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Next Alexander undertook a campaign against the Sydracae1 and the people known as Mallians, populous and warlike tribes. He found them mobilized in force, eighty thousand infantry, ten thousand cavalry, and seven hundred chariots. Before the arrival of Alexander they had been at war with each other; but as he approached, they patched up their quarrel and made peace, giving and receiving ten thousand young women to establish a friendly relationship through marriage.2

1 This name appears variously as "Sydracae" (Strabo 15.1.8), "Sudracae" (Curtius 9.4.15), "Sugambri" (Justin 12.9.3), and "Oxydracae" (Arrian. 6.4.3). Their strength is given by Curtius as 90,000 infantry, 10,000 cavalry, and 900 chariots; by Justin as 80,000 infantry and 60,000 cavalry. The ethnic Sydracae recalls the name of the Hindu warrior caste, the Kshatriyas (so L. A. Post).

2 Curtius 9.4.15.

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