Battle of the Hydaspes

To answer this question let me tell you the story of the Battle of the Hydaspes. In 326 BC the forces of Alexander the Great and King Porus were to clash, a battle which would choose the fate of the area Punjab. As Alexander wanted to enhance his territory his eye fell on India, exactly where he started his campaign in 327 BC. Right after a handful of decisive victories he would have to face one final opponent who would prove to be stronger and smarter than any he had ever fought.

As Alexander was marching via India King Porus had flanked him. Alexander knew that he could not leave this unsafe opponent hiding in the jungle of India and ready for a confrontation. Alexander set up his camp near the town of Jhelum on the right banks of the river. Porus drew up on the south bank of the Jhelum River to discourage Alexander to cross the river. Each sides knew that a direct crossing of the river would price them the war. Alexander paced up and down the river banks every evening until he came up with a cunning program.

His strategy was to use a appropriate crossing, about 27 km upstream of his camp. This is exactly where he would lead his troops across. He landed on yet another island, causing his troops to wade across to the very same island as King Porus. His program was a classic pincer maneuver. He would sooner or later attack Indian cavalry flanking every side of Porus’ primary force from the correct. To maintain Porus unaware of the river’ crossing Alexander devised several traps which would maintain Porus occupied. Firstly Porus was kept constantly on the move till he decided it was a bluff and relaxed. Secondly each and every visit to the web site of the crossing, Alexander produced a detour inland to keep in secrecy. In addition it was reported that there was an Alexander look-alike who held sway in a mock royal tent close to the base.

The Battle

When King Porus realised what had occurred he decided to charge on Alexander’s crossed cavalry thinking he outnumbered them. The Macedonian heavy infantry phalanx had been outnumbered 1:five against the Indian infantry. The Indian infantry still suffered setbacks due to the reach of the enemy’s longer sarissas and getting light to unarmored on the torso. The other part of Alexander’s army crossed the river for a frontal encounter with the war elephants of Porus’ army. Alexander commenced the battle by sending his Scythian hired horse archers to shower the Indian correct cavalry wing. His armored Companion Cavalry was sent to the outnumbered Indian left cavalry with him leading the charge himself. The rest of the Indian cavalry galloped to their hard pressed kinsmen on the proper wing but at this moment, Coenus’s cavalry contingent appeared on the Indian rear. The Indians attempted to kind a double phalanx, but the needed complicated maneuvers brought even more confusion into their ranks generating it easier for the Macedonian horse to conquer.

Alexander, destroying Porus’ correct flank circled about to Porus’ left flank launching a mass attack against Porus’s left flank. Alexander surmised correctly that Porus would be forced to move cavalry on the correct wing across to the left. Alexander foresaw this and placed his cavalry, below the command of Coenus, opposite of them and out of sight. Their job was to break cover and stick to the Indian cavalry, which forced the Indians to go forward, right into Craterus. Arrian states that 12,000 Indians and 80 elephants died in this mass pincer movement. As Porus’ defenses fell he knew the battle was lost but was determined to fight up till the bitter end. Alexander gained manage of the Punjab region and added another piece to his already fantastic empire. If you do not think that this was a very wise and knowledgeable man I don’t know what does.