I think it would be more accurate to say "based upon true events".

I don't think anyone doubted the story. The details might be questionable, but the basics that he tried to fight with elephants is highly likely. We have plenty of sources for War Elephants in his time, so the idea that he didn't have them would be the larger surprise if someone could prove that.

He was referring to his mother’s sisters.

Misinterpreted all the time. Very similar terms in the Greek sources.

It is my understanding that Asian elephants are easier to tame by humans than African elephants, which is evident just by seeing how elephants are used in parts of Asia and how they are used (not) in Africa. Also circus elephants, when they were still common, would always be Asian elephants and not African ones. The reason I'm pointing this out is that I wonder whether the North African subspecies was more amenable to taming than still extant subspecies of the African elephant.

> A large warhorse might measure 1.5m tall, for comparison.

By sadle hight not at ear top hight, right?