Western Satraps

Approximate territory of the Western Kshatrapas (35-405). Year 35 was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Events By Place Western Roman Empire Stilicho orders the Sibylline Books burned
Languages	Scythian language Pali (Kharoshthi script) Sanskrit, Prakrit (Brahmi script) Possibly Greek (Greek alphabet)
Religions	Zoroastrianism Buddhism Hinduism
Capitals	Ujjain Barygaza
Area	Gujarat, Kathiawar, Southern Sindh, Rajasthan, Malwa, Maharashtra
Existed	35 CE–405 CE

The Western Satraps, or Western Kshatrapas (35-405) were Saka rulers of the western and central part of India (Saurashtra and Malwa: modern Gujarat, Southern Sindh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh states). A language is a dynamic set of visual auditory or tactile Symbols of Communication and the elements used to manipulate them The Scythian languages form a North Eastern branch of the Iranian language family and comprise the distinctive languagesspoken by the Scythian ( Sarmatian Pali ( ISO 15919 / ALA-LC: Pāḷi is a Middle Indo-Aryan language or Prakrit of India. The Kharoṣṭhī script, also known as the Gāndhārī script, is an ancient Abugida (an alphasyllabary based on consonants with graphical variations to express Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Prakrit (also transliterated as Pracrit) ( Sanskrit: prākṛta प्राकृत (from pra-kṛti प्रकृति according to one Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly The Greek alphabet (Ελληνικό αλφάβητο is a set of twenty-four letters that has been used to write the Greek language since the late 9th or early The world's principal Religions and spiritual traditions may be classified into a small number of major groups or world religions'. Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ujjain ( Hindi:उज्जैन (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> History Bharuch was once but a small village on the banks of the Narmada River but that rivers inland Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. Gujarat (ગુજરાત Gujǎrāt, pronounced) is a state in western India. Kathiawar or Kathiawad ( Gujarati: કાઠીયાવાડ; kaʈʰijaʋaɽ is a Peninsula in western India. Sindh ( Sindhī: سنڌ Urdu: سندھ is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhis. Rājasthān ( Devanāgarī: राजस्थान raːdʒəst̪ʰaːn is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area Maharashtra ( Marathi: mahārāṣṭra, IPA) is a state located on the western coast of India. This page attempts to list the many extinct States, countries, Nations Empires or territories that have ceased to exist as political Year 35 was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Events By Place Western Roman Empire Stilicho orders the Sibylline Books burned The Sakas ( English form of Old Iranian Sakā, Nominative plural masculine case; Ancient Greek Σάκαι, India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Saurashtra (also Soruth and Sorath) is a region of western India, located on the Arabian Sea coast of Gujarat state Gujarat (ગુજરાત Gujǎrāt, pronounced) is a state in western India. Sindh ( Sindhī: سنڌ Urdu: سندھ is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhis. Maharashtra ( Marathi: mahārāṣṭra, IPA) is a state located on the western coast of India. Rājasthān ( Devanāgarī: राजस्थान raːdʒəst̪ʰaːn is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area Their state, or at least part of it, was called "Ariaca" according to the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. Ariaca was a region of Western India beyond Barigaza, mentioned in ancient geographical sources The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea ( Periplus Maris Erythraei) is a Greek Periplus, describing navigation and trading opportunities

They were successors to the Indo-Scythians, and were contemporaneous with the Kushans who ruled the northern part of the Indian subcontinent and were possibly their overlords, and the Satavahana (Andhra) who ruled in Central India. The Indo-Scythians are a branch of the Indo-Iranian Sakas ( Scythians) who migrated from southern Siberia into Bactria, The Kushan Empire (c 1st &ndash 3rd centuries) was a Bactrian state that at its cultural zenith Circa 105 &ndash 250 The Sātavāhanas ( Marathi: सातवाहन Telugu:శాతవాహనులు were a Dynasty which ruled from Junnar ( They are called "Western" in contrast to the "Northern" Indo-Scythian satraps who ruled in the area of Mathura, such as Rajuvula, and his successors under the Kushans, the "Great Satrap" Kharapallana and the "Satrap" Vanaspara. Mathura ( IAST mathurā)( Hindi: मथुरा is a holy City in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Rajuvula was an Indo-Scythian Great Satrap ( Mahakshatrapa) who ruled in the area of Mathura in northern India in the years around 10 ^[1] Although they called themselves "Satraps" on their coins, leading to their modern designation of "Western Satraps", Ptolemy in his 2nd century "Geographia" still called them "Indo-Scythians". Claudius Ptolemaeus ( Greek: Klaúdios Ptolemaîos; after 83 &ndash ca The Geographia or Geography is Ptolemy 's main work besides the Almagest. ^[2]

Altogether, there were 27 independent Western Satrap rulers during a period of about 350 years. The word Kshatrapa stands for satrap, and its equivalent in Persian Ksatrapavan, which means viceroy or governor of a province. See also the related deity Satrapes. Satrap (Persian ساتراپ was the name given to the governors of the Provinces of ancient

History

Asia in 200 AD, showing the Western Satraps and their neighbors.

