CHAPTER 192

 

Hephaistion knew King Porus had to face a very difficult decision. In a heartbeat he went from holding all the possible crossing points of the Hydaspes River to be surrounded in three different directions— Only Alex could have done something like this –he thought with overwhelming pride. The enemy King’s strategy had been simple, obvious and very effective, elephants had been a key factor to keep them from crossing leaving him with all the advantages— But not any more. I can only imagine Porus’ confusion right now, not knowing how had this come to happen and struggling to find a way out.   

 

And the commander was not wrong. Alexander’s plan rested strongly on the surprised factor and, against the weather and all odds, they had succeeded in this. That morning they all had the impression that the battle had began in the wrong way for them, with the storm and the miscalculation of the crossing point; and, when Boukephalos was severely wounded, many took it as a bad omen— Boukephalos is an old horse but also the mud after last night’s storm makes our advance very difficult. It’s not surprising he was injured –the King had changed his mount after issuing orders to take his old friend and companion from the field to be treated.

 

He is shaken, first Aki and now…So far Alex had fought every major battle with Boukephalos; he loves his horse as much as he loved Peritas but…—he turned to look at his King, “determination” was written all over his face, his eyes always at the front, always looking at the future— He will not give up. 

 

If most of the men, if not all, had been reluctant to cross the Hydaspes now all doubts and fears had disappear. After their victory against the 2000 mounted Indians and 140 chariots, after King Porus’ own son had fallen, they knew they could win— When we win the upcoming battle historians will say this morning we fought in a skirmish, but for us, for Alexander, it was much more than this. This returned the confidence to men who had been waiting for 2 weeks under the rain watching war-elephants guarding the enemy’s camp.      

 

As they advanced, cavalry fist while the pezetairoi followed at their own speed, Hephaistion had a good look of the rests of what, until that morning, had been a powerful Indian force. Many horses lay dying in the middle of plaintive cries that sounded almost human; men dead and wounded could be found everywhere the same as destroyed chariots with wheels still stuck in the mud— That was their mistake; to deploy chariots with this mud only sealed their destiny.

 

Alexander had received reports that this forced had been commanded by King Porus’ own son, young Porus, who now was feasting in the underworld, and the thought of this only served to worry Hephaistion even more— His son is dead, if he had mine, would he pay us with the same coin? –that thought was enough to make him feel as if his entrails were frozen. The commander obliged himself to stay focus on the battle, if he gave himself to despair everything would be lost— And the hardest part of the battle is about to begin.

 

— Phai –Alexander’s soft voice took him out of his dark thoughts— My scouts found no sign of Peisandros and his men –the King, riding at his side, turned to face him— I guess is safe to say that Aki must be with Porus.  

 

— Or drown in the river –he spoke before thinking, saying what he really thought even if he wished with all his forces his son were fine. And the King looked at him for a long moment in absolute silence, almost as if he wanted to read his mind and see what was hidden there. 

 

— You don’t mean that –said Alexander at last.

 

— I don’t want it to be true but I am realistic –the emotion, sadness and concerned was palpable in his beloved’s voice— You saw the river, we almost drown there, what makes you so sure that Peisandros and his men could cross?

 

— And what makes you so sure they drown? –that successfully made Hephaistion close his mouth— We cannot assume the worst because that would be the same as giving up…Look at me. Achilles is fine, he has to be with Porus and, if Porus wanted to hurt him, he would have sent his son with the head of our Aki when he attacked. 

 

There he had a point but still…—Alex is right, I cannot give up –the commander nodded.

 

— You are right.

 

— Of course I am! Now, stop thinking in our son’s demise and our imminent doom and concentrate –Hephaistion smiled.

 

— If it pleases my King –he answered in the same mellow voice his sycophants used and, Alexander laughed so hard, that Ptolemy and Perdikkas turned alarmed to see if their King had finally lost his mind.

 

— I told you he was crazy –whispered Perdikkas and Leonnatos raised his eyebrows.

 

— We have known that since he made us built that mole to reach Tyre –answered his friend as if it were common knowledge they were following a lunatic.

 

— And, if our King is crazy, that makes us what? –asked Perdikkas.

