Princess Helen Loved an Indian

 Everybody has heard of Helen of Troy, but how many know that there was another Greek princess who loved an Indian King ? He was Chandragupta Maurya who is recognized as one of the most formidable rulers of India. He loved the daughter of Seleucus whom he has secretly seen with her handmaidens, when he was riding past a rivulet.
Chandragupta and Helen
After the early death of Alexander at Babylon without an heir, his empire was split up and Seleucus Nikatar (victorious) began his rule all over Persia Iraq up to India. Earlier to that Chandragupta had espied Helen (not to be confused with the Helen of Troy) and he desired her.  In fact he had fallen in love with her.
Chandragupta over ran the Nanda empire and this alarmed the Greeks. Seleucus who had already troubles in Babylon resolved to come back and defeat Chandragupta. He thus marched against Chandragupta. In the meantime Chandragupta expressed his love for Helen by messages which were carried by carrier pigeons.  Helen it appears also began to love the ardent suitor from India. Through her hand maidens she learn’t that Chandragupta was a heathen who was a Hindu and did not believe in the Greek gods and religion. Yet she formed an image of Chandragupta and loved him.
The Defeat of Seleucus
In 305 BC Seleucus and his Greek army met Chandragupta in battle. By all accounts the Greek historians who refer to Chandragupta as Sandrokottos confirm that he defeated Seleucus. After the defeat, Seleucus was non plussed when Chandragupta offered a truce to him. The two kings met and signed a peace treaty and at that time Chandragupta asked for the hand of Helen.
Chandragupta Marries his Love, Helen
Seleucus was not inclined initially to allow his daughter to marry a heathen, but his daughter insisted and he agreed. He was also taken in by the generosity of Chandragupta who gifted him 500 elephants. But Seleucus had to give up all his territories up to Iran to Chandragupta.
 When Chandragupta reached the palace of Helen she was delighted to see the man who had been sending her unrequited messages of love. Bards of that period tell us that Helen was the epitome of beauty with a skin that was fairest of the fair. How ever she insisted that her handmaidens also accompany her and Chandragupta readily agreed. Thus a lot many girls came to the court of Chandragupta at Pataliputra (modern Patna) and settled down there. Many married the nobles at Chandragupta’s court.
Soon Helen conceived and Bindusar the successor of Chandragupta was born. Bindusar was also a great warrior and the father of Samrat Ashoka.
The Ending
The love of the Greek princess and the Indian king is a romantic tale that can be told and retold. Is it not a matter of pride for all of us that Chandragupta defeated the Greeks and claimed his love a Greek princess as a prize?  This is how legends are made