The Indo-Scythians ruled parts of northwestern India as far as Mathura. Mathura ( IAST mathurā)( Hindi: मथुरा is a holy City in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. In the south, they took control of the area of Ujjain in the early 1st century BCE, but the area was recovered by the Malwa Vikramāditya in 57 BCE, an era that was commemorated by the establishment of the Vikrama era. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ujjain ( Hindi:उज्जैन (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti For the Gupta king see Chandragupta II Vikramāditya Vikramaditya ( Sanskrit: विक्रमादित्य Year 57 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Consuls Publius Cornelius Lentulus Spinther

The Indo-Scythians (called Sakas by the Indians) later regained the area of Ujjain in Malwa around 78 CE, by defeating the dynasty of king Vikramāditya. The Sakas ( English form of Old Iranian Sakā, Nominative plural masculine case; Ancient Greek Σάκαι, WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ujjain ( Hindi:उज्जैन (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti Year 78 was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. For the Gupta king see Chandragupta II Vikramāditya Vikramaditya ( Sanskrit: विक्रमादित्य After this victory, the Sakas established their own Saka era, which became the official era of the Indian national calendar. The Shalivahana era, also known as the Saka era, is used with Hindu calendars the Indian national calendar, and the Cambodian Buddhist calendar The Indian national calendar (sometimes called Saka calendar) is the official civil calendar in use in India. They also formed the Western Satraps kingdom, which was to rule the region for more than three centuries. ^[3]

It is thought that the Western Satraps may have been viceroys of the Kushans, but later became independent, although they retained the name of Satraps. The Kushan Empire (c 1st &ndash 3rd centuries) was a Bactrian state that at its cultural zenith Circa 105 &ndash 250

Their wars and intermarriage with the Satavahanas are notable aspects of their kingdom. The Sātavāhanas ( Marathi: सातवाहन Telugu:శాతవాహనులు were a Dynasty which ruled from Junnar (

First expansion: Kshaharata dynasty (2nd century CE)

Coin of Bhumaka (?-119 CE). Bhumaka (?-119 CE was a Western Kshatrapa ruler of the early 2nd century CE
Obv:Arrow, pellet, and thunderbolt. Kharoshthi inscription Chaharasada Chatrapasa Bhumakasa: "Ksaharata Satrap Bhumaka". The Kharoṣṭhī script, also known as the Gāndhārī script, is an ancient Abugida (an alphasyllabary based on consonants with graphical variations to express
Rev: Capital of a pillar with seated lion with upraised paw, and wheel (dharmachakra). The Dharmachakra ( Sanskrit) or Dhammachakka ( Pāli) Tibetan chos kyi 'khor lo, Chinese fălún 法輪 Brahmi inscription: Kshaharatasa Kshatrapasa Bhumakasa.

The Western Satraps formerly started with the rather short-lived Kshaharata dynasty (also called Chaharada, Khaharata or Khakharata depending on sources). ^[4] The term Kshaharata is also known from the 6 CE Taxila copper plate inscription, in which it qualifies the Indo-Scytian ruler Liaka Kusulaka. The Taxila copper plate, also called the Moga inscription or the Patika copper-plate is a notable archaeological artifact found in the area of Taxila, Liaka Kusulaka ( Greek: Λιακο Κοζουλο Liako Kozoulo, on his coins Pali: Liaka Kusulaka or Liako Kusuluko was an Indo-Scythian The Nasik inscription of the 19th year of Sri Pulamavi also mentions the Khakharatavasa, or Kshaharata race. http//wwwmapsofindiacom/maps/maharashtra/roads/nashik_roadjpg Nashik (नाशिक Vasisthiputra Sri Pulamavi (r78-114 CE was a Satavahana king and the son of Gautamiputra Satakarni. ^[5]

The Western Satrap Kshaharata dynasty was founded by Bhumaka (?-119), father of Nahapana, who only used on his coins the title of Satrap, and not that of Raja or Raño (king). Bhumaka (?-119 CE was a Western Kshatrapa ruler of the early 2nd century CE Bhumaka was the father of the great ruler Nahapana, according to one of the latter's coins. Nahapana (119-124 CE was an important ruler of the Western Kshatrapas, descendant of the Indo-Scythians, in northwestern India His coins bear Buddhist symbols, such as the eight-spoked wheel (dharmachakra), or the lion seated on a capital, a representation of a pilar of Ashoka. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The Dharmachakra ( Sanskrit) or Dhammachakka ( Pāli) Tibetan chos kyi 'khor lo, Chinese fălún 法輪 Ashoka ( Devanāgarī: अशोकः IAST: Aśokaḥ, aɕoːkə(hə Prakrit Imperial title Devanampriya Priyadarsi

Nahapana succeeded to him, and became a very powerful ruler. He occupied portions of the Satavahana empire in western and central India. Nahapana held sway over Malwa, Southern Gujarat, and Northern Konkan, from Broach to Sopara and the Nasik and Poona districts. Gujarat (ગુજરાત Gujǎrāt, pronounced) is a state in western India. The Konkan (Marathi कोकण also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali, is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Sopara ( Sanskrit: Śūrpāraka (mentioned in the Hebrew texts as Ophir) was http//wwwmapsofindiacom/maps/maharashtra/roads/nashik_roadjpg Nashik (नाशिक Pune (ˈpuːneɪ Marathi: पुणे Hindi: पूना formerly Poona, is the second largest city in the state of Maharashtra ^[6] His son-in-law, the Saka Ushavadata (married to his daughter Dakshamitra), is known from inscriptions in Nasik and Karle to have been viceroy of Nahapana, ruling over the southern part of his territory. Rishabhadatta (also Ushavadata was viceroy of the Western Satrap ruler Nahapana, and his son-in-law http//wwwmapsofindiacom/maps/maharashtra/roads/nashik_roadjpg Nashik (नाशिक Karla Caves, an example of Indian rock-cut architecture, is a complex of cave shrines built by Buddhist monks around 3rd to 2nd century B ^[7]

