Kushano-Sasanian Kingdom or Indo-Sasanians is a historiographic term used to refer to a branch of the Sasanian Persians who established their rule in Bactria and in northwest Indian subcontinent (present day Pakistan) during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD at the expense of the declining Kushans.
Indo-Sasanian coin, Varhran I, 272-273 AD, Shiva standing before bull Nandi.
They captured the provinces of Sogdiana, Bactria and Gandhara from the Kushan's in 225 AD. The Sasanians established governors for the Sasanian Empire, who minted their own coinage and took the title of ''Kushanshas''. They are sometimes considered as forming a ''sub-kingdom'' inside the Sasanian Empire. This administration continued until 360-370 AD, when the Kushano-Sasanians lost much of its domain to the invading Kidarite Huns. Later, the Kidarites were in turn displaced by the Hephthalites.
The Sasanians were able to re-establish authority after they destroyed the Hephthalites with the help of the Turks in 565 AD and ruled till the mid 7th century AD
Portrait of Kushano-Sasanian ruler, Hormizd I Kushanshah ( 277-286 AD) in Kushan style
The Kushanshas are mainly known through their coins minted at Kabul, Balkh, Herat and Merv. The coins have Shiva with bull Nandi, and few have Buddha on the reverse too.
The first Kushano-Sassanid period (230-365 AD). The Sassanids, after victory over Parthians, extended into Bactria during the reign of Ardashir I around 230 AD, then further to the eastern parts of their empire in present day Pakistan during the reign of his son Shapur I (240-270 AD). The farthest extent of the Kushano-Sasanians to the east was Gandhara, and they probably did not cross the river Indus.
Kushano-Sasanian cup with medallion, 3rd-4th century AD, Bactria, Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Kushano-Sasanians under Hormizd I Kushanshah probably led a rebellion against contemporary emperor Bahram II (276-293 AD) but failed. They ruled till around 370 AD, until the defeat to the Kidarites and in turn by the Hephthalites.
Hormizd I Kushanshah on the Naqsh-e-Rustam Bahram II panel
The Sassanid art was influential on Kushan art, and this influence remained for several centuries in the northwest South Asia
Seal with two facing busts and Sogdian inscription, Kushano-Sasanian period, 300-350 AD, British Museum
The second Sassanid period (565-651 AD). The Hephthalites dominated the areas till they were defeated in 565 AD, by the alliance between the Turks and the Sasanian Empire. This period ended in the mid 7th century to the Rashidun Caliphate.
Vishnu Nicolo Seal or Prince worshipping Vishnu or Vasudeva, with Bactrian inscription found in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, 4th century AD, British Museum
Sasanian dignitary drinking wine, on ceiling of Cave I, at Ajanta Caves, India, end of 5th century.
Kushano-Sasanian Coinage
Indo-Sasanian Kingdom, Ardashir, 230-240 AD, Drachm, billon, weight 2.6 g Obverse: Full length figure of king standing left, right hand pointing down towards small fire altar, from which flames like scrolls are protruding, left holds trident, full armour, loose trousers
Reverse: God seated on throne, head in profile, left arm across, holding corona with broad fillets, right below seems to touch hilt of sword, loose trouser, fillets at ankles
Indo Sasanian, Peroz I, son of Ardashir, 242-252 AD, Drachm, billon, weight 4.4 g Obverse: Bust of king to right, crown in shape of fluted cornice, with row of large pearls above, diadem with floating ends, earring, necklace
Reverse: Fire altar of Ardashir type, with traces of bust in flames
Indo-Sasanian, Hormizd I, 256-264 AD, Drachm, billon, weight 2,2 g Obverse: Bust of king to right with helmet, lions head, Parsik legend around
Reverse: King standing in adoration before Buddha on throne, king with sword at left and dagger at right, hand pointing towards altar in shape of hourglass, left hand raised, God on throne
Indo-Sasanian, Peroz II, 302-309 AD, Drachm, weight 2.04 g Obverse: Bust of king to right, crown of fluted cap surmounted by large crescent and stripped globe diadem below, Parsik legend
Reverse; Fire altar, adorned with ribbons, bust of Hormizd, holding in left long sceptre, in right corona with fillet, Parsik legend.
Obverse: King standing left, trident in left field, crown with pair of ram's horns over a string of pearls surmounted by flower like globe, diadem below, monogram to right, swastika above, Kushana legend
Reverse: Shiva standing before bull Nandi, God in Sasanian garment, with diadem, trident in left, noose in right hand
Indo-Sasanian, Hormizd I, 256-264 AD, Drachm, billon, weight 1.9 g Obverse: Bust of king right with helmet bending forward and ending in lion's head, Parsik legend
Reverse: Shiva standing before bull Nandi, God in Sasanian garment, Parsik legend, trident in left hand and noose in right hand
Obverse: Crowned head of Hormazd IV right
Reverse: fire altar with two attendants, curved flan
Obverse: Crowned head of Yazdgard III right
Reverse: Fire altar with two attendants
Sassanian Kingdom, Khusrau II, 590-628 AD, Drachm, year 33, weight 3.5 g Obverse: Crowned head of Khusrau II right
Reverse: Fire altar with two attendants
Sassanian Kingdom, Khusrau II, 590-628 AD, Drachm, weight 4.12 g Obverse: Crowned bust of Khusrau II, right
Reverse: Fire altar, two attendants
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