Hydaspes

Hydaspes is the ancient Greek name for the Jhelum River, a major watercourse in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. In classical literature, Hydaspes also designates the notable encounter between Alexander the Great and King Porus on the river’s banks. The name is typically encountered in sources from Arrian, Plutarch, and other Hellenistic writers.

Geography and course

The Hydaspes rises in the Himalayan region and flows through the Kashmir Valley before entering the plains of present-day Pakistan. It is part of the greater Indus river system, eventually joining the Chenab River and contributing to the network that drains the region. In modern geography, the Jhelum region remains a significant conduit for irrigation and hydropower in Pakistan.

Historical significance

The Battle of the Hydaspes occurred in 326 BCE when Alexander’s Macedonian forces faced Porus, ruler of the Paurava kingdom, on the river’s frontier. The engagement is noted for its tactical challenges, including fighting among monsoon rains and the use of war elephants. Alexander won the battle, and Porus was allowed to retain his throne as a subordinate ruler under Macedonian overlordship, illustrating Alexander’s practice of installing local rulers but subordinating them to his empire. The battle marked the easternmost extent of Alexander’s conquests and is a prominent episode in classical accounts of his campaigns.

Legacy

Hydaspes endures in classical literature as a symbol of Alexander’s eastern campaigns and as the historical name for the Jhelum River. Today, the Jhelum is a vital river for Pakistan’s Punjab, supporting agriculture, settlements, and regional ecosystems, while the Hydaspes name remains a reference point in historical and geographical discussions of the ancient world.