Coin of Nahapana (119-124 CE). Nahapana (119-124 CE was an important ruler of the Western Kshatrapas, descendant of the Indo-Scythians, in northwestern India
Obv: Bust of king Nahapana with a legend in Greek script "PANNIΩ IAHAPATAC NAHAΠANAC", transliteration of the Prakrit Raño Kshaharatasa Nahapanasa: "King Kshaharata Nahapana".
Rev: Thunderbolt and arrow, within a Prakrit Brahmi legend to right: Rajno Ksaharatasa Nahapanasa: Prakrit Kharoshti legend to left: Rano Ksaharatasa Nahapanasa. Prakrit (also transliterated as Pracrit) ( Sanskrit: prākṛta प्राकृत (from pra-kṛti प्रकृति according to one Prakrit (also transliterated as Pracrit) ( Sanskrit: prākṛta प्राकृत (from pra-kṛti प्रकृति according to one The Kharoṣṭhī script, also known as the Gāndhārī script, is an ancient Abugida (an alphasyllabary based on consonants with graphical variations to express

Nahapana is mentioned in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea under the name Nambanus,^[8] as ruler of the area around Barigaza:

41. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea ( Periplus Maris Erythraei) is a Greek Periplus, describing navigation and trading opportunities WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> History Bharuch was once but a small village on the banks of the Narmada River but that rivers inland "Beyond the gulf of Baraca is that of Barygaza and the coast of the country of Ariaca, which is the beginning of the Kingdom of Nambanus and of all India. The Gulf of Kutch is an inlet of the Arabian Sea along the west coast of India, in the state of Gujarat. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> History Bharuch was once but a small village on the banks of the Narmada River but that rivers inland Ariaca was a region of Western India beyond Barigaza, mentioned in ancient geographical sources That part of it lying inland and adjoining Scythia is called Abiria, but the coast is called Syrastrene. Abiria was a region of India described by Classical authors mainly Ptolemy. Saraostus (also Surastrene, modern Saurashtra in India was the name given by the Greeks to the area of Saurashtra and parts of south-western Gujarat It is a fertile country, yielding wheat and rice and sesame oil and clarified butter, cotton and the Indian cloths made therefrom, of the coarser sorts. Very many cattle are pastured there, and the men are of great stature and black in color. The metropolis of this country is Minnagara, from which much cotton cloth is brought down to Barygaza. Minnagara was a city of the Indo-Scythian kingdom located on the Indus river in modern Pakistan, north of the coastal city of Barbaricum, or "

—Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, Chap. 41 ^[9]

Under the Western Satraps, Barigaza was one of the main centers of Roman trade with India. Roman trade with India through the overland caravan routes via Anatolia and Persia though at a relative trickle comparative to later times antedated the southern trade route via the Red The Periplus describes the many goods exchanged:

49. There are imported into this market-town (Barigaza), wine, Italian preferred, also Laodicean and Arabian; copper, tin, and lead; coral and topaz; thin clothing and inferior sorts of all kinds; bright-colored girdles a cubit wide; storax, sweet clover, flint glass, realgar, antimony, gold and silver coin, on which there is a profit when exchanged for the money of the country; and ointment, but not very costly and not much. Laodicea (Λαοδίκεια also transliterated as Laodiceia or Laodikeia was the name for at least seven Hellenistic cities which were named for one The Arabian Peninsula (in Arabic: شبه الجزيرة العربية šibh al-jazīra al-ʻarabīya or جزيرة العرب jazīrat al-ʻarab) Realgar, α -As4S4 is an Arsenic Sulfide mineral It is a soft sectile mineral occurring in Monoclinic crystals or in Antimony (IPA (Received Pronunciation, /ˈæntɪmoʊni/ (US is a Chemical element with the symbol Sb (stibium meaning "mark" and And for the King there are brought into those places very costly vessels of silver, singing boys, beautiful maidens for the harem, fine wines, thin clothing of the finest weaves, and the choicest ointments. There are exported from these places spikenard, costus, bdellium, ivory, agate and carnelian, lycium, cotton cloth of all kinds, silk cloth, mallow cloth, yarn, long pepper and such other things as are brought here from the various market-towns. Spikenard ( Nardostachys grandiflora or Nardostachys jatamansi; also called nard, nardin,and muskroot) is a Flowering The plant known to the Ancient Romans as costus is probably Saussurea lappa Costus is a genus of perennial Carnelian, sometimes spelled cornelian, is a red or reddish-brown variant of Chalcedony. Boxthorn ( Lycium) is a Genus of the Nightshade family ( Solanaceae) containing about 90 Species of Those bound for this market-town from Egypt make the voyage favorably about the month of July, that is Epiphi. "

—Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, Chapter 48. ^[10]

The Western Satraps under Nahapana, with their harbour of Barigaza, were among the main actors of the 1st century CE international trade according to the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea ( Periplus Maris Erythraei) is a Greek Periplus, describing navigation and trading opportunities

Goods were also brought down in quantity from Ujjain, the capital of the Western Satraps:

48. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ujjain ( Hindi:उज्जैन (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti Inland from this place and to the east, is the city called Ozene, formerly a royal capital; from this place are brought down all things needed for the welfare of the country about Barygaza, and many things for our trade : agate and carnelian, Indian muslins and mallow cloth, and much ordinary cloth.

—Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, Chapter 48. ^[11]

Some ships were also fitted out from Barigaza, to export goods westward across the Indian ocean:

"Ships are also customarily fitted out from the places across this sea, from Ariaca and Barygaza, bringing to these far-side market-towns the products of their own places; wheat, rice, clarified butter, sesame oil, cotton cloth, (the monache and the sagmatogene), and girdles, and honey from the reed called sacchari. The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface Some make the voyage especially to these market-towns, and others exchange their cargoes while sailing along the coast. "

—Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, Chapter 14. ^[12]

Nahapana also established the Kshatrapa coinage.

