2. BEFORE THE
BATTLE
• crossing the river posed
many problems for
Alexander:
• flooded with monsoon rain,
• it was too deep for horses to
cross,
• Porus stood on the opposite
bank with 200 elephants
waiting for Alexander:
• elephants scared the men
and horses,
• the horses also didn’t like
the smell of the elephants.
• Alexander needed a plan…
3. ALEXANDER’S
CUNNING PLAN =
MAKE THE ENEMY THINK
I WON’T CROSS THE RIVER
• Alexander made many fake attempts
to cross.
• each time the Indians came to meet
him.
• finally Porus gave up waiting and
went back to his tent
• messengers were to tell him when
Alexander was infact crossing.
4. SO HOW DID HE
CROSS THEN?
• Alexander waited for a stormy
night to conceal his movement.
• he left behind Craterus with a
small force pretending to be the
army:
• light campfires,
• make as much noise
as they could.
• all to distract Porus from
Alexander’s upstream move.
5. PROBLEMS FOR
ALEXANDER
• part way up river he drops of Meleager
with a small force.
• Alexander the bulk of the army travel
further upstream.
• they cross at what they thought was a
narrowing of the river…
• but what was really an island in the middle
of the river!
• Alexander acts quickly and finds a ford
(neck deep in places!!!) and finally crosses
to the other side.
6. • River Hydaspes.
• Admana Island.
• Alexander’s army.
• Porus’ army.
• Alexander moves and crosses to island.
• Porus’ son meets Alexander and dies.
• Porus moves forward while Meleager
crosses with rest of Alexanders army.
• battle rages while Craterus crosses and
attacks from the rear.
7. FIRST PART OF
THE BATTLE
• Alexander is seen crossing the river.
• thinking Alexander and his main
army are still across the river, Porus
sends only a small force of chariots.
• Porus places his son in charge.
• Alexander’s cavalry
easily deal to the
chariots which get
stuck in the mud.
• Porus’ son is killed.
8. THE MAIN PART
OF THE BATTLE
• when Porus found out his sons
force had been defeated he
quickly advanced to meet
Alexander.
• Alexander’s cavalry manoeuvres
allow Meleager and his army to
cross the river and form up
safely.
9. ALEXANDER’S
BATTLE LINE
• wanted to elimate Porus’ cavalry
first, THEN the infantry.
• placed most of cavalry on his right
hand side.
• BUT he hid the remainder of his
cavalry on the left under the
command of Coenus.
• his orders were to ride around the
Indian line and attack from the rear.
11. PORUS’
BATTLE LINE
• battle-ground suited Porus.
• infantry in the centre behind the
elephants.
• the cavalry was placed on the
wings behind the chariots.
29. FINAL SCORE IS…
• according to Diodorus:
12,000 Indians were killed versus
the 1,000 Macedonians (!?!)
• according to Arrian:
Indians lost 23,000 men to the
Macedonians 310 men (again !?!)
30. AFTER THE
BATTLE…
• Alexander was impressed with Porus.
ALEXANDER: “What do you wish
that I should do
with you?”
PORUS: “Treat as a King should
be.”
• so…Alexander restored Porus as King and
even gave him more land.
31. ON A SAD NOTE…
• Bucephalas died.
• Alexander founded
a city near the battle
site and named it
Buchephala in
honour of his horse.
• another city was also
founded nearby.