Treaty of Indus

It is a treaty between Chandragupta and Seleucus.^[1] Ancient Greek historians Justin, Appian, and Strabo described the key points of the Treaty of the Indus between Seleucus and Chandragupta Maurya:^[2]
1. Seleucus gave Chandragupta control of the eastern provinces of his empire, including Gandhara, Paropamisadae, and parts of Gedrosia, Arachosia, and Aria up to Herat.
2. In return, Chandragupta provided Seleucus with 500 Indian war elephants.
3. The treaty included a marriage alliance, likely involving Chandragupta marrying a relative of Seleucus.

Treaty

Seleucid-Mauryan war, c. 305-303BCE

He (Seleucus) crossed the Indus and waged war with Sandrocottus [Maurya], king of the Indians, who dwelt on the banks of that stream, until they came to an understanding with each other and contracted a marriage relationship.

— Appian, History of Rome, The Syrian Wars 55

After having made a treaty with him (Sandrakotos) and put in order the Orient situation, Seleucos went to war against Antigonus.

— Junianus Justinus, Historiarum Philippicarum, libri XLIV, XV.4.15

Exchange of presents

Classical sources have also recorded that following their treaty, Chandragupta and Seleucus exchanged presents, such as when Chandragupta sent various aphrodisiacs to Seleucus:^[3]

And Theophrastus says that some contrivances are of wondrous efficacy in such matters [as to make people more amorous]. And Phylarchus confirms him, by reference to some of the presents which Sandrakottus, the king of the Indians, sent to Seleucus; which were to act like charms in producing a wonderful degree of affection, while some, on the contrary, were to banish love.

— Athenaeus of Naucratis, The deipnosophists, Book I, chapter 32^[4]

Note

• Kosmin, Paul J. (2014), The Land of the Elephant Kings: Space, Territory, and Ideology in Seleucid Empire, Harvard University Press, ISBN 978-0-674-72882-0

References

1. “ Pg.42 : Threatened by Chandragupta’s growing power, Seleucis of Syria, Alexander’s successor, challenged him by invading northern India in 305 BC but suffered a devastating defeat. A treaty ending the conflict gave Chandragupta all lands north to the Hindu Kush, including Baluchistan and Afghanistan. Chandragupta used an extensive and elaborate civil service, an army, and a secret service to rule. A virtual dictatorship coincided with widespread public works, building roads and developing irrigation systems . Check Mauryan Empire on Page 43 “Barnes, Ian; Hudson, Robert; Parekh, Bhikhu C. (1998). The history atlas of Asia. Internet Archive. New York : Macmillan. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-02-862581-2.
2. Kosmin 2014, p. 33: "The ancient historians Justin, Appian, and Strabo preserve the three main terms of what I will call the Treaty of the Indus:
   (i) Seleucus transferred to Chandragupta's kingdom the easternmost satrapies of his empire, certainly Gandhara, Parapamisadae, and the eastern parts of Gedrosia, and possibly also Arachosia and Aria as far as Herat.
   (ii) Chandragupta gave Seleucus 500 Indian war elephants.
   (iii) The two kings were joined by some kind of marriage alliance (ἐπιγαμία οι κῆδος); most likely Chandragupta wed a female relative of Seleucus."
3. Kosmin 2014, p. 35.
4. "Problem while searching in The Literature Collection". Archived from the original on 13 March 2007.