Nahapana and Ushavadata were ultimately defeated by the powerful Satavahana king Gautamiputra Satakarni in 125. Gautamiputra Satakarni (also known as Shalivahana (c 78-102 AD was the twenty-third ruler of the Satavahana Empire Gautramiputra drove the Sakas from Malwa and Western Maharashtra, forcing Nahapana west to Gujarat. Gautamiputra restruck many of Nahapana's coins.

Kardamaka dynasty, family of Castana (2nd-4th century)

Coin of the Western Satrap Chastana (c. Chastana, or Castana, was a ruler of the Saka Western Satraps in northwestern India around 130 CE 130 CE).
Obv: King in profile. The legend typically reads "PANNIΩ IATPAΠAC CIASTANCA" (corrupted Greek script), transliteration of the Prakrit Raño Kshatrapasa Castana: "King and Satrap Castana".
Rev: Chaitya with moon, star and river. A chaitya is a Buddhist or Jain shrine including a Stupa. In modern texts on Indian architecture the term chaitya-griha is often used Brahmi legend Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Ghsamotikaputrasa Casthanasa: "King and Great Satrap Chastana, son of Ghsamotika.

A new dynasty, called the Bhadramukhas or Kardamaka dynasty, was established by the "Satrap" Castana circa 130 CE, which would last continuously until the 4th century. Chastana, or Castana, was a ruler of the Saka Western Satraps in northwestern India around 130 CE Castana was satrap of Ujjain during that period. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ujjain ( Hindi:उज्जैन (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti A statue found in Mathura together with statues of the Kushan king Kanishka and Vima Kadphises, and bearing the name "Shastana" is often attributed to Castana himself, and suggests Castana may have been a feudatory of the Kushans. The Kushan Empire (c 1st &ndash 3rd centuries) was a Bactrian state that at its cultural zenith Circa 105 &ndash 250 Kanishka (Kushan language Κανηϸκι, Middle Chinese: 迦腻色伽 was a king of the Kushan Empire in Central Asia, ruling an empire extending Vima Kadphises (Kushan language Οοημο Καδφισης, Ancient Chinese阎膏珍 was a Kushan emperor from around 90-100 CE Conversely, the Rabatak inscription also claims Kushan dominion over Western Satrap territory (by mentionning Kushan control over the capital Ujjain), during the reign of Kanishka (120-150 CE). The Rabatak inscription is an inscription written on a rock in the Bactrian language and the Greek script, which was found in 1993 at the site of Rabatak WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ujjain ( Hindi:उज्जैन (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti Kanishka (Kushan language Κανηϸκι, Middle Chinese: 迦腻色伽 was a king of the Kushan Empire in Central Asia, ruling an empire extending

Territory under Chastana

The territory of the Western Satraps at the time of Chastana is described extensively by the geographer Ptolemy in his "Geographia", where he qualifies them as "Indo-Scythians". Claudius Ptolemaeus ( Greek: Klaúdios Ptolemaîos; after 83 &ndash ca He describes this territory as starting from Patalene in the West, to Ujjain in the east ("Ozena-Regia Tiastani", "Ozene, capital of king Chastana"), and beyond Barigaza in the south. The very large Moth family Geometridae contains the following genera A B C D E F G H WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ujjain ( Hindi:उज्जैन (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> History Bharuch was once but a small village on the banks of the Narmada River but that rivers inland

Moreover the region which is next to the western part of India, is called Indoscythia. A part of this region around the (Indus) river mouth is Patalena, above which is Abiria. In Roman mythology, Patalena was a goddess of Flowers See also Flora (goddess Abiria was a region of India described by Classical authors mainly Ptolemy. That which is about the mouth of the Indus and the Canthicolpus bay is called Syrastrena. (. . . ) In the island formed by this river are the cities Pantala, Barbaria. Barbarikon was the name of a Sea port near the modern-day city of Karachi, Pakistan, important in the Hellenistic era in Indian Ocean (. . . ) The Larica region of Indoscythia is located eastward from the swamp near the sea, in which on the west of the Namadus river is the interior city of Barygaza emporium. The Narmada नर्मदा Gujarati નર્મદા or Nerbudda (Narbada is a river in central India and the fifth largest river in the Indian subcontinent WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> History Bharuch was once but a small village on the banks of the Narmada River but that rivers inland On the east side of the river (. . . ) Ozena-Regia Tiastani (. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ujjain ( Hindi:उज्जैन (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti . . ) Minnagara". Minnagara was a city of the Indo-Scythian kingdom located on the Indus river in modern Pakistan, north of the coastal city of Barbaricum, or

—Ptolemy Geographia, Book Seven, Chapter I

Victory against the Satavahanas: Rudradarman I (130-160 CE)

Around 130 CE, Rudradaman I, grandson of Chastana, took the title "Mahakshatrapa" ("Great Satrap"), and defended his kingdom from the Satavahanas. Rudradaman I (r 130 - 150) was the Saka ruler of Malwa, a member of the Western Kshatrapas dynasty Chastana, or Castana, was a ruler of the Saka Western Satraps in northwestern India around 130 CE The Sātavāhanas ( Marathi: सातवाहन Telugu:శాతవాహనులు were a Dynasty which ruled from Junnar ( The conflict between Rudradaman and Satavahanas became so gruelling, that in order to contain the conflict, a matrimonial relationship was concluded by giving Rudradaman's daughter to the Satavahana king Vashishtiputra Satakarni. Vashishtiputra Sātakarni (r 130-160 CE was a Satavahana king in Central India who ruled during the 2nd century century CE

Silver coin of Rudradaman I. Rudradaman I (r 130 - 150) was the Saka ruler of Malwa, a member of the Western Kshatrapas dynasty
Obv: Bust of Rudradaman, with corrupted Greek legend "OVONIΛOOCVΛCHΛNO".
Rev: Three-arched hill or Chaitya with river, crescent and sun. A chaitya is a Buddhist or Jain shrine including a Stupa. In modern texts on Indian architecture the term chaitya-griha is often used Brahmi legend: Rajno Ksatrapasa Jayadamasaputrasa Rajno Mahaksatrapasa Rudradamasa: "King and Great Satrap Rudradaman, son of King and Satrap Jayadaman"
16mm, 2. 0 grams.

