Macedon was the Greek city. Alexander was the son of the Macedon king Philip II and Olympias of Epirus. Alexander III is known as Alexander the great. He was born in Pella and succeeded by his father at the age of 20. After he was defeated to Daruis III, he was the king of entire Persia. He laid the foundation of Nile river which famous as Alexandria. After conquered the Perian Empire he was looked to India and Eastern side. He reached to Hindukush in 327 BCE. Alexander established the Greek colony in Bactria then he moved to Kabul. He divided his army into two parts. He was always worn Helmet.
The first division army under the control of Hephaestion and Peridicas crossed the Khyber Pass and reached the plain of Peshawar. Ashtaka was the ruler of this kingdom. He was fought against Greek invaders. But he was died in the battlefield. Then the Greek armies reached to river Indus. Ohind the general of Alexander build a bridge over the Indus River. According to plan the army was waiting to another Division.
Another division was laid by Alexander the Great or Alexander III. He marched to Kabul. When passing to the Kunar valley he faces to strong local people. But they were defeated by Alexander.
Alexander entered to Aspasian. They were defeated by Alexander and surrendered to thousand oxen, which was some sent to Macedon to help in agriculture. Then he gone to Nysa, which Nysa accepted the suzerainty of Alexander without battle. He was gifted three hundred horsemen as tribute. Next he moves to swat valley or Eastern Asvakas. They had a large army with 30 thousand infantry, 20 thousand cavalry, 3 hundred elephants, and seven thousand mercenaries. Alexander siege the fort Assaga and defeated and killed the ruler Assakenoi. He captured the towns like, Massaga, Ora, bazira, Aornos, Enbotima, and Dyrta.
The fort of Massaga was reduced only after days of bloody fighting, in which Alexander was wounded seriously in the ankle. According to Curtius, "Not only did Alexander slaughter the entire population of Massaga, but also did he reduce its buildings to rubble a similar slaughter followed at Ora. In the aftermath of Massaga and Ora, numerous Assakenians fled to the fortress of Aornos. Alexander followed close behind and captured the strategic hill-fort after four bloody days. After Massaga besieged then he was marched to Indus River fought against Porus.
Porus (326-315 BCE)
Porus is known as Purushottam is an Ancient king whose reign was between Hydaspes (Jhelum River) and Acesines (Chenab River). Many scholars have given the opinions about Porus. Some scholars identify him with King Parvataka, a Sanskrit play Mudrarakshasa by Vishakhadutta. According to Jain Parishishtaparvana, Porus identify with Parvataka, and he was killed by a Vishkanya which was intrigue by Chanakya. The Greek scholars pointed that Porus was killed by Eudemus who was the commander of Alexander’s troops and Eudemus was killed by Porus’s son Malayketu.
The Puru region was ruled by two people Elder and his Nephew Younger Porus. The Kingdom of Elder Porus lay between the River Jhelum and Chenab which was identified with 3 districts Punjab, Jhelum, Gujaral and Shahpur. He was the powerful army with 50 thousands infantry, 3 housand cavalry, 1 thousand chariots, and 130 elephants.
The Kingdom of Younger Porus lay between River Chenab and Ravi. The Kingdom of Abhisara was lay between Punch and Naoshera districts of Kashmir. The kingdom was friendly relation with Elder Porus. The Kingdom of Saubhuti was laid on the banks of river Jhelum. Saubhuti is famous for Salt range. The Kingdom of Patalence which capital was Patala in Indus delta. Patala was the last city which was besieged by Alexander. He placed a Greek named Peithon as Satrapa in Patala. He also besieged the fort Massaga.
Alexander was invited by King Ambhi the ruler of Taxila. After that Alexander allowed to army for rest to one month. Ambhi was presented 200 talents of silver, 3000 fat oxen, 10000 sheep, 30 elephants, and 700 horsemen and offered to surrender. After the friendly relation between Ambhi and Alexander, Alexander was returned the gifts and presented to Ambhi with Persian 30 horses and 1000 talents of Gold. Ambhi was said to fight with Porus. He helped to build a bridge with Greek army.
The King of Abhisara, who had helped to Astakenians at Massaga against Alexander troops now he submitted to Alexander. While Alexander in Taxila, King of Abhisara was presented gifts. Alexander cross river safely and reached the frontier of Taxila.
