Ruler of kushana dynasty

Kushan history, a rough guide to india, afghanistan. The kushanas defeated the shakas and the pahlavasparthinians and went on to create a big empire in afganistan, pakistan and northern parts of india. The two families are both known to indian literature as the shakas from the native word for scythians and to most western historians as the kshatrapas. Dates are definite and accurate for the kushite rulers of the twentyfifth dynasty of egypt, when egypt was invaded and absorbed by the kushite empire.

Dec 17, 2019 the last significant kushana ruler was vasudeva. He occupied the valley of kabul and had also issued coins in his name. The yuezhi conquered bactria in the 2nd century bce and divided the country into five. Little is known about their successors for about a century except hala the 17th ruler of this dynasty. Numismatic evidence shows that kujula kadphises continued to imitate posthumous types of coinage of the last indogreek ruler in central afghanistan. Kushan dynasty kusan, the line of rulers in bactria, central asia and northern india from the first century ce the kushan kings were succeeded in the third century, in part of the region they had ruled, by the sasanian princes who governed with the title of kushanshah q. And after vasudeva, petty kushan princes ruled for sometime in northwestern india after which the empire faded away. The concept of showing king or the ruler on the coins was nonexistent in india and all the previous dynasties minted coins showing only the symbols called as the punch marked coins. He had conquered the areas of northern india till mathura. He is known to have maintained the silk route and trade with all sides including the china, alexandria and roman empire. Despite many gaps that still exist in our knowledge about the rise and fall of the kushanas, we have a wealth of historical materials about this period and the kushanas are much better known to indian history than their immediate predecessors the pahlavas and the sakas. After the death of pushyamitra, his son agnimitra became the ruler. Michael wood tells the story of the forgotten empire of the kushans that ruled india in the first centuries ad.

From the 1st4th centuries ce, the kushan dynasty ruled over an empire that stretched from afghanistan through northern india. Kushan dynasty is considered to be one of the five branches of yuezhi tribe. However, this mighty empire crumbled rapidly, under its own weight, soon after the death of ashoka. Important rulers of this dynasty were chandragupta maurya, bindusara, and king ashoka. He even called himself as a tyrant on his coins same style as greeks. Gandhara art, style of buddhist visual art that developed in what is now northwestern pakistan and eastern afghanistan between the 1st century bce and the 7th century ce. After more conflict, the survivors of the yuehchih were dislocated west, passing down the ili river valley and along the southern shore of lake issyk kul. It extended from southern uzbekistan and tajikistan, north of the amu darya in the north west to northern india, as far as mathura in the south east the rabatak inscription even claims he held pataliputra and sri champa, and his territory also included kashmir, where there was a town kanishkapur modern day kanispora, named after him not far from the. Under his rule, kushana empire extended from uzbekistan, tajikistan to mathura and. Several rulers of the dynasty bear the name or title satakarni.

Jul 26, 2017 vima kadphises was the first ruler of kushana dynasty to issue gold coins in india. Kanishka kanishka was the greatest ruler and king of kushan empire in ancient india. They moved southwest and settled in ancient bactria. Biography of kanishka part1, kushan dynasty, military. The image of the seated roman emperor is transformed into a kushan ruler, who is identified as kujula kadphises in greek and kharosthi legends. States were so massive that individuals could only relate to them through the personality of their rulers.

The kushana era helped in defining the chronological framework of the kushana dynasty through its inscriptions. List of hindu rulers like mauryan, kushan, gupta, varadhana, maratha and peshwa dynasty. Kanishka was the most important ruler of the kushana dynasty. Earlier, buddhas presence was shown in sculpture by. Shaka satrap, also called kshatrapa, either of two dynasties of satraps in northwestern india who ruled with considerable independence on behalf of the pahlava suzerains. Jul 25, 2017 the kushan dynasty that grew into kushan empire was basically a syncretic empire. The last sunga ruler was devabhuti, who was murdered by his minister vasudevakanva, the founder of the kanva dynasty. Kujula kadphises also known as kadphises ii is believed to be the founder of the kushana dynasty in india in 78 a. He was not only a great conqueror but also a patron of religion and art. It spread to encompass much of afghanistan, and then the northern parts of the. As the kushans progressed further into northwestern india, kujula kadphises adopted the title great king, king of kings on coins patterned on those of saka and parthian rulers.

During his region buddhism spread to a great extent. Kushana emperors kujula kadphises 3080 ad established the kushana dynasty in 78 ad by taking advantage of the feud existing between pahalava parthian and scythoparthians. Dates are definite and accurate for the kushite rulers of the twentyfifth dynasty of. The mauryan empire was the first major empire in the history of india and ruled the land from 322 bc to 185 bc. The kushana coins reveal a great deal about the rulers of that time. Kushan rulers are recorded for a period of about three centuries, from circa 30 ce, to circa 375 ce, until the invasions of the kidarites. The first kushan ruler was kujula kadphises, who may be identified with the yabgu of guishuang named qiu jiuque in hou han shu 128. He was considered in par with chandragupta maurya and asoka for his military and religious achievement. Archaeologists believe that king heraios was the father of the first emperor of kushans, kujula kadphises. Some scholars connect the kushans with the tocharians of the tarim basin in china, caucasian people whose blonde or redhaired mummies have long puzzled observers. Each king starts his reign with year 1, and, once the succession of kings is known, at least an approximate chronology can be established. He played an important role in the establishment of buddhism in the indian. The notion of a kushan dynasty or of a kushan period is entirely that of modern historians.

Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The kushana kings generally used exalted titles like maharajatiraja king of kings, daivaputra son of heaven, soter saviour and kaisara caesar. Satavahana, satakarni, satakani and shalivahana appear to be variations of the same word. The kushan rulers, a nomadic people residing in the steppes northwest of china, were a branch of the yuezhi confederation. The kushan empire began in the early 1st century as a branch of the yuezhi, a confederation of ethnically indoeuropeans nomads who lived in eastern central asia.

Kushan dynasty, kushan empire, coins of the kushan dynasty. He was succeeded by his son vima taktu or sadashkana ad 80 ad 95 who expanded the empire into northwest india. Kushana catalogue page two presents the marvellous coinage of the later kushanas. The empire was very large and penetrated deep into northern india. Kushans were one of the most powerful rulers of their time. The next ruler after kadphises was his son kanishka 100 126 ad, a prominent ruler of the kushan dynasty who achieved remarkable milestones in the state. By his conquests, by religious activities and by patronizing the indian culture, he made the kushan period eminently distinguished. The great kanishka kushan empire ii history indus youtube. There is now some agreement that there follows a second kushan century running from 22728 and accommodating such kushan rulers as kanishka ii, vasishka at least years 2428, kanishka iii, son of vasishka year 41, and perhaps even a vasudeva ii. Indian history great emperors of indian history kanishka i of kushan empire the kushan empire was a remarkably syncretic empire formed by the yuezhi people of the bactrian territories in. It blended the traditions of the grecobuddhist art of gandhara, influenced by hellenistic artistic canons, and the more indian art of mathura. The kushan empire was at the center of trade relations between the roman empire and china. Vima is also known to have maintained the silk route and trade with all sides including the china, alexandria, and roman empire.

There were about 19 satavahana rulers of whom the most important were simuka who conquered magadha and krishna who occupied nasik. The kushan empire was a syncretic empire, formed by yuezhi, in the bactrian territories in the early 1st century. The kings of the kushana empire had assumed eloquent titles such as maharaj, rajatiraj king of kings etc. Rulers used local ideas and leaders to address local concerns. That they originally served the shunga line is attested by the appellation shungabhrityas i. The shang dynasty is the first chinese imperial dynasty for which we have actual documentary evidence. These inscriptions date from years 123 of kanishka, years 24 and 28 of vasishka, years 2860 of huvishka and years 6798 of vasudeva. Kusan, bactrian kosano of the 1st3rd centuries ce i. The first important ruler of the kushana dynasty was kujula kadphises or kadphises i.

Vasudeva i was the last great king of the dynasty when kushana empire was at its height of splendor and prosperity. Kanishka was the most powerful ruler of the kushana empire. Kushan art, the art of the kushan empire in northern india, flourished between the 1st and the 4th century ce. Kusansahr represented a major world power in central asia and northern india. Kanishka was the greatest ruler of the kushan empire, a realm that covered much of presentday india, pakistan, iran and other parts of central asia and china during the first and second centuries.

Various inscription with his name are found in and around mathura. He is, however, chiefly remembered as a great patron of buddhism. A chain of vibrant rulers belonging to the kushana dynasty ruled ancient india and during their time india attained a thriving progress in the fields of art, architecture, literature and sciences. According to the puranas, the satavahana king killed the last kanva ruler of magadha and presumably took possession of his kingdom. Kanva dynasty, the successors of the shungas in the north indian kingdom of magadha, who ruled about 7228 bce. In the coinage of the north indian and central asian kushan empire approximately 30375 ce the main coins issued were gold, weighing 7. Nov 22, 2019 kanishka was the most reputed kushana ruler. He organised a buddhist council where scholars used to gather to discuss major issues. Rulers promoted a return to the agrarian values of an earlier age to ensure that populations remained submissive and grew enough food to feed armies and urban centers. These notes will also be useful for other competitive exams like banking po, ssc, state civil services exams and so on. He established his supremacy over kabul, kandahar and afghanistan. One of the successors of kanishka was vasudeva who is considered to be a shiva worshipper and the figures of shiva is found on his coins had assumed the title shaono shao vasudeo kushano.