The Satavahanas and the Western Satraps remained at war however, and Rudradaman I defeated the Satavahanas twice in these conflicts, only sparing the life of Vashishtiputra Satakarni due to their family alliance:

"Rudradaman (. . . ) who obtained good report because he, in spite of having twice in fair fight completely defeated Satakarni, the lord of Dakshinapatha, on account of the nearness of their connection did not destroy him. Ancient Buddhist and Brahmanical texts use the term Dakshinapatha as a name for both the southern high road of "

—Junagadh rock inscription ^[13]

Rudradaman regained all the previous territories held by Nahapana, except for the southern areas of Poona and Nasik:

"Rudradaman (. Pune (ˈpuːneɪ Marathi: पुणे Hindi: पूना formerly Poona, is the second largest city in the state of Maharashtra http//wwwmapsofindiacom/maps/maharashtra/roads/nashik_roadjpg Nashik (नाशिक . . ) who is the lord of the whole of eastern and western Akaravanti (Akara: East Malwa and Avanti: West Malwa), the Anupa country, Anarta, Surashtra, Svabhra (northern Gujarat) Maru (Marwar), Kachchha (Cutch), Sindhu-Sauvira (Sindh and Multan districts), Kukura (Eastern Rajputana), Aparanta ("Western Border" - Northern Konkan), Nishada (an aboriginal tribe, Malwa and parts of Central India) and other territories gained by his own valour, the towns, marts and rural parts of which are never troubled by robbers, snakes, wild beasts, diseases and the like, where all subjects are attached to him, (and) where through his might the objects of [religion], wealth and pleasure [are duly attained]". The former Avanti kingdom was one among the many kingdoms ruled by the Yadava kings in the central and western India. Anupa was a kingdom mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. It lay to the north west of Vidarbha, in Maharashtra state of India Anarta redirect here For the Moth Genus, seee Anarta (moth. Anarta was a kingdom of ancient India roughly forming the northern Saurashtra (also Soruth and Sorath) is a region of western India, located on the Arabian Sea coast of Gujarat state Gujarat (ગુજરાત Gujǎrāt, pronounced) is a state in western India. Geography In 1901 the region (Jodhpur state had an area of 90554 km² (34963 square miles Catechu (also known as cachou, cutch, cashoo, or Japan earth) is an Extract of any of several species of Acacia The Indus River { Sanskrit: सिन्धु Sindhu; Urdu: urd {{Nastaliq سندھ}} Sindh; Sindhi: snd Sauvira was a kingdom mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. According to the epic Jayadratha was the king of Sindhus, Sauviras and Sivis. Sindh ( Sindhī: سنڌ Urdu: سندھ is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhis. ( Urdu:, Punjabi ملتان، ਮੁਲਤਾਨ is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District Rājputāna, also called Rājwār was the name of present Rājasthān state the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area before its formation in 1949 CE The Konkan (Marathi कोकण also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali, is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad Nishadha ( Sanskrit: निषाध niṣādha) was an indigenous tribe inhabiting ancient India, according to sources in Hindu mythology The Central India Agency was a political unit of British India, which covered the northern half of present-day Madhya Pradesh state

—Junagadh rock inscription. ^[14] Geographical interpretations in parenthesis from Rapson. ^[15]

Recently discovered pillar inscriptions describe the presence of a Western Satrap named Rupiamma in the Bhandara district of the area of Vidarbha, in the extreme northeastern area of Maharashtra, where he erected the pillars. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Bhandara is a city and a Municipal council in Bhandara district in the state of Maharashtra Vidarbha (Marathi विदर्भ is the eastern region of Maharashtra state made up of Nagpur Division and Amravati Division. Maharashtra ( Marathi: mahārāṣṭra, IPA) is a state located on the western coast of India. ^[16].

Rudradarman is known for his sponsoring of the arts. He is known to have written poetry in the purest of Sanskrit, and made it his court language. His name is forever attached to the inscription by Sudharshini lake.

He had at his court a Greek writer named Yavanesvara ("Lord of the Greeks"), who translated from Greek to Sanskrit the Yavanajataka ("Saying of the Greeks"), an astrological treatise and India's earliest Sanskrit work in horoscopy. Yavanesvara ( Sanskrit for "Lord" ( Svara) "of the Greeks" ( Yavanas)" was a man who lived in the Gujarat region The Yavanajataka ( Sanskrit for "Saying ( Jataka) of the Greeks ( Yavanas)" is the earliest writing of Indian astrology ^[17]

Rudrasena II (256-278 CE)

Coin of Rudrasena I (200-222). Rudrasena I (r 200-222 was a Saka ruler of the Western Satrap dynasty in the area of Malwa in ancient India. Events By Place World Human population reaches about 257 million Events By Place Roman Empire March 11 — Elagabalus is assassinated along with his mother Julia Soemias by legionnaires during

The Kshatrapa dynasty seems to have reached a high level of prosperity under the rule of Rudrasena II (256-278), 19th ruler of Kshatrapa.

The last Kshatrapa ruler of the Chastana family was Visvasena (Vishwasen), brother and successor to Bhratadarman and son of Rudrasena II. Bhratadaman was a Saka ruler of the Western Kshatrapas in northwestern India from around 278 to 295 A new family took over, started by the rule of Rudrasimha II, son of Lord (Svami) Jivadaman.

