The Historical Inscriptions of Southern India (collected till 1923) and Outlines of Political History c7.28

c7.28

Alexander had by the year 331 B.C. conquered the King of Persia and destroyed his dynasty, and had seized Egypt and founded the city of Alexandria. In 330 he was in Persia and in the next year made preparations for the conquest of Northern India. In 327 he advanced through the passes of the Hindukush, subduing the frontier tribes, and in 326 arrived at the Indus river. Crossing the river he was joined by a local ruler Āmbhi, King of Taxila, who was at feud with his neighbouring chiefs, with a force of 5,000 men, and the allies then marched to the Hydaspes or Jhelum river, where he was resolutely opposed by king ‘Poros’ or Puru on the eastern bank. Alexander made a détour, effected a crossing and attacked his opponent. The battle is known to European historians as the battle of the Hydaspes. Alexander won a great victory, slaughtered 12,000 men and captured or destroyed 200 elephants. Puru was wounded and submitted to the invader, who treated him with kindness and consideration. Alexander proceeded on his eastward march till he reached the Biās river, or Hyphasis, beyond which his soldiers refused to venture. Faced with open mutiny Alexander was compelled to retreat, and did so, leaving Puru, now his friend, as sovereign over twelve distinct nations that occupied the territory between the Jhelum and Biās rivers. In October 326 B.C. he sailed down the Jhelum, guarded on the banks by his army of 120,000 men. Great slaughter followed when any opposition was met with, and the journey to the sea lasted for ten months. In October 325 B.C. he started from the neighbourhood of Karāchi and marched back to Persia, suffering terrible hardships on the way. Eventually he arrived at Susa, with a mere remnant of his troops, in May 324 B.C.