Alexander and Porus, Battle of Hydespes-who Won?

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In 325 BC Alexander invaded India after defeating the Persians. His was a triumphant march across Asia and none could stand against the Greek cavalry and soldiers led by Alexander. No wonder he is given the title ‘The Great’.

On entering India the local Rajahs promptly accepted him as their mentor and leader and agreed to pay him him tribute. But Raja Porus refused and he met Alexander on the banks of the Jhelum river in a bloody battle , often referred to by Greek historians as the ‘Battle of Hydespes’.  Alexander marshaled his cavalry under his general Seleucus and Porus  went into battle with 200 elephants.

Most Greek historians of that period mention this battle but do not annotate any result. There is no Indian record of this battle, pointing to the fact that Indians considered it a small show. But we can interpret that initially Alexander followed his favorite tactic of attack and crossed the Jhelum river. The battle went in his favor at the start as the Chariots of Porus got stuck in the loose sand of the river bank. Sensing victory Seleucus pressed forward when from the mist emerged the elephant corps of Porus.

This force of elephants was something the Greeks had never seen and they were in awe of it as the elephants trumpeting loudly led a assault on the Greeks. Perhaps this charge had an element of shock for the Greek cavalry and soldiers who were pushed back. At the end of the day Alexander decided to disengage as his soldiers overawed by the elephants refused to go forward. Many Indian historians now point out that Alexander was defeated by Porus  and that was the reason he decided to turn back. History records that he gifted lands to Porus and recognized him a regional king. Not something you would do to a loser in battle.