Defeat by the Guptas (c. 400 CE)

A new family took control under Rudrasimha III. Rudrasimha III was the last ruler of the Western Satraps in India, in the 4th century CE A fragment from the Natya-darpana mentions the Gupta king Ramagupta, the elder brother of Chandragupta II, decided to expand his kingdom by attacking the Western Satraps in Gujarat. The Gupta Empire ( Hindi: गुप्त राजवंश was ruled by members of the Gupta dynasty from around 320 to 550 C Ramagupta was a legendary king of India, a ruler of the Gupta empire and the elder son and successor of Samudragupta. Chandragupta II (very often referred to as Vikramaditya or Chandragupta Vikramaditya) was one of the most powerful emperors of the Gupta empire Gujarat (ગુજરાત Gujǎrāt, pronounced) is a state in western India.

Coin of the last Western Satrap ruler Rudrasimha III (388-395 CE). Rudrasimha III was the last ruler of the Western Satraps in India, in the 4th century CE Events By Place Roman Empire The rebellion of Magnus Maximus is put down at the Battle of the Save, and Valentinian II Events By Place Roman Empire After the death of emperor Theodosius I, the Empire is re-divided into an eastern and a western half

The campaign soon took a turn for the worse and the Gupta army was trapped. The Saka king, Rudrasimha III, demanded that Ramagupta hand over his wife Dhruvadevi in exchange for peace. To avoid the ignominy the Guptas decide to send Madhavasena, a courtesan and a beloved of Chandragupta, disguised as the queen. However, Chandragupta changes the plan and himself goes to the Saka King disguised as the queen. He then kills Rudrasimha and later his own brother, Ramagupta. Dhruvadevi is then married to Chandragupta.

The Western Satraps were eventually conquered by emperor Chandragupta II. This brought and end to the rule of the Shakas on the subcontinent.

Coinage

The Kshatrapas have a very rich and interesting coinage. It was based on the coinage of the earlier Indo-Greek Kings, with Greek or pseudo-Greek legend and life-like profiles of royal busts on the obverse. The Indo-Greek Kingdom (or sometimes Graeco-Indian Kingdom) covered various parts of the northwest and northern Indian subcontinent during the last two centuries The reverse of the coins however is original and typically depict a thunderbolt and an arrow, and later, a chaitya or three-arched hill and river symbol with a crescent and the sun, within a legend in Brahmi. These coins are very informative, since they record the name of the King, of his father, and the date of issue, and have helped clarify the early history of India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country

Regnal dates

Coin of the Western Kshatrapa ruler Bhratadarman (278 to 295). Bhratadaman was a Saka ruler of the Western Kshatrapas in northwestern India from around 278 to 295 Events Births Abaye — Babylonian 'amora (religious scholar Maxentius, Roman emperor Events By Place Asia Tuoba Yi Tuo becomes a chieftain of the Chinese Tuoba tribe
Obv: Bust of Bhratadarman, with corrupted Greek legend ". . OHIIOIH. . " (Indo-Greek style). The Indo-Greek Kingdom (or sometimes Graeco-Indian Kingdom) covered various parts of the northwest and northern Indian subcontinent during the last two centuries
Rev: Three-arched hill or Chaitya, with river, crescent and sun, within Prakrit legend in Brahmi script:Rajno Mahaksatrapasa Rudrasenaputrasa Rajnah Ksatrapasa Bhartrdamnah "King and Satrap Bhratadaman, son of King and Great Satrap Rudrasena". A chaitya is a Buddhist or Jain shrine including a Stupa. In modern texts on Indian architecture the term chaitya-griha is often used Prakrit (also transliterated as Pracrit) ( Sanskrit: prākṛta प्राकृत (from pra-kṛti प्रकृति according to one

From the reign of Rudrasimha I, the date of minting of each coin, reckoned in the Saka era, is usually written on the obverse behind the king's head in Brahmi numerals, allowing for a quite precise datation of the rule of each king. The Shalivahana era, also known as the Saka era, is used with Hindu calendars the Indian national calendar, and the Cambodian Buddhist calendar The Brahmi numerals are an indigenous Indian numeral system attested from the 3rd century BCE (somewhat later in the case of most of the tens ^[18] This is a rather uncommon case in Indian numismatics. Some, such as the numismat R. C Senior considered that these dates might correspond to the much earlier Azes era instead.

Also the father of each king is systematically mentioned in the reverse legends, which allows to reconstruct the regnal succession.

Languages

Kharoshthi, a script in use in more northern territories (area of Gandhara), is employed together with the Brahmi script and the Greek script on the first coins of the Western Satraps, but is finally abandoned from the time of Chastana. The Kharoṣṭhī script, also known as the Gāndhārī script, is an ancient Abugida (an alphasyllabary based on consonants with graphical variations to express Gandhāra ( Sanskrit: गन्धार Urdu: گندھارا Gandḥārā; also known as Waihind in Persian is the name of an ancient The Greek alphabet (Ελληνικό αλφάβητο is a set of twenty-four letters that has been used to write the Greek language since the late 9th or early Chastana, or Castana, was a ruler of the Saka Western Satraps in northwestern India around 130 CE ^[19] From that time, only the Brahmi script would remain, together with the Greek script on the facing, to write the Prakrit language employed by the Western satraps. Prakrit (also transliterated as Pracrit) ( Sanskrit: prākṛta प्राकृत (from pra-kṛti प्रकृति according to one