 

— Even more nuts for obeying him –said Ptolemy making them laugh.

 

XXX

 

The sight of an enemy army had never been as frightening for them as it was now— It looks like a castle –thought Hephaistion watching from his mount how the Indian infantry was placed on a wide front that appeared to cover the entire plain, with elephants posted every 100 feet— Men are the walls and the beasts the towers that defend the King –his dark gray eyes moved along this living walls until he found at the flanks the chariots, covering the cavalry— This will not be as easy as I thought.   

 

He turned and found his lover deep in concentration, his uneven eyes on the enemy and his mind working furiously to find the correct path to lead them all to victory. Alexander ordered a halt, they had to wait for the infantry and arranged their ranks before continuing, luckily for them, the broken ground and trees helped to conceal them…at least for a while.

 

The King and his commander left the rest and walked to get as close as they could without being seen. But, to have a better look at the enemy army did not make things any easier— The elephants are arrange as part of the infantry, we cannot attack them as we are used to or the beasts will cause havoc among our horses.

 

— What do you think? –Hephaistion lost no time to approach his lover. He was nervous, as nervous as he had never been before a battle.  

 

I need to calm down. Aki will be fine –he took a deep breath.

 

— I think we cannot try a frontal attack –the King answered but his eyes remained on the enemy all time— I cannot risk the horses against the elephants…—the commander nodded slowly. The King took a moment to consider this. If he couldn’t use his best troops, the hetairoi cavalry, there was only one option— The phalanx will have to deal with them.

 

— Alex, you are talking about sending men against beasts, besides, if you relied solely on the infantry the Indian cavalry will outflank us –he agreed that to send the cavalry against the elephants could be disastrous but, in his opinion, this was not the solution.

 

Alexander remained silent, watching the enemy through the broken branches of a long dead tree, resting his weight on one foot—What to do? –what made this battle different from any other he had fought so far was the elephants, he had to find a way to deal with them and then, the battle would be won. But, how? He could try to lure the elephants away from the battlefield, as he had done with the cataphracts at Gaugamela— If I cannot defeat them, I can always take them away while the phalanx does the rest –but as soon as he thought it he discarded the idea.

 

In order to do that I will have to use the hetairoi cavalry and horses are afraid of the elephants, not to mention that I will have also to deal with the Indian cavalry –even if his beloved could not see it the only solution was to send the phalanx against the elephants while the cavalry protected the wings.

 

— What if we defeat their cavalry first –Hephaistion was not sure if his lover was talking to him or was talking to himself. Alexander used to do that and he decided to play along— If I can deceive Porus making him move all his cavalry to the left flank then, I will be able to attack him from behind.

 

— That has no sense, Alex –said his beloved— Even if Porus does as you say, how can you possible attack his cavalry from behind?

 

— Easy, hiding part of my forces.

 

Mm…Now, this has sense –thought the King, finally finding what he sought.

 

— Eh? –his beloved was officially confused at this point but, the King did nothing to enlighten him. He kissed his lips and ran to give orders.

 

Indian Centre

 

There wasn’t one among his advisors that had not insisted King Porus to use the Macedonian Prince to stop the invader. Many said he should send the foreign King a message, others that he should send the boy in parts, but Porus refused to hear them— They don’t understand.

 

— They boy is a gift sent by the gods, your Excellency –had said one of his kinsmen— We should not insult them and thank their generosity using him as a hostage. The invader will have no other choice but surrender and negotiate with us under your Excellency’s terms. 

 

— That or to attack us in order to rescue his Prince –King Porus had shook his head— The boy is a curse, brought to us by deserters and traitors –he had answered that morning, while getting ready to lead the upcoming battle. He was a very tall and impressive man with a strong body and a frown permanently adorning his forehead. He was not a man use to smile but that did not mean he was cruel, on the contrary, he was a man with a strong sense of honor and righteousness that sometimes got him in trouble with neighbor Kings. 

 

The King of Paurava never forgot an offense, he had no sense of humor and did not understand sarcasm; but his word was as good as gold and a man could always be sure that the King’s justice was always fair. Peisandros had judged him completely wrong, treating him as if he were Darius and that had cost him his and his men’s lives.  

