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Sakas or Indo-Scythians
PART 1
After the death of Emperor Ashoka, the Mauryan Empire was ruled by weak rulers and eventually the empire broke into many independent kingdoms. Shunga, Kanva, Satavahana and Cheti were the major Indian dynasties that emerged from Mauryan territories. Yavanas, Sakas, Pahlavas and Kushans were foreign dynasties, which occupied the territories of the Mauryan Empire and ruled Indian land for some time.
Indo Scythians or Sakas (60BC-395CE)
Indo-Scythians also called Sakas were a group of nomadic Iranian peoples of Saka and Scythian origin who migrated from Central Asia, southward into north western India. Following the military pressure from the Yuezhi tribe, a section of the Indo-Scythians moved from Bactria to a region which later came to be called Sakastana, which is still known as Seistan. From there, they progressively expanded into present day Iran as well as northern India, where they established various kingdoms, and where they are known as "Sakas".
The Sakas settled in Drangiana, an area of Southern Afghanistan, western Pakistan and south Iran, which was then called after them as Sakastan or Sistan. Their capital was at Sigal in Afghanistan.
The Sakas extended their supremacy over north-western India, conquering the Indo-Greeks and other local kingdoms. They were apparently subjugated by the Kushan Empire and they continued to govern as satrapies, forming the Northern and Western Satraps. Invasion of the Indian subcontinent by Scythians or Sakas played a significant part in the history of the Indian subcontinent. Sakas ruled Indian territories around 400 years, which was more than any other foreign dynasty’s rule including later invaders like Portuguese and British.
The rulers of the Saka dynasty ruled different parts during different times. The Genealogy can be divided into three Satrapies or regions. The first one was Sakastan, Second being the Northern Satrap region and the third, the Western Satrap region.
Maues/Moga (85BC-60BC):
He was the first king who established Saka power in Gandhara, and Indus Valley during 1st century BC.
He captured Taxila from the Indo-Greek or Yavanas and became the first Saka ruler to enter India during 80BC. The kingdom extended from Sigal, Afghanistan to Western Punjab during his reign.
Maues issued coins mentioning his queen Machene, who may be a daughter of one of the Indo-Greek houses. He struck coins incorporating Shiva & Buddhist symbols.
At the end of his reign, the kingdom was extended upto Mathura, defeating the Indo-
Greek rulers.
The Kingdom disintegrated just after his death. The kingdom was divided into eastern and western parts between his subordinates.
Sakastan Branch
Vonones (75BC-70BC):
He was a rival of Maues and he occupied the western part of the Scythian kingdom. He established an independent branch of Sakas at Sigal, Afghanistan. The region of Sakastan was ruled by his successors.
The coins issued by him carried his name with his two younger brothers, who supported him in establishing a new kingdom.
Spalahores & Spalirisos (70BC-65BC):
They are the younger brothers of Vonones. They jointly ruled the Sakastan region. Both served his brother as commanders. Since the prince, the son of Vonones was young; both took control of the kingdom. They issued coins with their names.
Spaladamus (65BC-55BC):
He was the son of Vonones and succeeded his uncles in 65BC. The Kingdom was occupied by Parthian tribe who revolted against the ruler ending the Saka rule at Sakastan.
Northern Satraps Taxila Branch
Azes I (60BC-55BC):
He was the successor of the eastern part conquered by Maues during his reign. He established his capital at Taxila. His dominion included the north western part of India. He conquered Western Punjab and Gandhara from the Indo-Greeks. He also recovered some of the lost territories of the Sakastan branch. During his reign he sent an army to invade Ujjain in the southeast, but the Indo-Scythians were subsequently repelled in 57 BC by the Malwa king Vikramaditya. To commemorate the event, Vikramaditya established the Vikrama era, a specific Indian calendar starting in 57 BC.
Azilises (55BC-35BC):
He was son and successor of Azes I. He issued coins jointly with his father’s name which mentioned “Maharajasa Rajarajasa Mahatasa Aylisasa” on it.
