BATTLE OF HYDASPES
326 BC
Alexander the Great’s
Last Great Battle
BEFORE THE
BATTLE
• crossing the river posed
many problems for
Alexander:
• flooded with monsoon rain,
• it was too deep for horses to
cross,
• Porus stood on the opposite
bank with 200 elephants
waiting for Alexander:
• elephants scared the men
and horses,
• the horses also didn’t like
the smell of the elephants.
• Alexander needed a plan…
ALEXANDER’S
CUNNING PLAN =
MAKE THE ENEMY THINK
I WON’T CROSS THE RIVER
• Alexander made many fake attempts
to cross.
• each time the Indians came to meet
him.
• finally Porus gave up waiting and
went back to his tent
• messengers were to tell him when
Alexander was infact crossing.
SO HOW DID HE
CROSS THEN?
• Alexander waited for a stormy
night to conceal his movement.
• he left behind Craterus with a
small force pretending to be the
army:
• light campfires,
• make as much noise
as they could.
• all to distract Porus from
Alexander’s upstream move.
PROBLEMS FOR
ALEXANDER
• part way up river he drops of Meleager
with a small force.
• Alexander the bulk of the army travel
further upstream.
• they cross at what they thought was a
narrowing of the river…
• but what was really an island in the middle
of the river!
• Alexander acts quickly and finds a ford
(neck deep in places!!!) and finally crosses
to the other side.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
River Hydaspes.
Admana Island.
Alexander’s army.
Porus’ army.
Alexander moves and crosses to island.
Porus’ son meets Alexander and dies.
Porus moves forward while Meleager
crosses with rest of Alexanders army.
• battle rages while Craterus crosses and
attacks from the rear.
FIRST PART OF
THE BATTLE
• Alexander is seen crossing the river.
• thinking Alexander and his main
army are still across the river, Porus
sends only a small force of chariots.
• Porus places his son in charge.
• Alexander’s cavalry
easily deal to the
chariots which get
stuck in the mud.
• Porus’ son is killed.
THE MAIN PART
OF THE BATTLE
• when Porus found out his sons
force had been defeated he
quickly advanced to meet
Alexander.
• Alexander’s cavalry manoeuvres
allow Meleager and his army to
cross the river and form up
safely.
ALEXANDER’S
BATTLE LINE
• wanted to elimate Porus’ cavalry
first, THEN the infantry.
• placed most of cavalry on his right
hand side.
• BUT he hid the remainder of his
cavalry on the left under the
command of Coenus.
• his orders were to ride around the
Indian line and attack from the rear.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Alexander
Companions
Cavalry
Hypaspists
Phalanx
Light troops
Coenus’ cavalry
PORUS’
BATTLE LINE
• battle-ground suited Porus.
• infantry in the centre behind the
elephants.
• the cavalry was placed on the
wings behind the chariots.
•
•
•
•
•
Porus
Elephants
Chariots
Cavalry
Infantry
1. Porus shifts ALL of his
cavalry to his left.
2. Alexander is first to attack when he
sends his visible cavalry against
Porus’ cavalry.
3. Porus takes the bait and sends in
ALL his cavalry, just as Alexander
had hoped.
4. Alexander’s hidden cavalry on
his left move in behind Porus’
cavalry.
5. Surrounded the Indians
cavalry retreats
behind the
elephants.
6. Alexander gives the orders
for his infantry to advance.
7. Porus sends his elephants
who charge through Alexander
infantry.
8. Seeing this the Indian
cavalry are encouraged
and charge again but
are forced back again.
9. Alexander encircles Indian
cavalry.
10. The Indian elephants become
confused and begin to attack their
own, killing many.
11. Some Indians begin to flee
through a gap in the Greeks
line.
12. Craterus
and his men
are now in
position
behind the
Indians and
they clean
up the
fleeing Indians.
13. Porus remains with his army
and fights bravely until he is
wounded.
14. Porus retires
from the
battlefield on his
elephant and
then reluctantly
surrenders.
FINAL SCORE IS…
• according to Diodorus:
12,000 Indians were killed versus
the 1,000 Macedonians (!?!)
• according to Arrian:
Indians lost 23,000 men to the
Macedonians 310 men (again !?!)
AFTER THE
BATTLE…
• Alexander was impressed with Porus.
ALEXANDER: “What do you wish
that I should do
with you?”
PORUS: “Treat as a King should
be.”
• so…Alexander restored Porus as King and
even gave him more land.
ON A SAD NOTE…
• Bucephalas died.
• Alexander founded
a city near the battle
site and named it
Buchephala in
honour of his horse.
• another city was also
founded nearby.