In other words, it was an empire that derived its culture through the fusion of various other cultures. His decendants called him as devaputra which means son of gods. Kushan empire in the early 2nd century bc, a tribe on the central asian frontier of china called hsiungnu defeated a neighboring one known as yuehchih. Kujula kadphises was the first yuezhi chief to lay the foundation of the kushana empire in india. Who was the first ruler of kushana dynasty to issue gold. Kaniska, also spelled kanishka, chinese chianisechia, flourished 1st century ce, greatest king of the kushan dynasty that ruled over the northern part of the. Each king starts his reign with year 1, and, once the succession of kings is known, at least. His origins are pretty obscure, though it is considered that he was a descendant of the kushan ruler heraios. Kuzul kadphisis is the founder of this empire and kanishka is the most famous ruler of this empire. Kushan dynasty kushan dynasty, kushan also spelled kusana, ruling line descended from the yuezhi, a people that ruled over most of the northern indian subcontinent, afghanistan, and parts of central asia during the first three centuries of the common era. Since the shang is so very ancient, the sources are unclear.

They ruled around the same time as the western satraps, the satavahanas, and the first gupta empire rulers. The kushanas had originally belonged to the regions of western china. The style, of grecoroman origin, seems to have flourished largely during the kushan dynasty and was contemporaneous with an. Kaniska kaniska, also spelled kanishka, chinese chianisechia, flourished 1st century ce, greatest king of the kushan dynasty that ruled over the northern part of the indian subcontinent, afghanistan, and possibly areas of central asia north of the kashmir region. The dates also are certain for kings aspelta, arakamani, nastasen, and for the kandakes shanakdakhete, amanirenas, amanishakheto, amanitore, and amanikhatashan. Kanishka i or kanishka the great, an emperor of the kushan dynasty in the second century c. Purushapura now peshawar near the khyber pass, and mathura in northern india. Sep 05, 2019 just how and when the kushan dynasty was formed continues to be debated, and precise dates for the kings are still elusive, but the coinage alone reveals the kushan dynasty as a major force in the. Damodar dharmanand kosambi theorised that the word satakarni is derived from the. During the first to midthird centuries ce, the empire of the kushans mid. In this article we will learn a few interesting kushan dynasty facts that you may find. List of hindu rulers in indian history and their important. Some historians believe that it was around the year 1700 bce, while others.

Undoubtedly, all the kushana coins were used as a media to propagate the kings superiority. He was the founder of the saka era which starts from 78 a. Vima kadphises was the first ruler of kushana dynasty to issue gold coins in india. The most frequent way to define time is the regnal year.

The establishment of the imperial gupta dynasty by candragupta in a. He and his successors established their authority from the mouth of the krishna to the entire deccan plateau. We dont even know for sure when the shang dynasty began its rule over the yellow river valley of china. The history about the fall of mouryan dynasty and starting sunga dynasty and later formation of kanva dynasty by vasudeva are very clear pieces of history and are ver much useful to the history readers like me who are interested in studying how buddhism which was widely practiced in rest of the world has disappeared from the place of its bith ie. The kushan dynasty had diplomatic contacts with the roman empire, sasanian persia, the aksumite empire and the han dynasty of china. Kanishkai was the most power ruler of the kushana empire and is known for his military prowess.

Kushan art follows the hellenistic art of the grecobactrian kingdom as well as indogreek art which had been flourishing. The rule of kanishka, the third kushan emperor who flourished from the late first to the earlymidsecond century a. Shaka may have been one of the last rulers of the kushan empire around 325345. According to the rabatak inscription, he was the grandfather of the great kushan king kanishka i. The first ever ruler who proclaimed himself as a kushan ruler was heraios ce. He was then succeded by his son, wima kadphises or kadphises ii. After huvishkas reign, vasudeva i took control of this dynasty which by then had lost control over regions beyond bactria or perhaps the bactria itself.

This site is dedicated to kushan studies, which encompasses a broad span of time and space, from the second century bc to the fourth century ad, and from the eastern border of modern iran through afghanistan, pakistan, northern india, and into the tarim basin peoples republic of china, and north into the commonwealth of. This was when the kushans held sway with their empire. Kushan dynasty, ruling line descended from the yuezhi, a people that ruled over most of the northern indian subcontinent, afghanistan, and parts of central asia during the first three centuries of the common era. A descendant of kujula kadphises, founder of the kushan empire. The standard coin type of samudragupta, the first gupta ruler to issue coins, is highly similar to the coinage of the later kushan rulers, including the sacrificial scene over an altar, the depiction of a halo, while differences include the headdress of the ruler a closefitting cap instead of the kushan pointed hat, the garuda standard. After the fall of the kanvas, the history of magatha was a blank until the establishment of the gupta dynasty.

Little silver coinage was issued, but in later periods the gold used was debased with silver. Although the term kushan is known in ancient sources, it is often used to refer to a dynasty other than the one designated by modern historians. Epoch of glorythe kushan dynasty although the gupta period is generally considered to be the golden age, there was a remarkable epoch before it, which had its own measure of glory. Epoch of glorythe kushan dynasty heritage india magazine. The kushan dynasty had been totally assimilated in indian culture. Classical civilization and the age of empires 46, foreign rule in india ap world history learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. Under kanishkas rule, at the height of the dynasty, kushan controlled a large territory ranging from the aral sea through areas that include presentday uzbekistan, afghanistan, and pakistan into northern india as far east as benares and as far south as sanchi.