After the pacification of the army in 327 BCE, the Greek king quelled another revolt of the Sogdians with the well-known feat of capturing the eponymous rock and moved towards India. The Agrianes were once again in the section under the direct orders of Alexander, another testament to his trust in their strength and abilities. As usual, they were accompanied by the shield-bearers, a few Companion cavalry, infantry, archers, and the horse-binders.

The first threat encountered was from the tribes of the Aspasioi, Guraioi, and Assakenoi. These undisciplined tribes quickly dissolved in close combat, where Alexander himself was wounded. The significantly more experienced Greek forces defeated them. The defeated tribes chose to fortify their cities, and in the first city that decided to resist, they put up a fierce resistance but were ultimately completely defeated. The magnitude of their defeat shocked them so much that their next city surrendered peacefully, and the first two of the Aspasioi were set on fire by their own people. The remaining ones tried to seek refuge in the nearby mountains, but the Greek soldiers caught up with them and cut them down.

In the next battle involving the Agrianes, under the command of Ptolemy, they, along with other Macedonian units, routed the Indians, who surrendered immediately. Arrian emphasizes the massiveness of the surrender, mentioning a huge number of prisoners reaching 40,000 men. The Assakenoi, in turn, decided not to submit and fielded 30,000 infantry, 30 elephants, and 2,000 cavalry against the Macedonian army. Alexander, with his contingent, including 1,000 Agrianes, executed a skillful maneuver, crossing the Guraian River, causing his adversaries to scatter once again.

Another obstacle in the unstoppable advance of the Macedonians was the large city of the Massagetai (present-day Chakdara in Pakistan), one of the most populous cities. The Indians attempted to defeat the Macedonian king in open battle. Alexander executed a tactical retreat to lure them as far away from the city walls as possible. Subsequently, he launched a lightning-fast attack, with the Agrianes at the forefront, whether on foot or as horse-binders. The charging Indians, having lost their formation, succumbed to the deadly and accurate javelins of the Agrianes, immediately retreating and closing themselves within their city walls, leaving behind several hundreds of dead.

Facing an insurmountable position of the Macedonians was another large city, that of the Massagetai (modern-day Chakdara in Pakistan), which was one of their most populous cities. The Indians attempted to engage in an open battle to defeat the Macedonian king. Alexander executed a feigned retreat to draw them as far away from the city walls as possible. Then, he counterattacked with lightning speed, with the Agrianes leading the charge, whether on foot or as horse-binders. The charging Indians, having lost their cohesion, suffered from the deadly and precise javelins of the Agrianes, immediately retreating and barricading themselves within their city walls, leaving behind several hundreds of dead.

The Greek strategist continued his march towards the Indian River, where he reached Aornos Rock, in the winter of 327 BCE. This was an exceptionally fortified natural location with a flat summit and sufficient water supply. The Agrianes were again involved in the capture of this challenging position. For two days, their attacks were repelled despite combined efforts with Ptolemy’s forces. Alexander relied once again on improvisation and adaptability, ordering the construction of a rampart with stakes. Gradually, the Macedonians filled the gap from their position to the fortified positions of the Indians. The construction work was covered by slingers, archers, and the Agrianes.

Once the ramp reached the desired height after four days, a few Macedonian soldiers managed to storm and capture a hill at the same height as the Rock. Terrified, the Indians requested to surrender. In reality, it was a feigned surrender to gain time for a retreat. Once Alexander learned of this, he allowed the Indians to withdraw initially. Then, with 700 guards and companions, he occupied the first abandoned positions and subsequently launched an attack on the panicked Indians who plummeted down the steep sides of the Rock. The Agrianes, afterward, undertook the reconnaissance of the Assakenoi along with a unit of 1,000 shield-bearers and gathered valuable information from direct observation and captured guards.

Regarding the crossing of the wide Indian River, Arrian suggests that it was done by building a bridge. There, Alexander encountered his Indian ally Taxiles in the city of Taxila and proceeded toward the Hydaspes in May 326 BCE. On the opposite bank was Porus of the Paurava kingdom, with a formidable army of 20,000-50,000 infantry, 2,000-4,000 cavalry, 85-200 elephants, and 1,000 chariots, with variations in numbers depending on the source. Leaving Craterus with the main body of the army, Alexander found a suitable ford 27 kilometers upstream and crossed the river using floats and small boats. His force consisted of 11,000 men, and the Agrianes participated, taking positions on both ends along with the archers when the army formed up.”

In the extremely bloody battle that followed, the Agrianes fought against the enemy cavalry on the left flank of their formation, as well as against the formidable elephants. Porus, the Indian king, had placed considerable hopes in the elephants, and their numbers could indeed tip the balance. According to Arrian, many of the elephants were killed by javelins that hung from their massive bodies, likely due to the actions of the Agrianes skirmishers. Numerous elephant riders were neutralized by javelins, and the uncontrolled animals, now frenzied, trampled the Indian soldiers, reminiscent of the situation with the charioteers in the Battle of Gaugamela.

After the defeat of Porus’s army, the Agrianes participated in the subjugation of another Indian tribe, the Glaucans (or Glausoi), capturing 37 small cities and towns. They then moved on to the Cathaean tribe, where they encountered some resistance in the city of Sangala. Outside the city, the Macedonians dispersed the Indian garrison attempting a night sortie, killing 17,000 Cathaeans at a location where a trap had been set based on information from deserters. The Agrianes played a crucial role in the ambush, forcing the first enemy lines to lose their momentum, retreat, and subsequently be surrounded. The clash was far from easy for the Greek weapons, as the enemies fought with desperation, causing, according to Arrian, 1,300 casualties but eventually succumbing to defeat.

Following the defeat of the Cathaeans, the Agrianes took part in the conquest of another Indian tribe, the Malli, seizing 37 small cities and towns, and later the Cathaean tribe, where they encountered some resistance in the city of Sangala. Outside the city, the Macedonians dispersed the Indian garrison attempting a night sortie, killing 17,000 Cathaeans at a location where a trap had been set based on information from deserters.

The Agrianes also participated in the siege of the city’s acropolis, where Alexander, along with Peucestas, Leonnatus, and the infantry commander Abreas, climbed the walls. The other scaling ladders broke under the weight of the soldiers. After some critical minutes trapped inside the hostile city, facing multiple adversaries and with Alexander injured by an arrow to the chest, the rest of the Macedonians arrived, capturing the city. After the defeat of the Malli, the Oxdracae, who had allied with them, surrendered as well. The Agrianes were also involved in the defeat of the Indian king Oxycanus. Under the command of Peithon from Eordaea, Alexander’s bodyguard and now satrap of the Medes, they were responsible, along with the cavalry, for maintaining order in the region.

At this point, Arrian’s references to the Agrianes end. Presumably, they followed Alexander to Susa and Babylon, where the great general passed away. The most fitting phrase for the Agrianes might be “Anywhere, anytime, they act.” While the major battles delivered decisive blows to the collapse of enemy kingdoms, dozens of additional encounters and campaigns in challenging terrains against resilient and numerous adversaries were required to secure Greek dominance.

Bibliography

Arrian, «Anabasis of Alexander», 2nd century A.D.

Plutarch, «Life of Alexander», 1st century A.D.

Stephen English, «The Army of Alexander the Great», published by Pen&Sword Military, South Yorkshire, 2009.

Ian Worthington , «By the Spear: Philip II, Alexander the Great, and the Rise and Fall of the Macedonian Empire (Ancient Warfare and Civilization)», Oxford University Press, 2016.

A. B. Bosworth, «Conquest and Empire: The Reign of Alexander the Great», Cambridge University Press, 1993.