 

— I will not use the invader’s son like a shield, hiding behind like a coward. I will march and face the enemy, defeat the invader and go back to my kingdom with my head high knowing I win a great victory with blood and steal –Porus closed his fist in front of his face. He was strong enough to hit a man and left him shaking like jelly for a while.

 

— Excellency, then, if you are not using the boy as a hostage, sent his head to the invader –said Spitaces, the local Indian governor, a bald man with deep dark eyes and annoying voice— Your son is dead its only just to pay blood with blood.

 

King Porus looked disgusted, as if he had been showed a dead animal or rotten food, his lip cursed up and his eyes turned cold and hard like winter.

 

— Do you want to turn me into a child’s murderer? –he raised his voice— My son died on the battlefield, like the warrior he was; the invader’s son is a boy, a sick boy! And you want me to cut his head? I should be sending them yours instead –Spitaces bowed— I will hear no more about the boy. Prepare for battle!

 

Now, the King waited seated on the top of his most impressive war-elephant.

 

“Porus himself not only surpassed the standard of height to which we conceive the human figure to be limited, but, besides this, the elephant on which he was mounted seemed to add to his proportions, for it towered over all the other elephants even as Porus himself stood taller than other men”(1). He watched the enemy advancing, ready to present battle, and then knew he had taken the right decision. He nodded, following the invader’s moves with attention and raised his arm, waiting for the moment to give the order to attack.

 

Macedonian Right Wing

 

Hephaistion charged at the head of his squadron. Alexander was at his right and Perdikkas at his left, each one of them advancing in arrow formation to attack the enemy cavalry. The hooves of his horse soon matched the beating of his heart and the moment appeared to stop and stretch to eternity, too long and too short. His whole life was reduced to this, his past did not matter and his future was uncertain, all that was important was the now.

 

In the blink of an eye, Hephaistion could distinguish with clarity the enemy waiting on their chariots. He never took his eyes off them and never saw their mounted archers passed, but he heard them, riding faster than the rest to release their arrows over the enemy, a deadly rain bringing confusion and disorder to their ranks. The whining of horses and the screams of men floated to him like the perfume of spring flowers and the commander closed his eyes for a moment— It’s time –when he opened them again came the savage clash, like waves against the shore, but the chariots were no longer a threat to them and were not their prey.

 

They went straight to the enemy cavalry.

 

Hephaistion drew his swords, the sound of the metal scrapping the scabbard as familiar to him as the kisses of his lover. It was the first time he would fight a battle like this with grandfather Demetrios’ swords and could not thank him enough for his gift as he claimed the life of his first enemy that day. It promised to be a savage battle but he would face it with the finest swords in the known world— This is for you, granpa.

 

The commander appeared to dance, moving with deadly grace, his blades always finding his target, appearing to cut air and light as well as flesh and bones. His surroundings disappeared and he continued advancing as if his enemies were nothing. He did not hear, did not feel, he just dance with death. It was not long before, without noticing, he found himself alone surrounded by enemies having left behind the rest of his companions, including Alexander.

 

Shit! –he cursed. A rider without horse tried to hold his leg and pulled him down, but Hephaistion severed his neck with one sword and, with the other, stopped the spear of a mounted Indian that had hopped to take him by surprise. Big mistake.  

 

Hephaistion appeared to have eyes everywhere, moved faster than anyone else. The Indian blinked and, when he opened his eyes again, the commander was leaving; he did not understand why until he felt the warm blood sliding down his chest, pouring generously from a wound that appear to yawn in his neck.

 

Indian Centre

 

King Porus saw the cavalry charge but, more importantly, he saw the King himself leading the attack, his unmistakable helmet and purple cloak, and that made up his mind— The invader fears the elephants so he is looking to outflank us attacking with all his forces my cavalry –Porus understood he could end the battle in a single stroke and did not hesitated to give the order for his cavalry on the right wing to move to the left.

 

I will trap him and victory should be ours –he thought, taking a deep breath and looking at the sky. The storm had left them a cloudy gray day and a muddy slippery ground— A good day as any for a battle, at least it’s not raining.     

