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Porus

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"text": "Porus, also known as Puru, was an ancient Indian king who ruled during the 4th century BC. His territory was located in the Punjab region between two major rivers. These rivers were the Jhelum, which the Greeks called the Hydaspes, and the Chenab, called the Acesines.

Physical Map of Punjab
Physical Map of Punjab

Greek historians describe his kingdom as containing nearly 300 cities. Because Indian sources from this period do not mention him, most of what we know comes from Greek writers. These accounts describe him as a warrior with exceptional skills who faced one of history's most famous conquerors.\n\nScholars have different theories about which group Porus belonged to. Some believe he was a king of the Pūrus, a Vedic tribe that lived in the Punjab. Others suggest he was a Shurasena. This idea comes from Greek accounts mentioning that his soldiers carried a banner of Herakles. Greek writers like Arrian, Strabo, and Diodorus Siculus noted that a tribe called the Sourasenoi worshipped Herakles. This tribe was said to have come from the lands near Mathura and the Yamuna River. These connections help historians try to place Porus within the complex social structure of ancient India.\n\nBefore the famous battle, Porus had a difficult relationship with the nearby state of Taxila. He had killed the previous ruler of Taxila, a man named Ambhiraj, who was also his maternal uncle. When Alexander the Great arrived in the region, the new ruler of Taxila was Omphis, the son of Ambhiraj. While Omphis became an ally to Alexander, he tried to use the Greek army's power to force Porus and another leader, Abisares, into submission. Abisares agreed to submit, but Porus refused. This refusal led Alexander to seek a direct confrontation with Porus on the banks of the Jhelum River.\n\nIn 326 BC, the Battle of the Hydaspes took place. Alexander used a clever strategy to cross the river and surprise Porus. On a stormy night just before dawn, Alexander's forces crossed the Jhelum unobstructed. Porus' son led a group of horsemen on chariots to stop them, but they were repelled by Alexander's cavalry. Porus then moved his army to the plains to prepare for a main engagement. He placed his infantry and war elephants on the front lines. He positioned his cavalry and chariots on the sides, or the wings, of his formation. [IMAGE:File:Le Brun, Alexander and

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Physical Map of Punjab.jpg
Physical Map of Punjab.jpg
File:Le Brun, Alexander and Porus.jpg
Le Brun, Alexander and Porus.jpg
File:Surrender of Porus to the Emperor Alexander.jpg
Surrender of Porus to the Emperor Alexander.jpg
File:Alexander the Great And King Poros - Opera From Antonio Cesti Burnacini - 1750.jpg
Alexander the Great And King Poros -...
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