Far East Kingdoms

Sakas / Indo-Scythians

The Indo-Scythian Sakas were nomadic Central Asian tribes which inhabited the region around Lake Issykkul and the River Jaxartes. The Amyrgian sub-set of Sakas in particular were fairly well attested, after coming into contact with both the Achaemenids and the Greeks under Alexander, and were apparently centred on the Amyrgian plain which equates to all of Farghana and also the Alai valley. They accompanied Alexander on campaign, under their 'King Omarg' and entered India along with the Kambojas.

After being forced southwards by the Yeuh Chi Kushans at the start of the first century BC, The Sakas founded a kingdom in Gandhara (modern Kandahar in Afghanistan), displacing the ailing Indo-Greek kings. Along with the Indo-Parthians (Pahlavas), they dominated India from present day Afghanistan and Pakistan right over to parts of Maharashtra and Kathiawar (modern Gujarat).

(Information by Abhijit Rajadhyaksha.)

c.320s BC

'Omarg'

Served with Greek general Alexander the Great.

c.90 - 60 BC

Maues / Moga

'Great king of kings'.

c.80 BC

The Yeuh Chi, forerunners to the Kushans, drive the Sakas southwards from Central Asia. In turn, the Parthians divert the Sakas, their Indo-Scythian cousins, from Persian territory into Indo-Greek Gandhara. Maues takes control there, creating a capital at Taxila in Punjab. There is the possibility that Maues was a hired Scythian general who wished to absorb Greek culture rather than conquer it, as evidenced by his coins. He issues some coins jointly with a Queen Machene, who may be an Indo-Greek ruler, and the Indo-Greek king, Artemidoros, describes himself as 'son of Maues'.

Sakas on a frieze at Persepolis in Persia

c.75 - 65 BC

Vonones

c.75 - 65 BC

Spalahores

Brother, satrap, and successor to the throne (65 BC).

c.75 BC

Following the death of Maues, the Indo-Greeks regain control of Gandhara (under Artemidoros) and Punjab (under Apollodotus II). Vonones is confined to the north-west of India. However, the Indo-Greeks progressively lose ground to the Sakas, Tocharians/Yuezhi, and Indo-Parthians in the west.

c.70 BC

The Sakas expel the Indo-Greeks from Arachosia but subsequently lose it to the Parthians. Parthian rule seems to be limited and perhaps doesn't include the entire region.

c.65 - 60? BC

Spalahores

Former satrap (c.75-65 BC).

c.60 - 57 BC

Spalirises

Brother (or the same person), and definite brother of Vonones.

c.57 - 35 BC

Azes I

c.57 BC

Azes consolidates Saka territory by absorbing that of Spalirises into his own. To his east, King Hippostratus is one of the most successful late Indo-Greek kings, until he loses to Azes I in a battle which probably takes place at the River Jhelum. Azes establishes his own dynasty in Western Punjab. An alliance between Azes and the Indo-Greeks may be agreed after this, as the latter continue to rule Eastern Punjab.

c.57 - 35 BC

Azilises

Ruled in Gandhara as a joint king with Azes.

c.50 BC

Spalagadames

Son of Spalahores, and a satrap.

c.50? BC

The Kushans capture the territory of the Sakas in modern Afghanistan, and probably cause the downfall of Indo-Greek king Hermaeus, conquering Paropamisadae and entering Gandhara in the process. The Sakas consolidate their rule in northern India as compensation. They also fight the Satvahanas in India, and later enter into matrimonial alliances with them. Benefiting from their earlier interaction with the Greeks, the Sakas employ the Greek system of rule and appoint kshatrapas (satraps, or governors) to rule each region.

c.35 - 12 BC

Azes II

c.10 BC

The death of Azes II coincides with the rise of the Kushans in the west, but they remain rulers throughout the north-west frontier and in Punjab, Sindh, Kashmir, western Uttar Pradesh, Saurashtra, Kathiawar, Rajputana, Malwa, and the north Konkan belt of Maharashtra. Following the reign of Azes they appear to fragment, with local satraps probably gaining their independence.

c.10 BC - AD 10

Zeionises

Ruled in Kashmir.

c.10 BC - AD 10

Kharahostes

Ruled in Mathura (former satrap under Azes II).

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. Kharahostes inherits Kashmir from Zeionises, and it is probable that the little-known last two Saka rulers succeed him, although they are only known through their coins.