Azes II (35BC-12BC):
He was the son and successor of Azilises. He was a follower of Buddhism and donated a golden Casket which had Buddhist relics inside. It was called Bimaran Casket as it was found at Bimaran stupa in Jalalabad, eastern Afghanistan. His Coins carried the impressions of Shiva and Buddha images and were found in the same stupa beneath a pillar. After his death, the kingdom once again divided between his viceroys or Satraps who were in charge of different regions.
The Western Punjab, Gandhara and Bajaur regions were created dividing this Saka kingdom.
Northern Satraps Western Punjab Branch:
Kharahostes (12BC-10CE):
He was the son of Arta, the brother of Maues. He was a Satrap of Western Punjab region under Azes II and declared independence after his master’s death. The Mathura Capital inscription mentions him as Mahakshatrapa. His Coins are of Greek and Kharoshti Language with mention of him as “Satrap Kharahostes'', the son of Arta. He is known for his generous dedications to Buddhist Structures.
His daughter Ayasia Kamuia was the chief queen of Mathura Satrap Rajuvula. His capital was at Naharahara near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Naharahara was also known as Dionysopolis
Mujatria (10CE-20CE):
Also known as Hajatria was the son of Kharahostes. His name is mentioned in the Bajaur Casket inscription. He is named as “Hayuara” by his brother in law Rajuvula in Mathura Capital inscription. He was defeated and the territory was conquered by Gondophares, the Indo-Parthian ruler.
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Northern Satraps Gandhara Branch:
Liaka Kusulaka (25BC-15BC):
He was Satrap of Gandhara under Azes II. He ruled the region which included Taxila and Kashmir. He issued the coins which imitates Indo-Greek Coins.
Patika Kusula (15BC-12BC):
He was son of Liaka Kusulaka and continued as Satrap of Gandhara under Azes II. His name is mentioned in the Mathura Capital inscription of Rajuvula. He was deposed and the throne was usurped by Zeionises, after the death of Azes II.
Zeionises (12BC-20CE):
He was an officer in the court of Azes II and after his master’s death; he deposed Patika Kusula, the Satrap of Gandhara and captured the throne for himself. He issued the coins which had the Triratna symbols of Buddhism. He lost his kingdom to Gondophares during the Indo-Parthian invasion.
Northern Satraps Bajaur Branch:
It is situated in the Khyber region of present day Western Pakistan. It was under Indo-Scythian rule for a long time. The Capital of the region was Avacapura in Bajaur district. The rulers of this branch were called Apracharajas or Avacarajas.
Vijaymitra (12BC-1CE):
He was Satrap of the region under Azes II. He became independent after the death of Azes II in 12BC. He was a follower of Buddhism and his coins carried the Buddhist Triratna symbols. He had inserted two inscriptions, which give some details of Sakas.
Indravasu (1CE-3CE):
He was son of Vijayamitra. He is mentioned with his wife Vasumitra in the Gandhari Prakrit inscription of Rukhana reliquary.
Vispavarma (3CE-6CE):
He was the son of Indravasu and is mentioned in the Bajaur Casket inscription. His wife's name was Rukhumaka.
Indravarma (6CE-15CE):
He was son of Vispavarma and was also known as Itravasu. He with his wife Uttara, were followers of Buddhism and his sister Vasavadatta is known for her donation of a silver water pot to Bajaur stupa.
Aspavarma (15CE-45CE):
He was son of Indravarma and the longest ruling king of the dynasty. He was a contemporary and friend of another satrap Mujatria.
Sasan (45CE-50CE):
He was nephew of Aspavarma. He is considered the last ruler of the branch as he was defeated and killed in the war by Kushan ruler Kujula Kadphises.
Northern Satraps Mathura Branch
Mathura was previously ruled by Deva and Datta dynasties, subsequently occupied by Mitra dynasty, which was finally conquered by Indo-Greeks during 50BC. Indo-Greeks were thrown out of their dominion of Mathura and pushed to areas near Punjab by Indo-Scythians during late 1st Century BC.