 

Macedonian Right Wing

 

Alexander cut down the enemy in front of him and, as his body fell from the horse, he smiled watching how the enemy started to move in his direction. His plan had worked with such perfection that it was almost as if they had rehearsed it— Porus sealed his destiny when he gave that order –he thought, drinking in the sound of one thousand horses charging against him. His long sword cut through armor and flesh, opening a bloody path in the middle of a whirlwind of blood and chaos, screams and the kiss of steel. They had to destroy the enemy cavalry, eliminated the danger for his infantry before they could advance and face their true enemy there: the elephants.

 

Buy a ticket for the train

Hide in a suitcase if you have to

This ain't no singing in the rain

This is a twister that will destroy you

 

You can run but you can't hide

Because no one here gets out alive

Find a friend in whom you can confide

Julien, you're a slow motion suicide

(Placebo, Julien)

 

Macedonian Rear

 

— “When I” —had said the King that morning to Koinos— “along with Ptolemy, Perdiccas, and Hephaestion, have fallen upon the enemy's left wing, and you see me

in the heat of the conflict, do you then advance the right wing, and charge the enemy when their ranks begin to waver.”(2)

 

From his hidden place Koinos judged the time had come, he could clearly see how the cavalry squadron began to move behind the enemy lines to help the left wing and torn asunder the Macedonians.

 

— What do you say Demetrius? Does it look to you like our invitation to the party? –cousin Demetrios smiled.

 

— I say don’t keep them waiting.

 

— I couldn’t agree more.

 

Koinos and cousin Demetrios took their cavalry squadrons across the plain. The ground was treacherous and the mud sucked the hooves of their horses like hands looking to hold them, but that did not stop them. They rode like demons under the very noses of the Indians and passing through their right wing unopposed for the absolutely astonishment of the Indians, trapping the enemy cavalry from the rear. Nobody saw them coming until it was too late.

 

Arrows flew over Koinos and cousin Demetrios in a desperate attempt to stop them, but it was for no use. Indian archers used a long heavy bow that needed to be rested on the ground to be drawn, but the muddy ground, that worked so furiously to stop Koinos and Demetrios, was now playing against the Indians and they found themselves incapable of shooting with accurate precision.

 

Indian Centre

 

King Porus clenched his jaw so hard that men around him could hear his teeth grinding— I am a fool! –he thought angry, watching his cavalry trapped, as if in the jaws of a hungry lion, while the invader’s phalanx advanced directly to him. He thought the enemy had taken all his forces to his left wing, he thought he could trap them and never expected this— But this is not over.

 

— Sound the order; elephants advance! –shouted the King, ready to lead the attack personally. Porus was not Darius, Porus did not hide behind his guards, he would sooner die than ran away. His impressive war-elephant trumpeted and advance, really to attack the phalanx while his master issued orders, the same as his sons, along the lines of infantry.  

 

Macedonian Centre

 

“And you” –Alexander had said while issuing orders before the battle, turning to Seleucus, Antigenes and Tauron— “Must bear down upon their centre, and press them hard in front. The formidable length and strength of our pikes will never be so useful as when they are directed against these huge beasts and their drivers. Hurl, then, their riders to the ground, and stab the beasts themselves. Their assistance is not of a kind to be depended on, and they may do their own side more damage than ours, for they are driven against the enemy by constraint, while terror turns them against their own ranks."(3)

 

When Seleucus heard the plan he thought it was a good idea, when he saw the elephants, 5 tons and a half charging directly at them, he changed his mind. One thing was to see an elephant from afar, and a completely different to have one angry, in front of you and looking to crush you like an insect—This is a nightmare –he had faith in his Argyraspides, they all were good soldiers, the finest in the world, but this was too much and he began to fear, not the beasts, but the very real possibility that his men would break and run away.

 

But I cannot run, I cannot die until I know Achilles is safe –and with that in mind he ordered to keep advancing.

 

To face a cavalry charge was frightening, can you imagine what was to face an elephant charge? Elephants at my time were like weapons of mass destruction and standing in front of them was like standing before a tank. Many great battles at ancient times were fought against elephants; Scipio the Africanus became famous precisely because he won at Zama against these animals. Elephants were both fear and respected. Besides, never forget that we were not used to these animals and there is nothing more terrible for a man than the unknown.