Battle of Hydaspes
Porus was fought with Alexander the great in 326 BCE at the bank of the river of Hydaspes or Jhelum River. Porus had 50 thousands infantry, 3 thousands cavalry, 1 thousand chariots and 2 hundreds elephants. Alexander had 40 thousands infantry, 6 thousands cavalry, 13 thousands chariots, and 130 elephants.
Porus has a large army. So Alexander has didn’t cross the river at the next side opposition army of Porus. Alexander had to wait some days. One night with rain and thunder, Alexander moved towards Porus army and cross the river silently. His sudden attack to Porus’s army, without late Porus sent his army with leadership of his young son. His son has no war experience. After the some time of war Alexander had crushed the army and killed Porus’s son. Then there was started the war Between Greek and Porus. Porus fought bravely but the muddy soil has declined the power of the army of Porus. The Pauravan soldiers were dressed in hued outfits with steel helmets, bright scarves and baldrics, and wielded axes, lances and maces. Porus’s war elephants were most advanced then Alexander’s cavalry.
Alexander maintains the army with Greek technique. Macedonian had victory in this battle. Porus was taken prisoner by Greek army and presented to Alexander. Alexander asked to Porus, how you would like to be treated? Porus replied that, he liked to be treated as a King. Alexander was impressed by this answered and treated with honor and like a King. He return Porus land which was own by Alexander. He makes Porus as Satrapa of his own kingdom. After that Alexander found two cities one is Nicaea to celebrate his victory. And the next city was Bucephala for memory of his beloved and faithful horse death after the battle. There was an elephants of Porus who fought bravely against Greek then Alexander dedicated elephants to Helios or sun and name it Ajax.
Conclusion of war
There was a big lost of both army. Porus side has losted 20 thousands infantry, 3 thousands cavalry. There was 1000 cavalry had killed on the Greek side.
Tribal revolt
Some tribal revolted against Alexander Satrapa like Nikanor and Sasigupta. Nikanor was killed in Skirmish. After that Alexander sent to Philipos to cover up these situations. Within a few years they also besieged. The defeated of King Porus and the Tribal people King of Abhisara also surrendered near Alexander with 40 elephant tribute. The younger Porus or nephew of Elder Porus, who ruled between Chenab and Ravi River, also surrendered to Alexander and his territory was added to Elder Porus’s Kingdom. Alexander subdued some territory like Kingdom of Aristas across the river Ravi, or Kingdom of Katha between the River Ravi and Beas and the Kingdom of Saubhuti which laid East of Jhelum River.
Now Alexander marched to Beas River, the last river of Indus system. There was a large Empire started Nanda Empire. He was take no risk about a large army then he erected 12 huge stone alters there to mark the limit of Indian expeditions. Now Alexander turned back to same route which he came through to the bank of Jhelum in the end of 326 BCE. He faces to Sivis and Agrasenis Peoples but he overpowered this army with big loss. His next expedition was Malli or Malava or Multan peoples and Kshudrakas or Oxydrakai peoples. It was the combine army who fought with Alexander’s army. But the fall of Malava it naturally Kshudrakas surrendered to him. Alexander was serious injured in this Campaign. Philipos was the Satrap this regions. Alexander subdued the other territory like, Abastanois or Ambasthas, Xathroi or Kshatri and Ossadioi or Vasati. He also subdued the other region like, Sagdoi or Shudras, on the bank of river Saraswati, Musikas or Mousikanos with their capital at Alor and the Sambhos or Sambhu, a city of Indus. The last city was besieged by Alexander was Patala. He established the new region under Satrapa of Peithon, a Greek follower.
At Patala he divided his army into three divisions. One division was sent by Sea under the command of Nearchus. The second division was preceded to Bolan Pass under the command of Craterus; the third division was laid by Alexander himself to Makran. He finally left the India in 325 BCE near 2 years expeditions.
The Satrapa by Alexander
He divided the entire Indian Territory which was owned by him into 6 Provinces or Satrapies. West of river Indus known as Western Satrapas control by Greek governor by Alexander. East of river Indus known as Eastern Satrapa control by Indian King under Alexander. Sindh under the Peithon, Nicanor was in-charge of Gandhar with capital of Pushkalavati; Kabul valley was under in-charge of Phlliops with capital of Alexandria the foothills of Hindukush of Western Satrapa or Provinces. Taxila was under Ambi, the region between the River Jhelum and Beas under control of Porus, the third Abhisara country, Kashmir region the salt range and Hazra, control by King Abhisara. Each Satrapy was control under by Greek and Macedonian soldiers.