Hagamasha (40BC-20BC):
He was the first recorded Satrap or ruler of Mathura under the Indo-Scythian flag.
Hagana (20BC-10CE):
He was the son and successor of Hagamasha.
Rajuvula (10CE-55CE):
He was the successor of Hagana. The relation between him and the previous ruler is unknown. He defeated Strato III of Indo-Greeks and vanquished the dynasty from India. His territories extended up to eastern Punjab.
The most important event of his reign was the erection of the Mathura Capital pillar. The Mathura lion capital gives details about Indo-Scythian rulers and the other kings of contemporary time. The little damaged capital inscription is presently kept at British Museum, London. The Inscription in the Pillar mentions the genealogy of several Saka dynasties and also carries the principles of Buddhism with the Triratna symbol. His wife Ayasia Kamuia was the principal donor of the Mathura Lion Capital.
Rajuvula was the greatest ruler of Northern Satraps and declared himself as Mahakshatrapa. He conquered the Jammu region during his reign. He divided his kingdom between two sons in his last days.
Sodasa (55CE-80CE):
He was son and successor of Rajuvula in Mathura region. He continued the title of his father Mahakshatrapa. He was considered the last Saka ruler who issued coins in Mathura. His successors ruled as subordinate satraps to Kushan rulers as they were under Kushan suzerainty.
Bhadayasa (55CE-65CE):
He was son and successor of Rajuvula in eastern Punjab region. He ruled for a short period as his kingdom was occupied by Kushans before his brother’s kingdom.
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This ended the rule of Sakas or Kshatrapas in the Northern Satrapis or in Northern India.
PART 2
The decline of the Indo-Scythian Empire started by the invasion of Parthians and Kushans in the North and North Western part of India. Though the Sakas rule ended in North India, they continued to rule as Subordinates or Kshatraps of Kushans for some time. Two families of Sakas declared independence and established new Saka kingdoms, known as Western Kshatrapas.
Western Satraps
They were the last set of Sakas who ruled the western part of India during 35CE to 395CE. They were contemporaries of Satavahanas, Kushans, and Guptas. The official language of sakas was Khatonese or Kharoshti as it is called in their language.
Kshaharata Family (Capital : Nasik)(80CE-124CE)
According to legends, three kings ruled as Kshatrapas of Kushans before the actual dynasty was founded. The three rulers were: Yapirajaya, Hospices and Higaraka. It is doubted that they were descendants of Liaka Kusulaka of Gandhar Saka family.
Abhiraka (80CE-100CE):
He was the first recorded ruler of the family. He is known from the coins which were found in Chuksa region. He migrated southwards and occupied northern Rajasthan. He was a subordinate ruler under a Kushan ruler.
Bhumaka (100CE-110CE):
He was the son of Abhiraka. He issued coins with Buddhist symbols.
Nahapana (110CE-124CE):
He was son of Bhumaka and one of the most important rulers of Western Kshatrapas. He conquered many territories which extended from the coast of Bharuch up to Pakistan. He was a powerful king and was independent unlike his predecessors.
He is mentioned as a great donor in inscriptions of numerous Buddhist caves at Nasik as he had dedicated Chaitya and Vihara. The Chaitya complex of Karla Caves, the largest in south Asia was constructed and dedicated in 120CE by Nahapana.
In 1938, a Statue of goddess popular as Pompeii Lakshmi was discovered at the ruins of Pompeii in Italy. It is believed that the statue found its way to Pompeii during the reign of Nahapana. The statue was shipped to Roman Empire from the port of Barygaza or Bharuch, which was the result of the Indo-Rome trade relations.
Nahapana married his daughter Dakshamitra to Ushavadatta who was a son of Dinika, commander of the army. Ushavadatta is also known as Rishabhadatta, was a practitioner of Brahmanism and had accomplished various charities. He had donated 16 villages and 3 lakh cows to the Brahmins. He fed thousands of Brahmins every year on a particular day. He had donated four-roomed rest houses in Bharuch, Mandsaur, Govardhan near Nasik and Shurparaka near Nalasopara. During later years he was influenced by his wife and attracted towards Buddhism by which he donated some caves to Buddhists at Tirasmi hills at Govardhan near Nasik.
