Alcsentre Calanice
Gone Fishin'
In 326 BCE, Alexander III of Macedon invaded India after conquering the Persian Empire. He defeated the local king Porus and made him King of the Indus region (Punjab). But since his army refused to follow him into India, Alexander had to lead his soldiers back to Babylon. He died in this city in 323 BCE. But what if he lived on and cherished the dream to conquer India? How should he prepare for this expedition?
Here the ideas I had:
I. Exploring the terrain
Ancient Greeks know only very little about India, and they know even less about its geography. Even its triangular shape was ignored by them. So it will be of major importance to send spies and ambassadors to explore the country; and Nearchos should circumnavigate India to determine is true size and form.
II. Identifying the enemy
The most important Indian states of the time was the Nanda Empire, ruling Maghade and the surrounding regions. According to Wikipedia, the Nanda Empire could field an incredibly great army - but I don't think that these figures are really reliable. 200,000 infantry, 20,000 cavalry, 2,000 war chariots and 3000 elephants are likely an exaggeration. Anyway, Alexander should expect great numbers of elephants and chariots.
III. Forming a suitable army
The Macedonian infantry and cavalry is superior to the Indian forces, but the war elephants are hard to beat. Javelines can be used to drive back an elephant, so light infantry like archers is required. Chariots will not be a menace to the Greek phalanx, and it's doubtful if the Indian states would use them against Alexander a second time (they had already proved week at the Battle of the Hydaspes).
IV. Establishing a support infrastructure
Given the great numbers required to defeat the numerous Indian armies, efficient logistics are indispensable. The best would be to build roads from the center of the Empire to India, but there is no easy route to take. The northern one runs through modern Afghanistan and the Hindu Kush, while the southern one crosses the desert of Gedrosia. Also, it would be important to establish granaries and water wells along these roads and also in the Indus region. And if there's some intelligent inventor at hand, build a chain of semaphores from India to Babylon, so that reinforcements can easily be request
V. Building a support fleet
Because the roads to India all leads through deserts or high mountains, it might be useful to build a support fleet that ships troops from Babylonia to India to avoid crossing wasteland. This fleet could also transport supplies from the heart of the Empire to India. Getting supplies and reinforcements from Babylon, or even worse, from Greece to India will be hell, but with enough roads and ships it's possible.
Of these steps, especially building the roads and other support buildings will take a long time, and I assume it will all in all take ten years to prepare the Empire for a war against India.
What do you think? Can Alexander conquer India, and how should he do it? How many men does he need?
Here the ideas I had:
I. Exploring the terrain
Ancient Greeks know only very little about India, and they know even less about its geography. Even its triangular shape was ignored by them. So it will be of major importance to send spies and ambassadors to explore the country; and Nearchos should circumnavigate India to determine is true size and form.
II. Identifying the enemy
The most important Indian states of the time was the Nanda Empire, ruling Maghade and the surrounding regions. According to Wikipedia, the Nanda Empire could field an incredibly great army - but I don't think that these figures are really reliable. 200,000 infantry, 20,000 cavalry, 2,000 war chariots and 3000 elephants are likely an exaggeration. Anyway, Alexander should expect great numbers of elephants and chariots.
III. Forming a suitable army
The Macedonian infantry and cavalry is superior to the Indian forces, but the war elephants are hard to beat. Javelines can be used to drive back an elephant, so light infantry like archers is required. Chariots will not be a menace to the Greek phalanx, and it's doubtful if the Indian states would use them against Alexander a second time (they had already proved week at the Battle of the Hydaspes).
IV. Establishing a support infrastructure
Given the great numbers required to defeat the numerous Indian armies, efficient logistics are indispensable. The best would be to build roads from the center of the Empire to India, but there is no easy route to take. The northern one runs through modern Afghanistan and the Hindu Kush, while the southern one crosses the desert of Gedrosia. Also, it would be important to establish granaries and water wells along these roads and also in the Indus region. And if there's some intelligent inventor at hand, build a chain of semaphores from India to Babylon, so that reinforcements can easily be request
V. Building a support fleet
Because the roads to India all leads through deserts or high mountains, it might be useful to build a support fleet that ships troops from Babylonia to India to avoid crossing wasteland. This fleet could also transport supplies from the heart of the Empire to India. Getting supplies and reinforcements from Babylon, or even worse, from Greece to India will be hell, but with enough roads and ships it's possible.
Of these steps, especially building the roads and other support buildings will take a long time, and I assume it will all in all take ten years to prepare the Empire for a war against India.
What do you think? Can Alexander conquer India, and how should he do it? How many men does he need?
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