Indo-Parthian Kingdom
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Obv: Bust of Gondophares and Greek legend: BACIΛEΩC CΩTHPOC VNΔOΦEPPOV "King Gondophares, the Saviour".
Rev: Winged Nike holding a diadem, with a Kharoshti legend: MAHARAJASA GUDAPHANISA TRATARASA "King Gondophares, the Saviour".
The Indo-Parthian Kingdom was established during the 1st century CE, by a Parthian leader named Gondophares, in an area covering today's Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northern India.
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Origins
Following the weakening of the Parthian empire after conflicts with Rome and the death of Mithridates II in 92 BCE, the Suren, a noble Parthian family of Arsacid descent, started to make inroads into eastern territories that had been occupied by the Indo-Scythians and the Yuezhi, until the demise of the last Indo-Scythian emperor Azes II around 5 CE.
The Parthians ended up controlling all of Bactria and extensive territories in Northern India, after fighting many local rulers such as the Kushan Empire ruler Kujula Kadphises,in the Gandhara region.
Secession from Parthia
Around 20 CE, Gondophares, one of the Parthian conquerors, declared his independence from the Parthian empire and established the Indo-Parthian kingdom in the conquered territories.
The kingdom barely lasted one century. It started to fragment under Gondophares' successor Abdagases. The northern Indian part of the kingdom was retaken by the Kushans around 75.
After that point the kingdom was essentially restricted to Afghanistan. The last king Pakores (100 - 135) only ruled Sakastan and Turan.
The Indo-Parthians were known to the Indians as Pahlavas and are refered to in numerous Indian texts, together with the Yavanas or the Sakas. At the beginning of the 2nd century CE, the Central India Satavahana king Gautamiputra Sātakarni (r. 106 - 130 CE) would call himself "Destroyer of Sakas (Western Kshatrapas), Yavanas (Indo-Greeks) and Pahlavas (Indo-Parthians)" in his inscriptions.
Main Indo-Parthian rulers
- Gondophares I (c. 20-50 CE) Coin (http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/par_rel/print/i_gondopharesI.jpg)
- Abdagases I (c. 50-65) Coin (http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/indoparthian/i_ipr_abdagases_o.jpg)
- Satavastres (c. 60) Coin (http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/par_rel/print/i_satavastres.jpg)
- Sarpedones (c.70) Coin (http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/par_rel/print/i_sarpedones.jpg)
- Orthagnes (c. 70) Coin (http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/par_rel/print/i_orthagnes.jpg)
- Ubouzanes (c. 77) Coin (http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/par_rel/print/i_ubouzanes.jpg)
- Sases or Gondophares II, (c. 85) Coin (http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/par_rel/print/i_gondopharesI_2.jpg)
- Abdagases II (c. 90) Coin (http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/par_rel/print/i_abdagases.jpg)
- Pakores (c. 100) Coin (http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/indoparthian/i_ipr_pakores_o5.jpg)
Template:Middle kingdoms of India
See also:
Indo-Greek Kingdom
Indo-Scythians
Kushan Empire
Yuezhi
Kambojas
External links:
- Coins of the Indo-Parthians (http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/indoparthian/indoparthian.html)