The Battle of Hydaspes
(Jhelum) 326 BC

Alexandrian Imperial vs. Classical Indian

By Martin Myers
(aka Diades II)

The battle named after the river (Hydaspes or Jhelum depending upon which historian's view you want to follow) was the last of Alexander's major set-piece battles and one of the bloodiest. Alexander had finally mastered the Persian Empire and was expanding into India, allegedly searching for World's End. His opposition was Porus and the conflict represented the Macedonian phalanx's test by war elephant.

A stand-off had been achieved across the river, which was too difficult to cross opposed. For days Alexander had moved portions of his troops up and down the river hoping to catch Porus unawares. Eventually Alexander and his favored high-speed troops managed a crossing, whilst Craterus had kept Porus busy with the bulk of the Macedonian army. Porus got wind of the situation reasonably early and dispatched his son (in some accounts his brother) to hold Alexander in place whilst Porus mobilized his forces. The threat of Craterus crossing with the remainder of the Macedonian army was ever present.

The Armies

We were looking for a larger battle than simply pitting II/3 Classical Indians (II/3) versus Alexandrian Macedonian (II/12) or Imperials (II/14), with some additional to set-piece interest, but that still had an historical feel. We were also constrained by the limits of our available figures! What follows worked well for us. Basically the scenario is a Large Battle DBA, i.e. somewhere between standard and Big, with 24 units and 2 commanders for each side.

Alexander's Macedonians: 1x3Kn (CinC, Alexander), 1x4Pk (Gen, Craterus), 8x4Pk, 3x3Kn, 4x3Cv, 4x4Sp, 3x2Ps
Porus' Indians: 1xEl (CinC, Porus), 1xHCh (Gen, Porus' son), 3xEl, 2xHCh, 3x3Cv, 4x4Sp, 4x4Bl, 4x4Bw, 2x3Ax

The players are given reasonably free rein as to how the forces were split within their respective commands, but neither Alexander nor Porus' son can exceed 12 elements and Porus' son is not allowed elephants.

Terrain

The terrain is set at Big Battle DBA size, but turned through 90 degrees, so the "width" of the battlefield is as normal DBA and the "length" doubled. The key feature of the terrain is a "waterway" running down one half of a long edge, to Alexander's right (Porus' distant far left. There should be a scattering of Marshes and Woods backing onto the Waterway and a scattering of Woods and Rough over the rest of the battlefield, such that each half of the board meets DBA set-up criteria for "Tropical".

Deployment

Alexander deploys first as if for normal DBA, at one table end with the waterway, representing the Hydaspes on his right.
Porus' son deploys to face him, but must be no closer than the board's midpoint.
Porus deploys at the opposite end of the board to Alexander, again according to DBA rules.
Craterus "arrives" as a Littoral landing with his back to the Waterway. Basically at the start of each of Alexander's bounds a die is rolled and the number of previously completed bounds by Alexander is added. Any score in excess of 6 means Craterus has arrived, i.e. there is no way he can arrive in the first bound.

Once initial deployment is completed, Alexander goes first.

Each general has a pre-designated die, so the C-in-C will frequently be less PIP-ful than his second in command!

Victory Conditions

Morale operates as in Big Battle DBA, so either the commander or at least one third of a given commander's units has to be lost for the command to become demoralised.

There are no camps, but otherwise victory is as per Big Battle DBA (basically wipe out the C-in-C or half of the opposition)!

Our Results

Alexander had crossed with his Companion Cavalry, Agrianians and Hypaspists. (1xKn (C-in-C), 3x3Kn, 2x2Ps, 4x4Pk).
Porus' son went to meet him with only chariots and cavalry. (1xHCh (Gen), 2xHCh, 3x3Cv). The ensuing clash saw Alexander's right suffering at the hands of the Heavy Chariots until Alexander himself galloped across from the left to intervene by slaying Porus' son.

Porus, fully aware of the potential threat of Craterus' arrival with the reserves, kept his elephants on his left flank heading for the river bank. When Craterus finally arrived there was some sacrificial spear action to hold up the pachyderms whilst the phalanx wheeled to face. Alexander mopped up the demoralised advanced guard and was making solid headway against Porus' infantry, when Craterus' wing was demoralised.

From then on Porus' troops ground the Macedonians down to achieve a narrow victory. For us then history was reversed, but it all felt accurate; the battle was close, bloody, hard fought and Alexander personally stepped in to kill Porus' son. I hope you enjoy this take on the battle as much as we did.

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Last Update: 12 Sept. 2009