Antiochus III invasion of India: Difference between revisions

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==Battle==
==Battle==
Around 206 BCE, following his success in Bactria, [[Antiochus III the Great]] began his expedition into [[India]]. He crossed the Hindu Kush and advanced through the Kabul Valley, where he encountered a king named Sophagasenus, who Appian called, "king of the Indians." The Tibetan historian Taranatha mentions that [[Sophagasenus]] (also referred to as Subhagasena) was associated with a king named Virasena, who was the king of Gandhara, and was a descendant of Emperor [[Ashoka]]; that is, his great-grandson. In Antiochus' case, he was running out of time because he had been engaged in one military campaign after another in Bactria and Parthia, and he was also eager to return to deal with the growing Roman power from his own territory.  Therefore, Antiochus was only willing to accept a nominal submission from Subhagasena. In return, [[Subhagasena]] provided eleven war elephants as well as a big money tribute. After these particulars were settled, he returned to [[Syria]].
Around 206 BCE, following his success in Bactria, [[Antiochus III the Great]] began his expedition into [[India]]. He crossed the Hindu Kush and advanced through the Kabul Valley, where he encountered a king named Sophagasenus, who Appian called, "king of the Indians." The Tibetan historian Taranatha mentions that [[Sophagasenus]] (also referred to as Subhagasena) was associated with a king named Virasena, who was the king of Gandhara, and was a descendant of Emperor [[Ashoka]]; that is, his great-grandson. In Antiochus' case, he was running out of time because he had been engaged in one military campaign after another in Bactria and Parthia, and he was also eager to return to deal with the growing Roman power from his own territory.  Therefore, Antiochus was only willing to accept a nominal submission from Subhagasena. In return, [[Subhagasena]] provided eleven war elephants as well as a big money tribute. After these particulars were settled, he returned to [[Syria]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=V.D |first=Mahajan |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Ancient_India/7TJlDwAAQBAJ?hl=en |title=Ancient India |publisher=S. Chand Publishing |isbn=978-93-5253-132-5 |pages=308 |language=en}}</ref>


{{blockquote|text=He crossed the [[Hindu Kush|Caucasus]] and descended into India, renewed his friendship with [[Sophagasenus]], king of the Indians, and received more elephants, raising their number to a total of one hundred and fifty, and provisioned his army once more on the spot. He himself broke camp with his troops, leaving behind [[Androsthenes of Cyzicus]] to bring back the treasure which this king (Sophagasenus) had agreed to give him.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kosmin |first=Paul J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9UWdAwAAQBAJ |title=The Land of the Elephant Kings: Space, Territory, and Ideology in the Seleucid Empire |date=2014-06-23 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-72882-0 |pages=35–36 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Polybius, Histories, book 11, Antiochus Moves from Bactria Through Interior Asia |url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Plb.+11.34&redirect=true |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=www.perseus.tufts.edu}}</ref>|author=[[Polybius]]}}
{{blockquote|text=He crossed the [[Hindu Kush|Caucasus]] and descended into India, renewed his friendship with [[Sophagasenus]], king of the Indians, and received more elephants, raising their number to a total of one hundred and fifty, and provisioned his army once more on the spot. He himself broke camp with his troops, leaving behind [[Androsthenes of Cyzicus]] to bring back the treasure which this king (Sophagasenus) had agreed to give him.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kosmin |first=Paul J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9UWdAwAAQBAJ |title=The Land of the Elephant Kings: Space, Territory, and Ideology in the Seleucid Empire |date=2014-06-23 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-72882-0 |pages=35–36 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Polybius, Histories, book 11, Antiochus Moves from Bactria Through Interior Asia |url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Plb.+11.34&redirect=true |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=www.perseus.tufts.edu}}</ref>|author=[[Polybius]]}}

Revision as of 11:53, 27 June 2025

Antiochus III invasion of India
Part of Greek campaigns in India
Seleucid-Empire 200bc.jpg
The Seleucid Empire in 200 BC (before expansion into Anatolia and Greece).
Date206 BCE
Location
Result Seleucid victory[1]
Territorial
changes
Status quo ante bellum due to the surrender of Sophagasenus.
Belligerents
Seleucid Empire Maurya Empire
Commanders and leaders
Antiochus III the Great Sophagasenus 🏳️
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown
Antiochus III the Great accepted the submission of Sophagasenus, he gave him a war elephants and a large amount of money.[1]

After the victory at Bactra, Antiochus III the Great invaded India in 206 BCE. The Hindu Kush was ruled by Sophagasenus the grandson of Ashoka the Great who offered his submission to Antiochus III the Great. Sophagasenus not only submitted to the Greek ruler but also promised to pay tribute. After this victory Antiochus III the Great hurried back to Syria to confront the Romans.

Battle

Around 206 BCE, following his success in Bactria, Antiochus III the Great began his expedition into India. He crossed the Hindu Kush and advanced through the Kabul Valley, where he encountered a king named Sophagasenus, who Appian called, "king of the Indians." The Tibetan historian Taranatha mentions that Sophagasenus (also referred to as Subhagasena) was associated with a king named Virasena, who was the king of Gandhara, and was a descendant of Emperor Ashoka; that is, his great-grandson. In Antiochus' case, he was running out of time because he had been engaged in one military campaign after another in Bactria and Parthia, and he was also eager to return to deal with the growing Roman power from his own territory. Therefore, Antiochus was only willing to accept a nominal submission from Subhagasena. In return, Subhagasena provided eleven war elephants as well as a big money tribute. After these particulars were settled, he returned to Syria.[2]

He crossed the Caucasus and descended into India, renewed his friendship with Sophagasenus, king of the Indians, and received more elephants, raising their number to a total of one hundred and fifty, and provisioned his army once more on the spot. He himself broke camp with his troops, leaving behind Androsthenes of Cyzicus to bring back the treasure which this king (Sophagasenus) had agreed to give him.[3][4]

— Polybius
  1. 1.0 1.1 V.D, Mahajan. Ancient India. S. Chand Publishing. p. 308. ISBN 978-93-5253-132-5.
  2. V.D, Mahajan. Ancient India. S. Chand Publishing. p. 308. ISBN 978-93-5253-132-5.
  3. Kosmin, Paul J. (2014-06-23). The Land of the Elephant Kings: Space, Territory, and Ideology in the Seleucid Empire. Harvard University Press. pp. 35–36. ISBN 978-0-674-72882-0.
  4. "Polybius, Histories, book 11, Antiochus Moves from Bactria Through Interior Asia". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 2025-05-19.