Rishabhadatta served Nahapana in many campaigns as military commander Satrap army. He accompanied his father in law in the successful Satavahana campaign which forced the Satavahana king to shift the capital. In 124CE, Nahapana was killed with his son in law Rishabhadatta by Satavahana king Gautamiputra Satakarni. The Family of Kshaharata was uprooted by the Satavahana ruler.
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Kardamaka or Bhadramukha Family (Capital : Ujjain)(78CE-395CE)
Ghsamotika was of Scythian origin and ruled as the Kshatrap of Sindh under Kushan. During his reign, his son Chastana, a young prince established a new independent ruling family of Sakas named Kardamaka.
Chastana or Chetas (78-130CE):
He was son of Ghsamotika and ruled as a Kshatrapa or subordinate to Kushan ruler in his initial reign. He founded the Kardamaka dynasty and declared independence from the Kushan Suzerainty.
He defeated the last king of Gardabhila dynasty, occupied Ujjain and established an Era in memory of the event in 78CE. The Saka era started by him later renamed as Salivahana Saka in 11th century and used till today as a traditional calendar by South Indians similar to the Vikrama era used in North India.
The Sakas invasion of Ujjain and establishment of the Saka Era, marked the beginning of the long-lived Saka Western Kshatrapa kingdom.
Jayadaman (130CE):
He was the son of Chastana. He served as Kshatrapa under his father. His reign as a king was very short as he was killed by Satavahanas during a war.
Rudradaman I (130-165CE):
He was son of Jayadaman and served the administration during his grandfather's reign. He is considered as the greatest ruler of the dynasty. He was a contemporary of Vasishtiputra Pulumavi and Vasishtiputra Satakarni brothers.
Rudradaman married a Hindu woman and adopted Hindu and Indian modes of living. He was well educated in various sciences like Grammar, Polity, Music, Logic and War Science. He inserted the first longest inscription in Sanskrit, as Prakrit was used before his time. The Sanskrit inscription at Junagarh, Gujarat mentions the details about the repair work of Sudarshan Lake. The Lake was constructed during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya, was once repaired and canals were drawn from the lake during the reign of Samrat Ashoka. His Andhau inscription of Khavda in Kutch gives the details of Genealogy to his ancestors.
During his reign, Greek writer Yavaneshwara translated “Yavanajataka” from Greek to Sanskrit, which influenced astrology in India. He issued silver coins, which mentioned his name as “Mahakshatrapa”, as he won the title himself.
Rudradaman defeated his contemporary Vasishtiputra Pulumavi and defeated him twice. He defeated satavahanas and regained territories previously lost by Nahapana to Gautamiputra Satakarni. In an indecisive war he offered his daughter Rudra Damanika in marriage to Vasishtiputra Satakarni, the younger brother of Pulumavi. The clash between the two dynasties halted for sometime because of this matrimonial relationship.
Rudradaman defeated Yaudheyas and conquered present day Haryana region. He was attacked by indigenous Nagas, who were aggressive towards the Saka empire. The extension of dominion by Nagas was put on hold during his reign.
Rudradaman was a good administrator and known for his liberality. Although he was a Scythian, he patronized Hindu culture. He was perhaps a greater admirer of that culture than his contemporary Satavahanas, who preferred Prakrit against Sanskrit for their official records. Cows and Brahmins are mentioned in connection with his charities and not Monks and Monasteries.
Damajadasri I (165-175CE):
He was eldest son of Rudradaman I and assisted his father as Kshatrapa during his princehood. His reign of “Mahakshatrapa” lasted only for 5 years. He was also called as ‘Damaghsada’.
Jivadaman (175-181CE):
He was the eldest son of Damajadasri. The war of succession and decline of the dynasty started from his reign. He was of 30 years during his accession. He had a brother Satyadaman, who assisted him in his short reign.