Death of Alexander
Many Scholars has given different opinion about the death of Alexander the Great. Perhaps his death with fever or poisoned at the age of 32. According to Plutarch and Jutin, he was poisoned. He died at Babylon near Baghdad in 323 BCE before reaching his country, Macedon.
Death of Porus
After the death of Alexander, Perdicca was the regent of his Empire after the Muder of Perdicaa in 321 BCE, Antipeter became the new regent. However, Eudemus who was the commander general of Alexander’s troops and appointed as Satrapa in Punjab, he was killed to Porus.
Revolt of Asvakas
After the death of Alexander, the states which were conquered by him were being revolt against Greek soldiers. The Asvakas of Kandhar region was raised revolt against Greek and killed their governor Nicanor. Philipos was appointed as Commander in place of Nicanor in this region. He was death by ill. His death was giving the blow to raise the power and extended the Empire of Indian ruler of Eastern Province. After that the ruler of Taxila king Ambi was extended his Empire upto Hindukush. Eudamus only general was remaining in-charge at Pushkalavati after that he decided to divide the Empire among them. The Empire was divided in 321 BCE and there was no region of Alexander which was owned by him. No part of India included the part of Alexander regions. Eudamus left India in 317 BCE.
Effects of Alexander invasion
India was mostly effect by Alexander invasion. He was besieged the fort and the peoples were massacred; women and children were being servant that time. He was 4 main campaigns in India they were; Aspasians of Afghanistan and Pakistan part today was Expedition by Alexander. Secondly, Asvaka were sieged, thirdly, Porus battle of Hydaspes, then Malli or Multan or Malava was siege. Their invasion in India mainly 19 months which was influenced the Political, social, economical effects in India during this time. After death of Alexander in India there was raise the power of Chandragupta Maurya over Nanda. He was the King and ruler of Patliputra after defeated Dhana nanda of Nanda Empire in 321 BCE.
Trade and Commerce
Alexander invasion in India was given route between East and West part of the Europe. There were close contact to each other by trade and Commerce. There were both land and Sea route were opened. Land routes were through Kabul, Mullah Pass in Baluchistan and Gedrosia which connected to East with West. The sea route was opened through Persian Gulf. According to Strabo, a Greek Historian, the River Oxus and Amu daria joined a link which India goods were carried to Europe by the way of Caspian Sea and Black Sea. The cities and town Alexandria, Nicae, and Bucephalla founded by Alexander, also served as great centers of trade and commerce.
Coins
The Indian coins were not shaped but after the beautiful looks and shaped of coins of Greek they learned about the re-shaped of coins and Indian coins were also re-shaped their coins.
Military effects
The invasion of Alexander to India and besiege and expedition easily was giving the military strength of Alexander. In his every campaign during his life he was Victory. He defeat to Indian so easily with well maintained military power. The Indian now learn the method of Greek technique in various ways and training to improve the military skill, discipline and strength.
Philosophy
Not only Indian was learned from Greek but also Greek learned from Indian in Science, Mathemathics, and Medicine from Indian Scholars. They were also influenced by Buddhist literature and Philosophy. According to Strabo, when Alexander in Taxila, he knows about the great Ascetics who practiced Tapasya or Medication by sitting naked in the scorching Sun. he wanted to meet them and learned wisdom. When the Ascetics meet to Alexander he said Kalyana or Lucky. Alexander has perhaps asked some question to Ascetics and he also answered to Alexander.
Greek Historians
There were so many types of Philosophical, economical, poetry, drama types of book written by many Authors and Philosophers. There were three Historian like Herodotus was born in Persian Empire in 484 BCE, he was written the book, The History, in this book he written about Croesus, Cyrus (Persian King), Cambyses (son of Cyrus), Smerdis (brother of Cambyses),Darius who fourth Persian Empire, and Xerses I fifth King of Persian Empire Empire.
The second Historian was Thucydides was an Athenian historian and general. He wrote, History of the Peloponnesian war in fifth century BCE. Next was Xenophon of Athens, he was a Philosopher, Historian, Soldiers, and a student of Socrates. He wrote the book Hellenica.
