19._battle_of_hydaspes
                     19. The Battle of Hydaspes
The Battle of the Hydaspes…
aka: the pros and cons of elephant warfare.
Objectives:
•Investigate the last 
and most bloody of 
Alexander’s battles.
•Analyse Alexande
r’s performance 
and his treatment of 
the Indian King, 
Porus.
Alexander the Great, 356 – 323 BC
1. Upbringing, 
characters 
3. Events in 
Alexa
and beliefs nder’s life
2. Alexander’s 4. The 
campaigns Macedonian and battles army
of Chaeronea, 338
 BC
Battle 
assination of Philip
, 336 BC
Ass
Sack of Thebes, 3
35 BC
s River, 334 BC
Visit to Troy / Gran
icu
Gordium / Battle o
f Issus, 333 BC
iege of Tyre, 332 B
C
S
le of Gaugamela, 
331 BC
Batt
0 BC
Persian Gates / P
ersepolis, 33
piracy of Philotas,
 330 BC
Cons
Murder of Cleitus,
 328 BC
28 BC
Conspiracy of the 
Pages, 3
BC
Rock of Aornos, 3
26 
Philotas plot
Granicus
ituse
Thebes C
l
C
Gordium oo nf s pth iri e
a
 cDelph P
y
a  ges
Issus
Be
Gaugamela E
ss
c ub sa  tana captured
Babylon
a Dadri rin ua sx  dle eA ad
Tyre & 
Gaza
Persepolis
Susa
attle of 
Siwah Pe
B
rsian 
Gates Hydaspes
Significance of Hydaspes:
1. Alexander had to subdue King Porus in order 
to keep marching east. copy
2. To leave such a strong opponent at his flanks 
would endanger the expedition. 
3. He could also not afford to show any sign of 
weakness if he wanted to keep the loyalty of 
the already subdued Indian princes. 
Alexander decided to ‘pretend’ to attack. Hopefully Porus
Would eventually stop sending out the elephants.
Poorurus so csceunptie hdi sth es oHny dwaistphe as  tsom praelvl ecnat vaanlyr yc raosnsdin cgh bayr Aiolet xfaonrdcer.
AlAeAxleatxn ldaaensrd tw,e aH‘rso “ inucsn a asub osslenet ot dowr  uamas gesy r  hkeaisianl lcted ad vmea alroyln  oo-d ntfo tlnoeho seicss afe orne”r idtcg ooeh fb  ttd’he eeh m feel aeampdtheaa dnet.avs georeny dt hd etao by a.nk.
This “aAccCleursxotasonsm doeednr tt oh eaa  dbsa mhrbiasal lr fiiaosnolastn hndo tla dtno do b neo  ntahtloae r tmohepd po obthyse ihtrie sb  bmaanonkv.kem. ents.
AleCxMaoneadnceuersd  aIPofnotnotdleilriaoamunwMnsp  s Hatet rscoolae ertrnpodssh eeofa ernuAsnrit srtfacsl ahnh  cnidepsok rh ol srlabiua galutpahfttslnt taar exwunc  nkiakins dtgI onvei n acdnItnaniotaidvcr nteaiha  lscernI.nya  r idvnoeaifavianlernnfyr o tc.orraycnv.e almelrfeyt n.wtsin.g
Read through verse 60 in Plutarch
• How does Alex
ander 
treat Porus? Lis
t as 
many points as
 you 
can.
• Why do you th
ink 
his? 
Plutarch includ
es t
?
What does it sh
ow
Alexander’s performance at Hydaspes
List as many positives as you can:
•Use of feints and diversion attacks to confuse enemy.
•Able to bypass Elephant threat to cavalry and establish 
foothold.
•Correctly assumed ability to hold off initial attack and hold 
ground until main army crossed.
•Able to outflank Indian chariots and elephants - Coenus’ 
charge.
•Ability to turn Porus’ strength (numbers and elephants) 
against him.
•Last major conflict - also most violent. 
The Battle of the Hydaspes…
aka: the pros and cons of elephant warfare.
Objectives:
•Investigate the last 
and most bloody of 
Alexander’s battles.
•Analyse Alexande
r’s performance 
and his treatment of 
the Indian King, 
Porus.
1. How well did Alexander perform at Hydaspes?
2. How significant was this battle?