March to India

 

Greek Knowledge of India

      India = land of the Indus river (cf. Hindu)

      Vague accounts from Scylax, Herodotus and Ctesias

      Land filled with legends and wonders

      Thought to be the end of the world

            Ocean

 

 

Reasons to Invade India

      Take all of Persian Empire

            Persians had province of Hindush = west Indus river

      Pothos

      Desire to conquer all the world

      Great wealth of India

      Secure eastern frontier

            Weak control means Indians could advance into Iran

            Chandragupta does this in 305

 

 

Army Reorganization

      Adds 30,000 Iranians

            Army now over 50% Iranian

      Cavalry

            Increases size of cavalry

            Mixes Companion battalions with Iranians

      Largest Army Alexander ever commanded

            Probably 50,000 combatants

            6500-15,000 cavalry = up to 20% compared with 5% at beginning

 

 

March to Kabul Valley {summer 327}

      Has Indian advisor Siscottus (Sasigupta)

      Meets with Omphis (Ambhi) king of Taxila (in Pakistan)

      Indians bring tribute and submit

            25 elephants

      Indians ask for assistance against their rival Porus of the Punjab

            Porus had been expanding his power and threatening Taxila

 

 

Hephaestion on Khyber route

      Hephaestion through Khyber pass to Indus

            Most submit

            One month siege

 

 

Alexander through mountainous region to north

      Many sieges of small mountain castles

      Strong resistance by Hindu Khshatriya warrior caste

      Alexander massacres resisters

      Dionysian bacchanal at Nysa

            Surrender of city

            Legendary links to Dionysius

      Kingdom of Assaceni

            Siege of Massaga

                  Use of siege towers and engines = new technology

                  Mud brick walls

                  Massacres 7000 men and their families after promising safe conduct

 

Siege of Aornus (Sk Avarana = refuge?)

      Most Assaceni troops came there

      Ample food and water

      Inaccessible (5000 feet above the Indus river)

      Alexander uses siege engineering

            Ramp and wooden bridges

            Catapults and engines to attack

      Garrison tries to flee, but is massacred

      Resistance of Assaceni collapses

      Submission is nominal

 

 

Conjunction at the Indus

      Two armies meet in late 327

      Hephaestion had built bridge

      Continue subjugation of valley

 

Crossing to Taxila

      Between Indus and Jhelum rivers

      Wealthy city from Indian trade to Iran

      King Ambhi gives rich presents and submits

      Alexander returns the gifts and 1000 talents

            Buys loyalty

            Leaves Macedonian satrap and garrison

      Winters in Taxila

      Negotiations with Indus valley kings

            By April, Abisares (king of north foothills) submits

            Porus, mightiest of the Indus kings, refuses

      Monsoon rains are due in June

            Swell river

            Make campaigning difficult