 

The whole place appeared to shake along with the fear in their souls and, for a moment, Seleucus thought the ground would crack under the elephants. They were truly living towers, mortal weapons, that not only crushed more than one amidst horrible screams that will haunted them for the rest of their lives, reducing man and armor to a bloody pulp, they also attacked with their trunks, taking men over their heads to deliver them to their riders. 

 

But elephants weren’t their only enemies. The Indian infantry also attacked them, taking advantage of every gap that appeared in the phalanx. One man fell on the mud beside Seleucus, a hand on his neck in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding, but the commander had no time to stare, he covered himself with the shield just before another arrow could claimed his life as well. The elephant riders released their arrows against them, fighting with everything they had and stop the Macedonians from killing the beasts.

 

Easier said than done. Alexander wanted the infantry to deal with the elephants, but they did not come alone. A horrible scream rose above the noise, like a thousand tortured souls, and Seleucus heard the sickly sound of bones and armor crashing and the victorious trumpeting of a war-elephant— This is hell.

 

— Don’t get close! Use the spears! Use the bloody spears, you bastards! –shouted the commander of the Argyraspides at the top of his voice, trying to be heard above the noise of the battle, but, when he turned he found that his unit was no longer formed in orderly ranks, it was a mass of men trying their best to surround the beasts and killed them with their long spears.

 

Seleucus felt dazed, how long had they been there? Hours had passed, he could tell when he looked at the sun. All around him he could see the corpses of his men, the enemy or a dying elephant. He hurried to rejoin the battle and a spray of blood blinded him for a moment when a man cut the elephant’s trunk. A cheer rose as brief as the life of a butterfly when, instead of mortally wounding the beast, he only enraged him, and the war-elephant charged against them completely annihilating what was left of their formation.   

 

Macedonian Right Wing

 

Among the confusion of men, blood and steel, Alexander saw clearly the moment when the enemy divided their cavalry to meet Koinos and Demetrios. A fatal mistake and one the King did not fail to exploit. It was then when Alexander, at the top of his voice, ordered to press the attack. This was clearly the last thing the Indians expected because, instead of resisting, they fell back, looking to hide among the elephants, which they saw as their impenetrable fortress.  

 

— That’s right, run away bastards! –Hephaistion could hear Nikandros shouting somewhere behind him.

 

The Indians were doing exactly what Alexander expected and miraculously the phalanx had withstand the terrible charge of the elephants— Just a little more, a little more and everything will be over –Hephaistion’s arms trembled after hours fighting but he appeared not to feel the tiredness or the pain of the injures he had suffered, his mind was set on Achilles and nothing else mattered.

 

— Hephaistion, what are you waiting for? –Alexander called him, already chasing the enemy and his beloved took off his helmet.

 

The cold breeze against his damp hair was a small relief. His blade, still firmly gripped in his hands, dripped blood and his shoulder throbbed in the place where a spear had hit him. Then, Hephaistion took a moment to survey the confusion that had now become the battlefield, the mass of men and animals trying to survive and began to toy with an idea— If I left now, if I go directly to the enemy camp, no one would notice and I will be able to look for Aki –but he shook his head and discarded the idea.

 

As tempting as that thought was he could not go and leave Alexander here. He would not risk the life of his lover this way. The commander looked for his locket, safely hidden under his breastplate— I have to be patience –and with this in mind, he pressed the flanks of his horse and followed the King. 

 

The elephants were in big trouble now; the phalanx kept advancing despite the hell they were living, pressing the enemy back with shields lock, moving up like a solid mass, trapping the elephants until the beasts began to trample the Indians. And it was now when Alexander saw with joy that the elephants, at long last, broke and ran away from the battlefield, leaving the enemy’s centre vulnerable and ready to be taken like ripe fruit.  

 

The cavalry joined the battle against the elephants and, as Hephaistion cut down an Indian who pretended to attack his lover from behind, he saw with horror how Nikandros charged directly to an injured elephant.

 

— NICK! –he shouted with all his forces and rushed to reach his brother.