Indravarman

c. 10 - ?

Hajatria

Son of Kharahostes. Satrap of Mathura.

c.AD 30-80

During his reign, the Kushan emperor, Kadphises I, subdues the Sakas and establishes his kingdom in Bactria and the valley of the River Oxus, defeating the Indo-Parthians. Then he captures Gandhara. Kadphises may be a descendant of the Kushan leader Heraios, or perhaps even the same person, and is apparently confused by some with one of the later Indo-Greek kings, Hermaeus Soter, but he also shares his name with some of the later Indo-Scythian rulers, suggesting a possible family connection there.

The Sakas are eclipsed, but following the Kushan collapse, the Western Kshatrapas (satraps) once again rise in prominence, especially under King Nahapana, who occupies large swathes of Satvahana territory in western and central India.

Saka (Western) Kshatrapas

While 'kshatrapas', or the alternative 'kshaharatas', is generally given as the title for this particular period of Saka power, it does not reflect the title in its purest form. After being subdued by the Kushans, the Sakas accepted their suzerainty, and local kshatra'p'as (literally satraps, the former Persian title for a governor) continued to hold regional power.

(Additional information by Manjiri Bhalerao.)

Liaka Kusuluka

Satrap of Chuksa.

Kusulaka Patika

Son. Satrap of Chuksa.

Abhiraka

Bhumaka

? - 119

Nahapana

Son?

119

Nahapana shrugs off Kushan supremacy and achieves independence as the first of the Western Satraps.

Western Satraps (Sakas)

Following the Kushan collapse, the western kshatrapas (satraps) once again rose in prominence, especially under Nahapana, who occupied large swathes of Satvahana territory in western and central India.

119 - 124

Nahapana

Former kshaharata under Kushan suzerainty.

124

Nahapana is defeated by the Satvahana king, Gautamiputra Satkarni. He is apparently succeeded by Chastana, who is mentioned by Ptolemy as 'Tiasthenes' or 'Testenes', and who rules a large area of western India, especially the area of Ujjain (Ozene), during the reign of the Satvahana king, Vasisthiputra Sri Pulamavi.

c.120

Chastana

Son of Ghsamotika.

Jayadaman

Son.

c.130 - 150

Rudradaman I

Son.

Rudradaman I successfully wages various wars against the Satvahanas. He is also the father-in-law of the Satvahana king, Vashishtaputra Satkarni, whom he defeats twice in battle, leading to the decline of the Satvahanas. His kingdom extends over Malwa, Rajputana, Gujarat, and Maharashtra (except Pune and Nasik).

Typical Indo-Scythians in India

170 - 175

Damajadasri I

175

Jivadaman

Died 199.

175 - 188

Rudrasimha I

Died 197.

188 - 191

Isvaradatta

191 - 197

Rudrasimha I

Restored.

197 - 199

Jivadaman

Restored.

200 - 222

Rudrasena I

222 - 223

Samghadaman

223 - 232

Damasena

232 - 239

Damajadasri II

234 - 238

Viradaman

Joint ruler?

239

Yasodaman I

239 - 250

Vijayasena

251 - 255

Damajadasri III

mid-3rd century

By the middle of the century the Satavahana kingdom has fragmented into many parts, each having a ruler of its own who claims to be the true Satvahana descendant. Their perennial enemy, the Sakas, assume overlordship of Goa.

255 - 277

Rudrasena II

277 - 282

Visvasimha

282 - 295

Bhratadarman

293 - 304

Visvasena

Joint ruler?

Rudrasimha II

Son of Lord (Svami)?

304 - 348

Jivadaman

317 - 332

Yasodaman II

Joint ruler?

332 - 348

Rudradaman II

348 - 380

Rudrasena III

380

Following the reign of Samudragupta, there is a possibility that his eldest son, Ramagupta, embarks on an ill-planned campaign against the Sakas in Gujarat and is trapped along with his army, only to be rescued by his brother, the future Gupta king, Chandragupta II.

380 - ?

Simhasena

382 - 388

Rudrasena IV

388 - 395

Rudrasimha III

395

The Sakas are finally finished off as a regional power by the Guptas of Magadha. In time the remnants of the Sakas, now without any political power, mix into Indian society. Some scholars believe that they re-emerge in the fifth century as the Jats.