Editing Porus (section)

=== Background ===
[[File:Physical Map of Punjab.jpg|thumb|A detailed physical map of the Punjab region. The major rivers of the region including the Jhelum (Hydaspes) and Chenab (Acesines) are visible.]]

Porus ruled over the tracts between the rivers Hydaspes (Jhelum) and Acesines (Chenab); Strabo noted the territory to contain almost 300 cities.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book|last=Bosworth|first=Albert Brian|title=Conquest and Empire: The Reign of Alexander the Great|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1993|pages=125–130|chapter=The Campaign of the Hydaspes}}</ref> He had a hostile relationship with the neighboring polity of [[Taxila]], having assassinated their erstwhile ruler Ambhiraj, his maternal uncle.<ref name=":6" />

When Alexander crossed the Indus in their eastward [[Wars of Alexander the Great|invasion]], probably in [[Udabhandapura]], he was greeted by the then-ruler of Taxila, [[Taxiles|Omphis]], son of Ambhiraj.<ref name=":6" /> Years ago, he had visited Alexander in [[Sogdiana]] and was treated as an ally; Omphis' rule was confirmed and gifts lavished, but a Macedonian [[satrap]] was installed.<ref name=":6" /> Omphis hoped to force both Porus and [[Abisares]] into submission, leveraging the might of Alexander's forces, and dispatched diplomatic missions to this effect.<ref name=":6" />

In response, Abisares offered submission but Porus refused, leading Alexander to seek a face-off on the bank of Jhelum.<ref name=":6" /> Thus began the Battle of the Hydaspes in 326 BC; the exact site remains unknown and the exact strength of the armies cannot be determined either, due to major discrepancies between sources.<ref name=":6" />