In 305-303 BC, years after the Macedonian satraps of the Indus were expelled, Chandragupta waged war against Seleucus, one of Alexander's generals and former satrap of Babylon. IOTL the war was wrapped up relatively quickly, with the Seleucids ceding eastern territories to focus on the west, maintaining friendly diplomatic relations afterwards. What if Chandragupta wanted as a western neighbor a Diadochi which would prioritize the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia and Western Iran, and subsequently allied with Antigonus in the west, invading Seleucus and deposing him, using it to create a buffer of nominal satraps, tribes, and other polities, to defend his possessions in Eastern Iran and the Indus Valley. He does not take any more territory, considering that doing so would overextend his empire, but he does loot the old Achaemenid treasuries and alters the local balance of power. How plausible is this?
WI: Chandragupta intervenes in the Diadochi Wars?
- Thread starter SunKing105
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He already had a friendly, Western-oriented neighbour in Seleucus. One who willingly gave up most of the far-eastern claims of Alexander's Empire. As for raiding Achaemenid treasures- seems extremely dicey reason to me. Not many Indian polities have bothered with raiding Iran, cuz they were already quite rich and with surplus production.
Getting hold of Afghanistan is crucial considering it lies directly on the overland silk route. Beyond that, it's meh for the Indians. Given the logistical expenses, a raid might actually be a net drain on any indo-gangetic plain based empire's budget.
That being said, he might make a push to support the claims of his new Seleucid relatives if Seleucus dies soon after making peace with him. This push probably would be more of a proxy war between Chandragupta and whoever seizes the initiative to move in on Seleucus's territory in the West. I can see Chandragupta providing money and men for a push into Bactria and what's Greater Khorasan today, even perhaps into Eastern Iran.
Getting hold of Afghanistan is crucial considering it lies directly on the overland silk route. Beyond that, it's meh for the Indians. Given the logistical expenses, a raid might actually be a net drain on any indo-gangetic plain based empire's budget.
That being said, he might make a push to support the claims of his new Seleucid relatives if Seleucus dies soon after making peace with him. This push probably would be more of a proxy war between Chandragupta and whoever seizes the initiative to move in on Seleucus's territory in the West. I can see Chandragupta providing money and men for a push into Bactria and what's Greater Khorasan today, even perhaps into Eastern Iran.
It really depends on the scenario. The Seleucids worried about Mauryan power extending into Aria if nothing else. There’s a reason Antiochus III went to renew the peace treaty with Samprati’s governor in Taxil.
Chandragupta deposes Seleucus and leaves the east a mess of independent satraps, fiefdoms, and tribes, instead of establishing diplomatic relations with him.