Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
Greco-Bactrian Kingdom (Greek: Βασιλεία τῆς Βακτριανῆς, romanized: Basileía tês Baktrianês, lit. 'Kingdom of Bactria') was a Greek state of the Hellenistic period[1] located in Central Asia.
Variants
Founder
The kingdom was founded by the Seleucid satrap Diodotus I Soter in about 256 BC, and continued to dominate Central Asia until its fall around 120 BC.
Extent
At its peak, the kingdom consisted of present-day Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, and for a short time, small parts of Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Iran. An extension further east, with military campaigns and settlements, may have reached the borders of the Qin State in China by about 230 BC.[2]
History
Although a Greek population was already present in Bactria by the 5th century BC, Alexander the Great conquered the region by 327 BC[3] and founded many cities, most of them named Alexandria, and further settled with Macedonians and other Greeks. After the death of Alexander, control of Bactria passed on to his general Seleucus I Nicator.[4] The fertility and the prosperity of the land by the early 3rd century BC led to the creation of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom by Diodotus as a successor state of the Seleucid empire. The Bactrian Greeks grew increasingly more powerful and invaded north-western India between 190 and 180 BC under king Demetrius, the son of Euthydemus. This invasion led to the creation of the Indo-Greek kingdom, as a successor state of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom, and was subsequently ruled by kings Pantaleon and Apollodotus I. Historical records indicate that many rich and prosperous cities were present in the kingdom,[5] but only a few such cities have been excavated, such as Ai-Khanoum and Bactra. The city of Ai-Khanoum, in north-eastern Afghanistan, had all the hallmarks of a true Hellenistic city with a Greek theater, gymnasium and some houses with colonnaded courtyards.[6]
The kingdom reached the height of its power under king Eucratides the Great, who seems to have seized power through a coup around 171 BC and created his own dynasty. Eucratides also invaded India and successfully fought against the Indo-Greek kings. However, soon after this the kingdom began to decline. The Parthians and nomadic tribes such as Sakas and Yuezhi became a major threat.[7] Eucratides was killed by his own son in about 145 BC, which may have further destabilised the kingdom. Heliocles was the last Greek king to rule in Bactria.[8]
Even after the fall of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom, their rich Hellenistic influence remained strong for many more centuries. The Yuezhi invaders settled in Bactria and became Hellenized. They subsequently founded the Kushan empire around 30 AD, and adopted the Greek alphabet to write their language and added Greek deities to their pantheon. The Greco-Bactrian city of Ai-Khanoum was at the doorstep of India and known for its high level of Hellenistic sophistication. Greek art travelled from Bactria with the Indo-Greeks and influenced Indian art, religion and culture, leading to new syncretic art called Greco-Buddhist art.
List of Greco-Bactrian kings
The below table lists the known Greek rulers of Bactria, along with their dates and titles or epithets.
| Reign (approx.) | King | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 255–239 BC | Diodotus I | Soter |
| 239–223 BC | Diodotus II | Theos |
| 230–200 BC | Euthydemus I | Theos |
| 200–180 BC | Demetrius I | Anicetus |
| 200–180 BC | Pantaleon | Soter |
| 190–180 BC | Agathocles | Dikaios |
| 185–180 BC | Euthydemus II | |
| 180–170 BC | Antimachus I | Theos |
| 180–160 BC | Apollodotus I | Soter |
| 175–160 BC | Demetrius II | |
| 171–145 BC | Eucratides I | Megas |
| 145–140 BC | Eucratides II | Soter |
| 145–140 BC | Plato | Epiphanes |
| 140–130 BC | Heliocles I | Dikaios |
Dates that overlap show that multiple kings ruled at the same time, but in different regions whose exact details are not known very well. For example, Apollodotus I likely ruled areas south of Bactria and the Indian subcontinent while Antimachus I ruled in Bactria.[9] Eucratides II and Plato would have each ruled smaller parts of southern Bactria.
References
- ↑ The Ancient Greco-Bactrian kingdom and Hellenistic Afghanistan Brewminate, Archived 2021-09-24 at the Wayback Machine – Matthew A. McIntosh
- ↑ Lucas, Christopoulos. Dionysian Rituals and the Golden Zeus of China. Sino-Platonic Papers 326; Strabo, Geography 11.11.1
- ↑ Crabben, Jan van der. "Bactria". World History Encyclopedia
- ↑ "Bactria | Map, History, & Facts | Britannica". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2024-08-30.
- ↑ Doumanis, Nicholas (16 December 2009). A History of Greece.[permanent dead link] Palgrave Macmillan. p. 64. ISBN 978-1137013675.
- ↑ Boardman, John (2015). The Greeks in Asia. Thames and Hudson. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-500-77278-2.
- ↑ "Strabo 11.11.2". Archived from the original on 2008-04-19
- ↑ Jakobsson, J. (2007). "The Greeks of Afghanistan Revisited". Nomismatika Khronika: p 17.
- ↑ The COININDIA Coin Galleries: Greek: Apollodotus I (Apollodotos I)