| Ambhi | |
|---|---|
 Ambhi offering presents to Alexander the Great | |
| King ofGandhara and its capitalTakshashila (Taxila) | |
| Reign | c. 326 BC – c. 316 BC[1][2] |
| Born | Taxila,Punjab |
Taxiles orTaxilas (Ancient Greek:Tαξίλης, Taxílēs or Ταξίλας, Taxílas lived 4th century BC) was theGreek chroniclers' name for the ruler who reigned over the tract between theIndus and theJhelum (Hydaspes) Rivers in thePunjab region at the time ofAlexander the Great's expedition. His real name wasAmbhi[3] (Greek:Omphis), and theGreeks appear to have called him Taxiles or Taxilas, after the name of his capital city ofTaxila, near the modern city ofAttock,Pakistan.[4][5]
Ambhi ascended to throne ofTakshasila.[6] He sent an embassy toAlexander along with presents consisting of 200Talents of silver, 3,000 fat oxen and 10,000 sheep or more ( both are estimated around 600 talents of silver)a force of 700 horsemen and offered for surrender.[6] He appears to have been on hostile terms with his neighbour,Porus, who held the territories east of theHydaspes.[7][8] It was probably with a view to strengthening himself against this foe that he sent an embassy to Alexander, while the latter was still inSogdiana, with offers of assistance and support, perhaps in return for money.[7]
Alexander was cautious by the sight of Ambhi's forces on his first descent into India in 327 BC and ordered his own forces to form up.[9] Ambhi hastened to relieve Alexander of his apprehension and met him with valuable presents, placing himself and all his forces at his disposal.[9] Alexander not only returned Ambhi his title and the gifts but he also presented him with a wardrobe of "Persian robes, gold and silver ornaments, 30 horses and 1000 talents in gold".[9][10][11] Alexander was emboldened to divide his forces, and Ambhi assistedHephaestion andPerdiccas in constructing a bridge over the Indus where it bends at Hund (Fox 1973), supplied their troops with provisions, and received Alexander himself, and his whole army, in his capital city ofTaxila, with every demonstration of friendship and the most liberal hospitality.[12][13][4][14]
On the subsequent advance of theMacedonian king, Taxiles accompanied him with a force of 5000 men and took part in theBattle of the Hydaspes.
Later Eudemus took over Taxila briefly, after whichChandragupta Maurya conquered Alexander's satraps in the sub-continent by 317 BC.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William (1870)."Taxiles". InSmith, William (ed.).Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.