The coins of Nahapana bears the Greek script legend "PANNIΩ IAHAPATAC NAHAΠANAC", transliteration of the Prakrit "Raño Kshaharatasa Nahapanasa": "In the reign of Kshaharata Nahapana". Nahapana (119-124 CE was an important ruler of the Western Kshatrapas, descendant of the Indo-Scythians, in northwestern India The coins of Castana also have a readable legend "PANNIΩ IATPAΠAC CIASTANCA", transliteration of the Prakrit "Raño Kshatrapasa Castana": "In the reign of the Satrap Castana". After these two rulers, the legend in Greek script becomes denaturated, and seems to lose all signification, only retaining an esthetic value. By the 4th century, the coins of Rudrasimha II exhibit the following type of meaningless legend in corrupted Greek script: ". . . ΛIOΛVICIVIIIΛ. . . ". ^[20]

Influences

The Guptas imitated Western Satrap coins for their silver coinage. The Gupta Empire ( Hindi: गुप्त राजवंश was ruled by members of the Gupta dynasty from around 320 to 550 C Here, a coin of the Gupta king Kumaragupta I (414-455) CE (Western territories). Kumaragupta I (Mahendraditya was ruler of the Gupta Empire from 415 - 455 CE.

The coins of the Kshatrapas were also very influential and imitated by neighbouring or later dynasties, such as the Satavahanas, and the Guptas. Silver coins of the Gupta kings Chandragupta II and his son Kumaragupta I adopted the Western Satrap design (itself derived from the Indo-Greeks) with bust of the ruler and pseudo-Greek inscription on the obverse, and a peacock replacing the chaitya hill with star and crescent on the reverse. Chandragupta II (very often referred to as Vikramaditya or Chandragupta Vikramaditya) was one of the most powerful emperors of the Gupta empire Kumaragupta I (Mahendraditya was ruler of the Gupta Empire from 415 - 455 CE. The Indo-Greek Kingdom (or sometimes Graeco-Indian Kingdom) covered various parts of the northwest and northern Indian subcontinent during the last two centuries A chaitya is a Buddhist or Jain shrine including a Stupa. In modern texts on Indian architecture the term chaitya-griha is often used ^[21]

The Western Satrap coin design was also adopted by the subsequent dynasty of the Traikutakas (388-456). The Traikutakas were a dynasty of Indian kings who ruled between 388 and 456 CE.

Vassalage to the Kushans?

It is still unclear whether the Western Satraps were independent rulers or vassals of the Kushans. The continued use of the word "Satrap" on their coin would suggest a recognized sujetion to a higher ruler, possibly the Kushan emperor. See also the related deity Satrapes. Satrap (Persian ساتراپ was the name given to the governors of the Provinces of ancient ^[22]

Also, a statue of Chastana was found in Mathura at the Temple of Mat together with the famous statues of Vima Kadphises and Kanishka. Chastana, or Castana, was a ruler of the Saka Western Satraps in northwestern India around 130 CE Mathura ( IAST mathurā)( Hindi: मथुरा is a holy City in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Vima Kadphises (Kushan language Οοημο Καδφισης, Ancient Chinese阎膏珍 was a Kushan emperor from around 90-100 CE Kanishka (Kushan language Κανηϸκι, Middle Chinese: 迦腻色伽 was a king of the Kushan Empire in Central Asia, ruling an empire extending This also would suggest at least alliance and friendship, if not vassality. Finally Kanishka claims in the Rabatak inscription that his power extends to Ujjain, the classical capital of the Western Satrap realm. The Rabatak inscription is an inscription written on a rock in the Bactrian language and the Greek script, which was found in 1993 at the site of Rabatak WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ujjain ( Hindi:उज्जैन (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti This combined with the presence of the Chastana statue side-by-side with Kanishka would also suggest Kushan alliance with the Western Satraps.

Finally, "Northern" Indo-Scythian satraps who ruled in the area of Mathura, the "Great Satrap" Kharapallana and the "Satrap" Vanaspara, are known from an inscription in Sarnath to have been feudatories of the Kushans. Mathura ( IAST mathurā)( Hindi: मथुरा is a holy City in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This article is about a place in India For H P Lovecraft 's fictitious city see The Doom That Came to Sarnath. ^[23]

Generally the orientation taken by modern scholorship is that the Western Satraps were vassals of the Kushan, at least in the early period until Rudradaman I conquered the Yaudheyas who are usually thought themselves as Kushan vassals. Rudradaman I (r 130 - 150) was the Saka ruler of Malwa, a member of the Western Kshatrapas dynasty Yaudheya or Yaudheya Gana was an ancient tribal confederation who lived in the area between the Indus river and the Ganges river. The question is not considered as perfectly settled.

Notes

References

• Rapson, "A Catalogue of Indian coins in the British Museum. Andhras etc. . . "
• John Rosenfield, "The dynastic art of the Kushans", 1976
• Claudius Ptolemy, "The geography", Translated and edited by Edward Luther Stevenson, Dover Publications Inc. , New York, ISBN 0486268969

Main rulers

Kshaharata dynasty

• (Yapirajaya)
• (Hospises)
• (Higaraka)
• (Abhiraka) (Aubhirakes)
• Bhumaka (?-119)
• Nahapana (119-124)

Bhadramukhas or Kardamaka dynasty

Family of Chastana:

• Chastana (c 120), son of Ghsamotika
• Jayadaman, son of Chastana
• Rudradaman I (c 130-150), son of Jayadaman
• Damajadasri I (170-175)
• Jivadaman (175 d 199)
• Rudrasimha I (175-188 d 197)
• Isvaradatta (188-191)
• Rudrasimha I (restored) (191-197)
• Jivadaman (restored) (197-199)
• Rudrasena I (200-222)
• Samghadaman (222-223)
• Damasena (223-232)
• Damajadasri II (232-239) with
• Viradaman (234-238)
• Yasodaman I (239)
• Vijayasena (239-250)
• Damajadasri III (251-255)
• Rudrasena II (255-277)
• Visvasimha (277-282)
• Bhratadarman (282-295) with
• Visvasena (293-304)

