29 events the sources record for this year, grouped by region.
What happened
South Asia (7)
Guided by the natives, he sent Ptolemy to take the easiest part of the rock first, and Alexander began the siege of Aornos. (Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 4.29)
On the first day he built an earth mound one stadion long, and on the fourth day took a small hill to attack the rock. After taking Aornos he entered the land of the Assakenoi and came to the city of Dyrta. (Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 4.30)
He crossed the Indus, made sacrifices, and marched on Taxila, where Taxiles handed over the city. Alexander set out for the Hydaspes river. (Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 5.8.1–5.8.2)
He heard that the independent Indian tribes, including the Kathaioi, were preparing to fight near the fortified city of Sangala, and marched on. (Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 5.22.1–5.22.2)
Alexander built an earth mound and a palisade between the lake and the wall in front of Sangala, blocked the escape routes through the night, and took the city. (Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 5.24.1–5.24.6)
At Nysa, between the Kophen and Indus rivers, the citizens told Macedonians the Dionysus legend and were granted their freedom. (Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 5.2.1–5.2.7)
Alexander reached the Indus and saw the bridge that Hephaestion had built and the two lines of thirty-oared ships. Taxiles sent him 200 talents of silver, 3,000 cattle, over 10,000 sheep, 30 elephants, and 700 cavalry. (Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 5.3.1–5.3.3)
When Alexander camped on the bank of the Hydaspes, Porus appeared across the river with an elephant corps and a large army and guarded every crossing point. Alexander moved his army back and forth to deceive him. (Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 5.9.1–5.9.4)
Alexander took thirty-oared ships with half his shield-bearers and others and crossed by going around an island, landing on the far side. A scout sent by Porus noticed and rushed to inform him. (Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 5.14.1–5.14.5)
By Ptolemy's report Alexander thought Porus was coming with his whole army, but when he confirmed the number of Indian troops he immediately charged with the cavalry. (Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 5.15.1–5.15.7)
As the Indian cavalry gathered to resist, Coenus appeared from behind and blocked both sides, so the Indian formation fell into disorder. The Indian army withdrew between the elephants. (Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 5.18.1–5.18.2)
Seeing Alexander's advantage, Craterus and others crossed the river and took up the pursuit. Fewer than 20,000 Indian infantry and 3,000 cavalry fell. Two sons of Porus died, and Porus surrendered. (Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 5.18.1–5.18.2)
Alexander asked Porus how he wished to be treated; he recognized him as king and formed a friendship with him. He founded Nikaia at the battle site and Boukephala at the crossing, in honor of his horse Bucephalus. (Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 5.19.1–5.19.6)
After finishing sacrifices and games on the bank of the Hydaspes, Alexander left Craterus to found a city and campaigned against neighboring Indian tribes. He then crossed the Akesines river by ships and inflated skins (Ptolemy's record gives its width as 15 stadia). (Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 5.20.1–5.20.8)
On hearing that beyond the Hyphasis lay fertile land with many elephants, Alexander gave a speech to his officers to push further. (Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 5.25.1–5.25.6)
Nympius persuades the Samnite commander to take advantage of the moment when Rome's forces are divided between Palaepolis and Samnium (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 8.26)
Dispirited by the battle with Porus, the Macedonian army refuses to advance further (Plutarch's Parallel Lives Plut. Alexander 62)
Wanting to see the sea, he builds boats and rafts and descends the river (Plutarch's Parallel Lives Plut. Alexander 63)
Changes of power ◆
Places where the world territory data shows a change of borders in this year.
◆ Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity) appears
◆ Achaemenid Empire ends
◆ Ptolemaic Kingdom takes 2,858,200 km² of former Achaemenid Empire land
◆ Achaemenid Empire loses 2,858,200 km² to Ptolemaic Kingdom