Alexander invaded Taxila in around 327 B.C. When Alexander was at a distance of around four miles from the city, he met a whole army. He suspected treachery and therefore instructed his troops to prepare for a battle. However Ambhi, king of Taxila realized the mistake made by the Macedonians, left his army with a few friends and schemed to explain to Alexander, with an interpreter`s help that he meant to honour his foreign ally whose protection he had been soliciting for so long. He surrendered himself, his army and kingdom to Alexander.
He was treated with great respect in Taxila and on the fourth day he received presents of golden crowns and eighty talents of coined silver. Alexander had also sent to Ambhi a thousand talents with many banqueting vessels of gold and silver, Persian drapery and thirty chargers from his own stalls. These were all looted from the store-houses of the Old Persian kings by Alexander and ultimately found its lodging in the palace of Taxila. However his charity displeased some of the Macedonian generals. He secured an additional force of five thousand men and the loyalty of a most useful ally. Embassies from Indian princes met him with presents and declared their submission.
However Porus or Paurava sent a defiant reply saying that he would meet the invader at the frontier of his territory in arms. He was preparing to leave Taxila for fight with Porus. He offered the customary sacrifices and headed towards Jhelum River.
This article is a stub. You can enrich by adding more information to it. Send your Write Up to content@indianetzone.com
