Porus

For other uses, see Porus (disambiguation).

Porus
King Porus (on elephant) fighting Alexander the Great, on a "victory coin" of Alexander (minted c. 324–322 BC)[1]
Reignbefore 326 – c. 317 BC
BornPunjab
Diedc. 321 – c. 315 BC
Punjab

Porus or Poros (Ancient Greek: Πῶρος Pôros; fl. 326–321 BC) was an ancient Indian king whose territory spanned the region between the Jhelum River (Hydaspes) and Chenab River (Acesines), in the Punjab region of what is now India and Pakistan.[2] He is only mentioned in Greek sources. Said to be a warrior with exceptional skills, Porus unsuccessfully fought against Alexander the Great in the Battle of the Hydaspes (326 BC).[3] In the aftermath, an impressed Alexander not only reinstated him as his satrap but also granted him dominion over lands to the south-east extending as far as the Hyphasis (Beas).[4][5] Porus reportedly died sometime between 321 and 315 BC.[6]

  1. ^ See Keyne Cheshire, Alexander the Great Archived 17 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine (Cambridge University Press, 2009), p.139: "Alexander charges Porus, who hurls a javelin from atop his elephant"
  2. ^ Jones, T. T. (1964). "The Genesis of Military River Operations: Alexander the Great at the Hydaspes River". The Military Engineer. 56 (374): 424–426. ISSN 0026-3982. JSTOR 44571479.
  3. ^ Fuller, pg 198

    "While the battle raged, Craterus forced his way over the Haranpur ford. When he saw that Alexander was winning a brilliant victory he pressed on and, as his men were fresh, took over the pursuit."
  4. ^ p. xl, Historical Dictionary of Ancient Greek Warfare, J. Woronoff & I. Spence
  5. ^ Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander, V.29.2
  6. ^ "Porus", Encyclopædia Britannica, archived from the original on 14 September 2015, retrieved 8 September 2015