Far East Kingdoms

Pahlavas / Indo-Parthians

The expansion of the Kushans was checked by the Indo-Parthians, or Pahlavas, who had their origins in Persia. Gondophares was a vassal of the Parthian Arsacids, and it was he who declared his independence from them and ventured eastwards to establish his own kingdom in present day Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India, sharing domination of the region with the Indo-Scythians. Information, and especially dating, for the Pahlavas is hard to come by, some of it being provided by numismatic evidence only, so the dating used is approximate.

(Additional information by Abhijit Rajadhyaksha.)

c.AD 10

The Indo-Greek kingdom disappears under Indo-Scythian pressure. Pockets of Greek population probably remain for some centuries under the subsequent rule of the Kushans and Indo-Parthians.

c.AD 20 - 50

Gondophares

Parthian vassal who declared independence

c.20

Gondophares ventures east and establishes an independent Indo-Parthian kingdom in Afghanistan.

A Gondophares coin showing the Greek goddess Nike, and legends in both Greek and Kharoshthi

c.50 - 65

Abdagases I

Nephew.

fl c.60

Satavastres

fl c.70

Sarpedones

fl c.70

Orthagnes / Orthagnes-Gadana

c.75

The Kushan ruler, Kadphises, subdues the Indo-Scythians and establishes his kingdom in Bactria and the valley of the River Oxus, defeating the Indo-Parthians and recapturing the main area of their kingdom. The Pahlavas survive in northern India and Pakistan, mainly Sakastan and Arachosia.

fl c.77

Ubouzanes

Son.

fl c.85

Sases / Gondophares-Sases

fl c.90

Abdagases II

c.100

The neighbouring Kushans capture former Indo-Greek Arachosia (Medieval Ghazi) from the Indo-Parthians.

c.100 - 135

Pacores / Pakores

c.135

Pacores is the last king with any real power. One more Indo-Parthian king follows him but in diminished circumstances, and virtually unknown to history.

?

Known from numismatic evidence only.

c.140?

By this date, if not before, the last Indo-Parthians are conquered by the Kushans.