1. An Indian prince or king, who reigned over the tract between the Indus and the Hydaspes,
at the period of the expedition of Alexander,
B. C. 327. His real name was Mophis, or Omphis, and the Greeks
appear to have called him Taxiles or Taxilas, from the name of his ca pital city of Taxila,
near the modern Attock. (Diod. 17.86; Curt.
8.12. §§ 4, 14.) He appears to have been on terms of hostility with his
neighbour Porus, who held the territories east of the Hydaspes, and it was probably with a
view of strengthening himself against this foe, that lie sent an embassy to Alexander, while the latter was yet in Sogdiana,
with offers of assistance and support. On the approach of the conqueror lie hastened to meet
him with valuable presents, and placed him self and all his forces at his disposal. Nor were
these vain professions: he assisted Hephaestion and Perdiccas in constructing a bridge over
the Indus, supplied their troops with provisions, and received Alexander himself, and his whole army, in his
capital city of Taxila, with every demonstration of friendship and the most liberal
hospitality. (Arr. Anab. 4.22, 5.3, 8; Curt. 8.12 ; Diod. 17.86; Plut. Alex. 59, 65 ;Strab. xv. p.698.) On the subsequent advance of the
Macedonian king, Taxiles accompanied him with a force of 5000 men, and bore a part in the
contest at the passage of the Hydaspes. After that victory he was sent by Alexander in pursuit of Porus, to whom he was
charged to offer favourable terms, but narrowly escaped losing his life at the hands of his
old enemy. Subsequently, however, the two rivals were reconciled by the personal mediation of
Alexander; and Taxiles, after having
contributed zealously to the equipment of the fleet on the Hydaspes, was intrusted by the king
with the government of the whole territory between that river and the Indus. (Arr. Anab. 5.8, 18, 20; Curt. 8.14.35, 9.3.22). A considerable accession of power was granted him after the
death of Philip, son of Machatas; and he was allowed to retain his authority at the death of
Alexander himself, as well as in the subsequent
partition of the provinces at Triparadeisus, B. C. 321. (Arr. apud
Phot. p. 72a.; Dexippus. ibid. p. 64b.; Diod. 18.3, 39; Just.
13.4.) But at a subsequent period we find Eudemus, the commander of the Macedonian
troops in his province, possessing the sole authority: whether Taxiles had been displaced by
force or removed by a natural death, we are not informed.