Page 74 - All About History 58 - 2017 UK

Greatest Battles

Macedonians River face-off
01 Alexander marches his army of

about 45,000 infantry and 7,000 cavalry
to the wide Hydaspes River, which is in
INFANTRY 40,000
flood because of the summer monsoon.
CAVALRY 7,000 Waiting for him on the other bank is a
large Indian army under King Porus, who
guards all of the nearby crossing points.
INDIAN ALLIES 5,000
Alexander can’t cross while Porus remains
on the other side because the Indians’
elephants terrify the Macedonian horses.
02
01

02 Strategic deception
ALEXANDER THE GREAT up and down the river, causing Porus’ troops to
Night after night, Alexander loudly marches
follow him each time. Eventually, Porus is lulled into
LEADER believing that the Macedonians will not try to cross,
Alexander was one of the finest
generals of the ancient world and so doesn’t send any guards to follow him. But, during
nearly invincible in battle. He died the commotion, Alexander has located an unguarded
ford 27 kilometres to the east.
undefeated in 323 BCE.
Strengths Daring, quick-thinking,
fearless and aggressive.
Weakness He often exposed
himself to danger and had suffered
several serious wounds by the time 07
of the Hydaspes.

COMPANION CAVALRY Companions
03 on the move
Alexander leaves troops behind with
KEY UNIT
The elite cavalry troopers of the Craterus to make Porus think he is
Macedonian army. They fought still in camp, then secretly takes a
beside Alexander in battle and small force of Companion cavalry, 10 08
delivered the killing blow against horse archers and 6,000 infantry
the enemy. upriver to find an unguarded fording
Strengths They were brave, fast place out of view of Porus.
and talented horsemen.
Weakness Few in number.

SARISSA Macedonians
04in the middle 05 Night crossing
Midway between his own crossing
KEY WEAPON Alexander crosses after dark on oared ships
The two-handed, 1.5-metre-long and hides rafts at the upstream ford in the midst of
pike of the phalangite, Alexander’s point and that of Craterus at the a thunderstorm, which helps to conceal his soldiers’
base camp, Alexander deploys
common infantryman. some infantry and mercenary movement. In the darkness, the Macedonians mistakenly
Strengths The extreme length of cross first to a small island in the middle of the river.
cavalry under Meleager, Attalus
the weapon allowed for five pike- and Gorgias to follow once they see They then complete the crossing to the far bank.
heads to project beyond the front that Alexander is already over and
rank of the phalanx. Porus has moved against him.
Weakness Unwieldy and of little
use if the enemy broke through the
hedge of pikes.

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