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Alexander Invasion of India and beginning of Rule of Indo-Greeks


  • Alexander was born in July 356 BCE. He was the son of Philip II, the ruler of Macedonia.
  • Iran had a total of 28 satrapies of which India’s northwest constituted the twentieth province which included the Sindh, the north-west frontier and part of the Punjab west of the Indus. 
  • It paid a hefty tribute in gold which accounted for one-third of the total revenue Iran received from its Asian provinces. Alexender Invaded this part of India in 330 BC.
  • In 327 BCE, Alexander marched from Bactra through the Hindukush and Swat. 
  • In 326 BCE after crossing the Indus he marched to Taxila and fought battles in the north-west’s small independent monarchies and tribal republics including with Porus.
  • The battle with Porus held at the bank of Jhelum (Hydaspes) and this battle is popularly known as Battle of Hydaspes. Porus (Puru) ruled a kingdom between the Jhelum and the Chenab. 
  • He then met with Ambhi, the prince of Taxila. Both Ambhi and Porus together could have defeated. However, Ambhi accepted the suzerainty of Alexender. 
  • After, deafeating Porus, Alexander was very impressed by his military prowess and persona and decided to reinstate Porus  and made his ally.
  • Alexander’s celebrated  his victory by the founding of two cities-Nicaea and Bucephala. The latter was founded after his horse Bucephalus who had died due to exhaustion following the battle. Alexander also issued a commemorative coinage at a mint in Babylon.
  • Alexander continued his march into the Indian subcontinent and crossed the Chenab and Ravi (Acesines and Hydraotes). 
  • He defeated many principalities and fought a fierce battle with the Kathas of Panjab. The Kathas fought valiantly but Alexander captured Sagala, the hill fortress of Kathas and razed it to ground.
  • Thereafter he was informed by a nearby king about the might of the Nandas, east of Beas proceed but his troops refused to advance.
  • The Greeks were dislodged between 145 and 130 BCE and the Bactrian Greeks moved southwards and came to control southern Afghanistan (Arachosia), covering the area from the Hidukush to Gandhara. It is from here that the history of Indo Greeks begins in India.


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