His ambitious uncle Rudrasimha I with the help of an Abhira chief usurped the throne and deposed Jivadaman in 181 CE
Rudrasimha I (181-188CE):
He was Younger son of Rudradaman I and brother of Damajadasri. He was the first Hindu born Saka ruler, as his mother was Hindu and his father Rudradaman I, had become Hindu before his birth.
In 181CE he with his loyal Abhira chief Rudrabhuti deposed his nephew and usurped the throne. He ruled for seven years, while the Abhira tribe emerged as a politically powerful group in the period.
Isvaradatta (188-191CE):
He was chief of the Abhira clan, who served as Commander during Rudrasimha I’s reign. In 188CE, the Abhira leader Isvaradatta, occupied the throne and declared himself as ‘Mahakshatrapa’. Rudrasimha I was made Kshatrapa or subordinate king during this period.
Rudrasimha I (191-197CE):
Within three years, Rudrasimha I managed to consolidate his loyalists and regained his throne from the usurper. He was ‘Mahakshatrapa’ in his second term. He is known from his Sanskrit inscription at Gunda in Kathiawar.
During the struggle period of Rudrasimha I with Jivadaman and Isvaradatta, the Satavahana ruler Yajnasri Satakarni took advantage and annexed many territories to his dominion.
Satyadaman (197-198CE):
He was Younger son of Damajadasri. He ascended the Saka throne after the death of his uncle, as he had been serving him for a long time.
Jivadaman (198-200CE):
Satyadaman was immediately deposed and the throne was occupied by his elder brother Jivadaman. It was Jivadaman’s second term as ruler which was of very short period.
Rudrasena I (200-222CE):
He was the son of Rudrasimha I, who vanquished his cousin and ascended the throne. He is known from his inscription at Mulvarsar, near Dwarka, Gujarat. In another inscription at Gadha, Gujarat, the name of his Kardamaka family is mentioned as “Bhadramukha” for the first time, which was later used in many inscriptions and records. A stone seal is found in Vidisha, in which the name of his sister ‘Mahadevi Prabhudama’ was carved on it. He had two younger brothers Sanghadaman and Damasena. He also had two sons Prithvisena and Damajadasri II.
Prithvisena (222CE):
He was elder son of Rudrasena I. He died just after the accession and the royal family decided not to fight for the throne, as the war of succession will lead to the destruction of the dynasty. It was decided that brothers or elder members of the family will rule and his younger son will be Kshatrapa or subordinate.
Sanghadaman (222-223CE):
He was the Younger brother of Rudrasena I and son of Rudrasimha I. He ascended the throne as he was the senior member of the royal family at the time.
Damasena (223-232CE):
He was another younger brother of Rudrasena I and son of Rudrasimha I. During his time Sakas lost many territories to neighbouring enemies. The Saka kingdom was confined to Western Malwa, Gujarat and Kathiawar. He was assisted by his nephew Damajadasri II and his son Viradaman as Kshatrapas.
Damajadasri (232-236CE):
He was the younger son of Rudrasena I, brother of Prithvisena. He succeeded his uncle Damasena and had his cousin Viradaman as a Kshatrapa during reign. He was dethroned by the old usurper Isvaradtta once again.
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Part 2 continued
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Isvaradatta (236-239CE):
He reoccupied the throne in 236CE after killing Viradaman. He allowed Damjadasri II to rule as his subordinate. Damajadasri II died in 238 and Isvaradatta was killed by Damasena’s other son, who regained his ancestral kingdom.
Yashodaman I (239-240CE):
He was the second son of Damasena. He regained the throne after replacing himself with Isvaradatta. He ascended the throne at the age of 40 years and he ruled only for months. The reason for his sudden death is not known.
