The Indo-Scythian dynasty (also called Sakas) was a kingdom that existed in present day Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India from the 2nd century BC to the 4th century AD.
The first Saka king in South Asia was Maues. The arrival of the Mau was probably from Central Asia. Before the arrival of the Scythians, the region was in the hands of the Indo-Greeks, who minted coins with Greek inscriptions on the obverse and Kharosthi inscriptions on the reverse.
Map showing the Kingdom including the expansion shown in dotted lines.
The extent of the empire of Maues, who called himself "King of Kings", can be seen from the coinage. He ruled in Hazara, Kashmir, Taxila and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (northern Pakistan and parts of Afghanistan. He initially established Saka power in Gandhara and the Indus valley.
One of the Buner reliefs showing Scythian soldiers dancing (Cleveland Museum of Art)
The Indo-Scythians extended their supremacy over northwestern India, conquering the Indo-Greeks and other kingdoms. They were apparently subjugated by the Kushan empire, by either Kujula Kadphises or Kanishka. Yet the Saka continued to govern as satrapies, forming the Northern Satrapas and the Western Satrapas. The powers of the Saka rulers started to decline in the 2nd century CE after the Indo-Scythians were defeated by Satavahana ruler Gautamiputra Satakarni. They ruled till the last Western Satrap Rudrasimha III was defeated by Chandragupta II in 395 CE.
Maues, founder of the empire, died around 85 BC. After his death there were various rulers in different regions mostly known from their coinage. It is often difficult to clearly know whether a certain ruler, who ruled over the entire empire, was a vassal or ruler of small independent empire.
The main rulers were.
Maues. (98/85- 60/57 BC). He invaded India and established the Saka hegemony. He is first mentioned in the "Moga inscription" and the 'Maira inscription' in the salt range in Pakistan. He expanded his domain by conquering key cities along the Indus including Taxila and Pushkalavati from the Indo-Greek Kingdoms. The Sakas extended their power up to Mathura during his reign. Maues struck some coins incorporating Buddhist symbolism.
Vonones, 100-90 BC, Tetradrachm, weight 9.7 g
Obverse: King on horseback, holding lance on right, legend in Kharosthi
Reverse: Zeus standing facing holding thunderbolt and leaning on scepter, KHI monogram in left field
Azes I (48/47 BC-25 BC). Azes's most lasting legacy was the foundation of the Azes era. Most historians date the start of the Azes era to 58 BC and believe it is the same as the era later known as the Malwa or Vikrama era. The Azes era was recently connected to the Yavana era thanks to the Rukhana reliquary inscription. (we shall see later)
Azilises.(57-35 BC). His name meant "commander in chief". He ruled from Gandhara. He issued some joint coins with Azes, where Azes is presented as king and Azilises is introduced as king on the reverse.
Azes II. (35-12 BC). He is also connected to the Bimaran casket, one of the earliest representations of the Buddha. The casket was part of the deposit of Stupa 2 in Bimaran, near Jalalabad in Afghanistan and placed inside the stupa with several coins of Azes II.
Zeionises (10 BC-10 AD). He was the Satrap of the area south of Chach (Kashmir) for king Azes II. He then became king and ruled in parts of the Indian subcontinent around 10 BC- 10 AD. His coins bear the Buddhist Triratna symbol on the obverse.
Kharahostes or Kharaosta, meaning splendid was probably the successor of Azes II. Coin finds suggest that Kharahostes ruled in the area of the Darunta district of Jalalabad, probably based on the ancient city of Nagarahara, located to the west of Jalalabad. His coins bear a dynastic mark (a circle within three pellets). His coins are often in the name of Azes II, and possibly from an inscription on the Mathura lion capital. His coins were found in the Bimaran casket.
Kharahostes, Tetradrachm, 1-5 AD, weight 9.2 g
Obverse: King on horseback right, dynastic mark on right, Greek legend around
Reverse: City goddess standing holding cornucopia, Kharosthi legend around
The steatite box that contained the Bimaran Casket, found between 1833-1838 in Afghanistan during excavations at Bimaran. Four coins of Azes II were found in it.
Mujatria, previously read Hajatria was the son of Kharahostes as mentioned on his coins, and ruled 10 AD to 30 AD. The " circle with three pallet" symbol is found on his coins. Overstrikes of the Kushan ruler Wima Takto are found on Mujatria coins. This, together with various hoard finds, suggests the contemporaneity of Mujatria with the Kushan ruler Kujula Kadphises, predecessor of Wima Tatka
Liaka Kusulaka. was satrap of the area of Chukhsa (modern Chachh, west of Taxila). He is mentioned in the Taxila copper plate inscription as the father of Patika Kusulaka, and is characterized as a "kshaharata" (also the name of the first dynasty of the Western Satraps. He minted coins which are imitations of the coins of Eucratides.
Patika Kusulaka. He was a satrap who is mentioned in the Mathura lion capital. He is also mentioned in the Taxila copper plate inscription.
Vijayamitra (12 BC-20 AD). He is mentioned in the inscription in Kharosthi on a Buddhist reliquary, the "Rukhana reliquary". The dedication indicated he was a follower of Buddhism.
Indravasu. He was the son of king Vijayamitra and was the king in Bajaur. He is mentioned in the inscription "Rukhana reliquary. He is also mentioned in the inscription in Gandhari Prakrit on the silver Buddhist reliquary of Prince Indra Varma.
Indravarman. He was the son of Vispavarma. He is mainly known from his dedicatory inscription on the Bajaur casket an ancient reliquary from the area of Bajaur. It is dated around 5-6 CE.
Silver Reliquary of Indravarman, created in 1st century BCE,
Aspavarma. He ruled from about 15 to 45 CE. He is essentially known through his coins and few inscriptions. Indravarma's Silver Reliquary, known to be before the Bajaur casket, describes his grandfather Vispavarma as a general and him as his grandson.
Hagamasha. He was a northern Satrap and ruled in Mathura, probably after 60 BCE. Some of the first Northern Satraps were Hagamasha and Hagana, who were followed by Rajuvula. In the archaeological excavations of Sonkh, near Mathura, the earliest coins of the Kshatrapas were those of Hagamasha.
Rajuvula. He ruled in the area of Mathura around 10 CE. The Mathura lion capital was consecrated under the reign of Rajuvula. Rajuvula apparently eliminated the last of the Indo-Greek kings Strato II around 10 CE and took his capital to Sangla.
Rajuvula, 58-12 BC, weight 3.3 g
Obverse: Lion advancing right with palm branch above and Greek legend around
Reverse: Herakles standing facing, holding club and making benediction gesture, with Kharosthi legend around
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