Page 75 - All About History 58 - 2017 UK
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Battle of the Hydaspes
10 Valiant defeat Indians
The embattled Indians break and
flee. Having completed his crossing, Craterus
marches his infantry phalanx and cavalry INFANTRY 30,000
to Alexander’s aid and pursues the fleeing
enemy troops. The Indians lose 20,000 CAVALRY 4,000
infantry, 3,000 cavalry and all of their
chariots. Macedonian losses are far lighter, CHARIOTS 420
including 240 horsemen and 80 footsoldiers.
03
King Porus himself fights valiantly and ELEPHANTS 200
retreats from the field only after he is
wounded and his army has been defeated.
05
04
09 Elephant charge PORUS
The Indian footsoldiers join the
fight, as does the Macedonian infantry
phalanx. The elephants now go on the attack, LEADER
trampling the Macedonian infantry underfoot The king of the region lying
and goring them with their tusks as they between the Hydaspes and Acesines
themselves are barraged by a hail of arrows rivers was determined to prevent
06
and javelins. The regrouped Indian cavalry Alexander from invading his lands.
launch another charge. They are repelled Strengths Extremely brave and a
once more and again find shelter behind the capable general.
elephants. With many of their drivers slain Weakness Was lulled into believing
and themselves wounded, the tired and that Alexander was not intent on
maddened elephants spin out of control, back crossing the Hydaspes soon.
out of the fight and attack anyone who gets
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in their way. Meanwhile, the Macedonian
phalanx advances, driving the Indians back.
Indian cavalry
08repulsed
Having ridden around to the other side of WAR ELEPHANT
the field, Coenus’ horsemen fall upon the
right-wing Indian cavalrymen’s rear just KEY UNIT
Elephants were widely used in
as they are about to make contact with
Alexander’s remaining Companion cavalry. Indian warfare. Most crews of two
to four men employed bows from
The Indian horsemen, with enemies to
the fore and behind them, retreat for atop the animals.
protection amid the elephants. Strengths Gigantic, strong,
terrifying and intelligent animals.
Weakness Would break off an
attack when wounded or they lost
their drivers.
06 Porus’ son killed
Alexander disperses a small force
of 2,000 Indian cavalry and 120 chariots
under Porus’ son that has come too late to
prevent his crossing. Porus’ son is killed in 07 Battle is joined
the combat. The two armies form up for Alexander advances at the head of his LONGBOW
battle and Porus places his 200 elephants Companion cavalry on his right. His horse archers
in front of his 30,000 infantrymen, most shower the Indian left wing with arrows and then the
KEY WEAPON
of whom are armed with deadly bamboo Companions smash into them. The Indian right-wing The weapon of the common Indian
longbows. On his wings he splits his 4,000 cavalry rushes across the battlefield to strike directly
infantryman was a bamboo longbow
cavalry and remaining chariots. After Porus at Alexander to take pressure off the Indian left, but that launched 1.4-metre arrows.
has moved off to confront Alexander, Coenus races his cavalry regiment all the way around
Strengths Powerful, long-ranged
Craterus begins to ferry his own troops over. the back of the Macedonian army to stop them. © Getty Images, Nicholas Forder, Johnny Shumate
and deadly.
Weakness The big bow was heavy
and difficult to string.
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