Family of Rudrasimha II:

• Rudrasimha II, son of Lord (Svami) Jivadaman (304-348) with
• Yasodaman II (317-332)
• Rudradaman II (332-348)
• Rudrasena III (348-380)
• Simhasena (380- ?)
• Rudrasena IV (382-388)
• Rudrasimha III (388-395)

External links

• History of the Andhras, with many references to Western Satrap rule. Abhiraka was an Indo-Scythian king and a member of the Kshaharata dynasty Bhumaka (?-119 CE was a Western Kshatrapa ruler of the early 2nd century CE Nahapana (119-124 CE was an important ruler of the Western Kshatrapas, descendant of the Indo-Scythians, in northwestern India Chastana, or Castana, was a ruler of the Saka Western Satraps in northwestern India around 130 CE Rudradaman I (r 130 - 150) was the Saka ruler of Malwa, a member of the Western Kshatrapas dynasty Rudrasena I (r 200-222 was a Saka ruler of the Western Satrap dynasty in the area of Malwa in ancient India. Bhratadaman was a Saka ruler of the Western Kshatrapas in northwestern India from around 278 to 295 Rudrasimha III was the last ruler of the Western Satraps in India, in the 4th century CE Middle kingdoms of India refers to the political entities in India from the 2nd century BC since the decline of the Maurya Empire, and the corresponding Magadha (मगध formed one of the sixteen Mahājanapadas ( Sanskrit, "great countries" or regions in ancient India. According to tradition the Shishunaga dynasty founded the Magadha Empire in 684 BC, whose capital was Rajagriha, later Pataliputra, near the The Nanda dynasty ruled Magadha during the 5th and 4th centuries BC. Kalinga was a Kingdom in central-eastern India, which comprised most of the modern state of Orissa, as well as some northern areas of the bordering state The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military For other uses of the term Sunga see Sunga (disambiguation The Sunga Empire (or Shunga Empire) is a Magadha The Kingdom of Kuninda (or Kulinda in ancient literature was an ancient central Himalayan kingdom from around the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century The Gupta Empire ( Hindi: गुप्त राजवंश was ruled by members of the Gupta dynasty from around 320 to 550 C Harsha or Harshavardhana (हर्षवर्धन or "Harsha vardhan" ( 590 &ndash 647) was an Indian emperor who ruled Northern India The Pala Empire was a dynasty in control of the northern and eastern Indian subcontinent, mainly the Bengal and Bihar regions from the 8th to The Solanki (from Chalukya, an ancient Indian dynasty are a Hindu clan who ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th The Sena dynasty ( Bengali সেন Shen) ruled Bengal through the 11th and 12th centuries. Origin The origin of the word “Pandya” has been a subject of much speculation History In early Tamil literature the great Chera rulers are referred to as Cheral Kuttuvan Irumporai Kollipurai and Athan The Sātavāhanas ( Marathi: सातवाहन Telugu:శాతవాహనులు were a Dynasty which ruled from Junnar ( Identification Kalabhras The identification of the Kalabhras is difficult The Kadamba Dynasty ( Kannada:ಕದಂಬರು (345 - 525 CE was an ancient royal family of Karnataka that ruled from Banavasi in present Origins See also Origin of Pallava The exact origin of the Pallavas is shrouded in mystery The Chalukya dynasty ( Kannada: ಚಾಲುಕ್ಯರು ʧaːɭukjə was an Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and Central The Rashtrakuta Dynasty ( Sanskrit: राष्ट्रकूट rāṣṭrakūṭa, Kannada: ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಕೂಟ was a royal The Western Chalukya Empire ( Kannada: ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಚಾಲುಕ್ಯ ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯ) ruled most of the western Deccan, South The Hoysala Empire ( Kannada: ಹೊಯ್ಸಳ ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯ ( pronunciation: in Kannada was a prominent South Indian Kannadiga Gandhāra ( Sanskrit: गन्धार Urdu: گندھارا Gandḥārā; also known as Waihind in Persian is the name of an ancient The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenid Persian Empire ( haχɒmaneʃijɒn (558–330 BC was the first of the Persian Empires to rule over significant portions of In ancient times trade between India and Greece flourished with Silk, Spices and Gold being traded The Indo-Greek Kingdom (or sometimes Graeco-Indian Kingdom) covered various parts of the northwest and northern Indian subcontinent during the last two centuries The Indo-Scythians are a branch of the Indo-Iranian Sakas ( Scythians) who migrated from southern Siberia into Bactria, The Indo-Parthian Kingdom was established during the 1st century by Gondophares, and at its greatest extent extended into areas that are in present-day Afghanistan The Kushan Empire (c 1st &ndash 3rd centuries) was a Bactrian state that at its cultural zenith Circa 105 &ndash 250 The Indo-Sassanids, Kushano-Sassanids or Kushanshas (also Indo-Sassanians) were a branch of the Sassanid Persians who established their There are two different theories regarding the Kidarite kingdom either it is created in the second half of the 4th c The Huna (also known as Indo-Hephthalites or Alchon) as they were known in South Asia, seem to have been part of the Hephthalite group who The Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent mainly took place from the 11th to the 17th centuries though earlier Muslim conquests made limited inroads into the region beginning For a town in Bareilly District India see Shahi Uttar Pradesh. During the late Middle Ages, several Islamic Empires were established in South Asia.
• Coins of the Western Kshatrapas
• Other coins of the Western Kshatrapas
• The Kshatrapas in Nasik

See also

• Indo-Greek Kingdom
• Indo-Scythians
• Indo-Parthians
• Kushan Empire
• Rulers of Malwa