Saka Rulers

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Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)
Territory of Indo-Scythians
Territory of Northern Satraps (Northern Sakas)
Territory of Western Satraps

The Indo-Scythians or Indo-Sakas were the branch of Saka empire in South Asia. Indo-Scythians were a group of nomadic Iranian peoples of Scythian origin who migrated from Central Asia southward into the northwestern Indian subcontinent. They started expansion in South Asia from 200 to 100 BCE and established rule between 100 and 80 BCE, their rule in Indian Subcontinent was lasted until 415s CE.[1]

Variants

History

The first Saka king of India was Maues/Moga (1st century BCE) who established Saka power in Gandhara. The Indo-Scythians extended their supremacy over north-western subcontinent, conquering the Indo-Greeks and other local kingdoms.[2] The Indo-Scythians were apparently subjugated by the Kushan Empire, by either Kujula Kadphises or Kanishka. Yet the Saka continued to govern as satrapies, forming the Northern Satraps and Western Satraps. The power of the Saka rulers started to decline in the 2nd century CE after the Indo-Scythians were defeated by the Satavahana emperor Gautamiputra Satakarni.[3][4] Indo-Scythian rule in the northwestern subcontinent ceased when the last Western Satrap Rudrasimha IIII was defeated by the Gupta emperor Chandragupta II in 395 CE. Later Western Saka rulers (c. 396 to 415 CE) were conquered by Imperial Gupta Empire and it brings to end of Saka rule in Indian Subcontinent.[5][6]

List of dynasties and rulers

Satraps dynasty of Gandhara (c. 85 BCE – 50 CE)

This branch of Indo-Scythian ruled over regions of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Eastern Afghanistan and Gandhara region.

List of rulers–

  • Spalahores, (c. 75–65 BCE), brother of King Vonones and probably the later King Spalirises
  • Spalirises (c. 57–47 BCE), brother of King Vonones
  • Azes I (c. 47–25 BCE), descended from Maues

Northern Satraps dynasty (c. 60 BCE – 130 CE)

List of rulers–
Ruler Title Approx. dates Mentions
Hagamasha Satrap 1st century BCE In the archaeological excavations of Sonkh, near Mathura, the earliest coins of the Kshatrapa levels were those of Hagamasha.
Hagana Satrap 1st century BCE
Rajuvula Great Satrap early 1st century BCE
Bhadayasa Satrap 1st century CE Possible successor of Rajuvula in Eastern Punjab
Sodasa Satrap 1st century CE Son of Rajuvula in Mathura
Kharapallana Great Satrap c. CE 130 Great Satrap for Kushan ruler Kanishka I
Vanaspara Satrap c. CE 130 Satrap for Kushan ruler Kanishka I

Apracha dynasty (c. 15 BCE – 50 CE)

Family tree 0f Apracharajas:

Vijayamitra (1) r. c. 1st Century →

Indravasu (2) r. c. 1st Century →

Vispavarma (3) r. c. 1st Century →

Indravarma (4) r. c. 1st Century →

Aspavarma (5) r. c. 1st Century →

Indravarma (4) r. c. 1st Century → Child of Indravarma → Sasa (6) r. c. 1st Century

List of rulers–
Ruler Filiation Approx. dates Mentions
Vijayamitra 12 /15 BCE - 15 CE Queen: Rukhana
Indravasu Son of Vijayamitra c. 20 CE Queen: Vasumitra
Vispavarma or Visnuvarma Son of Indravasu Queen: Śiśirena
Iṃdravarmo Queen: Utara
Aspo or Aspavarmo Son of Indravarma 15 - 45 CE
Sasan Contemporary of Kujula Kadphises and Mujatria.

Western Satraps dynasty (c. 50 BCE – 415 CE)

Genealogical table of the Western Satraps

Kshaharata dynasty (c. 1st century BCE to 1st century CE): This branch of Indo-Scythian ruled over regions of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and beyond.

List of rulers–

Kardamaka (Bhadramukhas) dynasty

List of rulers–

Rudrasimha II dynasty (c. 304 – 415 CE)

List of rulers–

Minor local rulers

See also

References

  1. ↑ Taagepera, Rein (1979). "Size and Duration of Empires: Growth-Decline Curves, 600 B.C. to 600 A.D". Social Science History. 3 (3/4): 115–138. doi:10.2307/1170959. JSTOR 1170959.
  2. ↑ Ahmad Hasan Dani. History of Civilizations of Central Asia, Volume 2. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 191–207.
  3. ↑ World history from early times to A D 2000 by B. V. Rao: p.97
  4. ↑ A Brief History of India, by Alain Daniélou p.136
  5. ↑ Buddhist Landscapes in Central India: Sanchi Hill and Archaeologies of Religious and Social Change, c. Third Century BC to Fifth Century AD, Julia Shaw, Routledge, 2016 p58-59
  6. ↑ Mirashi, Vasudev Vishnu (1955). Corpus inscriptionum indicarum vol.4 pt.2 Inscriptions of the Kalachuri Chedi Era. Archaeological Society of India. pp. 605–611.
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