 

The animal had 2 spears stuck on his side but was not mortally wounded, in a heartbeat the beast stumped over the leg of a pezetaios, whose scream sent shivers down Hephaistion’s spine, and, with his trunk hit a hetairoi, man and horse, sending them to the ground. The commander had no idea what was Nikandros thinking but his brother took his spear with all the intention of killing the elephant in one stroke. 

 

Hephaistion followed him and, for a brief moment, he thought Nikandros would succeed until the beast turned in the last second, raising his trunk like a sword to kill his enemy.

 

— NO!

 

Everything happened too fast. The commander arrived at the last possible moment interposing himself between his brother and the elephant and the animal hit them, horses and all, sending them directly to the ground. It was a miracle their mounts did not fell over them. Hephaistion tasted mud and blood in his mouth, his head spinning around, disorientated and lost, he raised his head and saw a big gray mass over him but could not react. He just stayed there, watching how death came for him…until Nikandros pulled him with all his forces before the elephant crushed him. 

 

— Phai, Phai –his brother shook him but he heard everything far, far away. It took the commander a moment before waking up— Phai, answer me!!!

 

— I’m fine, I’m fine –Hephaistion answered still feeling dizzy and hearing an annoying buzzing in his ear.

 

Nikandros took a hand to his head, brushing aside his brother’s damp hair, and frowned.

 

— You are bleeding, why the hell did you take off your helmet?

 

— I’m fine, really –the commander closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

 

— Who am I?

 

— What?! –Hephaistion exclaimed, opening his eyes.

 

— Last time you hit your head you bloody lost your memory, so who am I?

 

— My reckless stupid brother who charged directly to a wounded elephant –answered Hephaistion and Nikandros patted his shoulder.

 

— You’ll be fine.

 

I fought many battles when I was mortal but never one as savage as this. After the elephants ran away the battlefield became a carnage. Alexander easily surrounded the Indians, now that their cavalry and elephants were on the run, and it was the end. The Macedonian soldiers were terribly shaken after facing the elephants and gave no quarter to the Indians; soon blood and mud became one making impossible to walk. The enemy tried to escape through the gaps in our formation but even that option was taken from them when Krateros crossed the river and chased them with fresh troops. 

 

Indian Centre

 

King Porus kept fighting to the very end despite the imminent defeat, despite the death of a great number of his offices and captains, Spitaces the local Indian governor, all the officers in command of the elephants and chariots, and all the cavalry officers and other commanders of high rank (4), despite that both his sons were now in the underworld and he had nothing left but his honor as warrior and his pride as King. His shoulder was bleeding badly after a javelin had found his way to him, but he did not give up— I am a King of corpses.

 

Not even his elephants had survived. The poor animals had been slaughtered with utmost cruelty that equaled the feared the invaders felt for them and the very few who still had their lives had been captured.

 

This place is a graveyard, an offering to Kali, soaked in blood and suffering –thought Porus, his own life escaping through the wound on his shoulder. But his elephant was not injured and he kept charging against the enemy with murderous fury— I will not give up,  am I going to be less than this beast?

 

Macedonian Right Wing

 

As soon as Alexander heard King Porus was wounded but still fighting he sent Ambhi with terms for his surrender. Victory was his and he had no desire to see an enemy, who had fought so gallantly, dead. 

 

— Alexander –Hephaistion rode to him, his armor covered with blood and gore, his face splattered with read tears, and the urgency in his voice as real as the battle they had fought— I’m going to the enemy camp to look for Aki, he has to…

 

— Wait. I just sent Ambhi to Porus, if he surrenders there will be no need for you to risk your life. We don’t know what is waiting for us at their camp or where they have Aki, it will better to wait –said the King and his beloved frowned.

 

— You sent Ambhi to deal with Porus? Are you out of your mind? They are enemies! –in other circumstances Hephaistion would have never talked to him like that but, he was tired, wounded, shaken and extremely worried for his son.

 

At some point just before being stumped by an elephant he had lost his patience. But his words were exactly what the King needed and Alexander realized his mistake. He pressed the flanks of his horse and ran to meet Porus with his beloved behind.

 

XXX

 

(1) (2) (3) Curtius. Ancient India: it's Invasion by Alexander the Great, p 209

(4) Arrian. The Campaigns of Alexander, p 279