Vijayasena (240-250CE):
He was third son of Damasena and younger brother of Yashodaman I
Damajadasri III (250-255CE):
He was the fourth son of Damasena and youngest of all four brothers. The treasury diminished every year as the Saka kingdom faced invasions from enemies more often during his reign
Rudrasena II (255-277CE):
He was son of Viradaman, the eldest son of Damasena. He brought back glory and revived the greatness of the dynasty. He regained lost territories of Sanchi-vidisha from the Nagas, which was previously conquered by Satavahanas. His daughter Rudradhara Bhattarika was married to Virapurushadatta, the king of Andhra-Ikshvaku Dynasty, the successor dynasty of Satavahanas. He had two sons Vishwasimha and Bhartadaman, who ruled one after the other
Vishwasimha (277-282CE):
He was the eldest son of Rudrasena II.
Bhartadaman (282-294CE):
He was the younger son of Rudarsena II. He concluded a friendly relationship with the Sassanid Empire, which was established during his reign in his neighborhood.
Vishwasena (294-304CE):
He was son of Bhartadaman and was the last ruler of the Chastana Family. He was deposed by a descendant of Chastana’s Collateral family.
Rudrasimha II (304-317CE):
He was son of a person called Swami Jivadaman, who was a descendant of the Collateral family of Chastana. He ruled peacefully for 13 years
Yashodaman II (317-332CE):
He was the eldest son of Rudrasimha II. His name is mentioned in the Kanakerha inscription on the hill at Sanchi, inserted by a Chief Sridharavarman. During his reign there were threats from the newly established Vakataka dynasty king Pravarasena I and was defeated by Vakatakas many times shrinking his dominion.
Interregnum (332-342CE):
Between 332 to 342 CE, the kingdom was under Anarchy. The kingdom was occupied by Sassanids and Vakatakas and was ruled by them in succession during the period.
Swami Rudradaman II (342-348CE):
He was the second son of Rudrasimha II. He used ‘Swami’ before his name, which was followed by his successors. He is considered as the fourth founder of the Kardamaka ruling family.
Swami Rudrasena III (348-380CE):
He was son of Rudradaman II. He was the longest reigned ruler of the dynasty. His term of more than 30 years was full of ups and downs. In 356CE he was very badly defeated by the Sassanid king, which ruined the prestige of the Saka dynasty and emptied the treasury. Ultimately he was defeated and subjugated by the Great ruler Samudra Gupta. He was continually defeated by Vakatakas, Sassanids and Kadambas between 356CE to 360CE. Rudrasena III was able to reassert his lost capital and regain the throne from Kadambas after the death of Mayuravarma, the founder of Kadamba Dynasty
Swami Simhasena (380-384CE):
He was the son of Rudrasena III’s sister. He ascended the throne after his maternal uncle, as the ruler died without any living children. He had a brother Satyasena, who assisted him.
Swami Rudrasena IV (384-388CE):
He was the son of Simhasena. His kingdom was very small around Ujjain in the Avanti region.
Swami Rudrasimha III (388-395CE):
He was son of Satyasena, brother of Simhasena. He captured the throne from his cousin Rudrasena IV. The Saka Kingdom was under close watch during his reign, by the Gupta king Chandragupta II. The Gupta’s were already near in the northern neighborhood. In the south and east it was the Vakataka kingdom, whose king was Rudrasena II and was married to Chandragupta II’s daughter Prabahvati Gupta. The Kadambas of Banavasi, who were south of Satrap kingdom, also had a matrimonial relationship with Guptas as the daughter of Kakutsa Varma was married to Kumara Gupta, the son of Chandragupta II.
Chandragupta was eager to annex the western most part of India to his Empire; he planned an attack with combined Gupta, Vakataka and Kadamba armies. The death of Vakataka king and the defeat of Kadamba ruler in the south, discouraged him to invade Saka Kingdom.
In 395 CE, after consolidating his army, Chandragupta II invaded Kshatrapa Kingdom and defeated Rudrasimha III. The Saka king was killed in the battle. Chandragupta was titled as “Vikramaditya” as he was the second king to vanquish Sakas from the map, first being Vikramaditya of Gardabhila dynasty. Chandragupta was also called as “ Shakari” as he ended the Saka dynasty. The Gupta empire extended from east to west of India. This event completely ended the four centuries long rule of Sakas on the Indian subcontinent.