Treat Me Like a King!
When Porus, the Indian king, surrendered to Alexander the Great at Jhelum, he had only one request to make of him.
326 BC
Macedonian Empire 359 - 323 BC
When Porus, the Indian king, surrendered to Alexander the Great at Jhelum, he had only one request to make of him.
326 BC
Macedonian Empire 359 - 323 BC
Alexander the Great’s Indian expedition (327-325 BC) pushed the boundaries of his vast empire into much of what is now Pakistan and into India’s Punjab. The most serious resistance came from Porus, King of Paurava, in a fierce battle in May 326 BC at the Hydaspes or River Jhelum in the Punjab, during which Alexander demonstrated once again that he was a prince as well as a general.
abridged
WHEN Porus, who exhibited great talent in the battle, performing deeds not only of a general, but of a valiant soldier, observed the slaughter of his cavalry and that most of his infantry had perished, he did not depart, as Darius the Persian king did, setting an example of flight to his men. But at last, having received a wound on the right shoulder, he turned his elephant round and began to retire.
Alexander, having seen him valiant in battle, was very desirous of saving his life. Accordingly, he sent to him first Taxîles the Indian, who, riding up as near as seemed safe, bade him listen to Alexander’s message. But when he saw his old foe Taxîles, Porus wheeled and prepared to strike him with a javelin, and would probably have killed him, if he had not quickly driven his horse beyond reach. But not even on this account was Alexander angry, but kept sending others in succession, and last of all Meroës the Indian, an old friend of Porus.
As soon as the latter heard the message of Meroës, and being overcome by thirst from his wound, he dismounted from his elephant.