.E. Alexanderandhisarmiesarrivedintheplainsof Battle of Hydaspes River 326 B.C.E. northwestern India. At the Battle of the Hydaspes River, Death of Alexander 323 B.C.E. Alexander won a brutally fought battle (see the box above). When Alexander made clear his determination to march east to conquer more of India, his soldiers, weary of campaigning year after year, mutinied and re- But in June 323 B.C.E., weakened from wounds, fever, fused to go further. Alexander surrendered to their de- and probably excessive alcohol, he died at the young age mandsandagreedtoreturn,leadinghistroopsthrough of thirty-two (see the Film & History feature on p. 95). southern Persia across the Gedrosian Desert, where they suffered heavy losses from appalling desert conditions. ALEXANDER’S MILITARY SUCCESS Historians, both an- Alexander and the remnant of his army went to Susa cient and modern, generally agree that Alexander was an and then Babylon, where he planned more campaigns. outstanding military leader. How do they explain his 94 CHAPTER 4 The Hellenistic World.
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