The Battle of the Hydaspes was fought in 326 BC between Alexander the Great and King Porus of the Paurava kingdom on the banks of the Jhelum River (known to the Greeks as Hydaspes) in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. Alexander's decision to cross the monsoon-swollen river despite close Indian surveillance, in order to catch Porus's army in the flank, has been referred to as one of his masterpieces. The Indian war elephants were heavily armored and had castle-like howdahs on their back carrying a trio of archers and javelin men. The battle resulted in a Greek victory and the surrender of Porus. Cyclopedia of Universal History by John Clark Ridpath, 1890 (cropped and cleaned).