Gedrosian campaign

The Gedrosian campaign of Cyrus the Great was a military expedition of the Achaemenids in the modern-day Balochistan region against the Hindus or Indians.

Background

According to Herodotus, after the rise of Cyrus the Great, he went on to conquer numerous states. He also built a city named Cyropolis which is located at Sogdia. Pliny suggests numerous campaigns of Cyrus the Great into the regions near Kabul.

Campaign

The Achaemenid Army struggled greatly in the deserts of Gedrosia. In this expedition, he is said to have lost much of his army in the desert, marking a remarkable defeat and retreat of the Persians.

Aftermath

There is no evidence of Cyrus subjugating Gedrosia, and it has been described by various historians that it was most likely under Darius the Great when this region came under Persian control. The difficulties faced by Cyrus the great were also observed during the Gedrosrian campaign of Alexander the Great.