First expansion: Kshaharata dynasty (1st century CE) (?–119).
Obv: Arrow, pellet, and thunderbolt.
Kharoshthi inscription
Chaharasada Chatrapasa Bhumakasa: "Ksaharata Satrap Bhumaka".
Rev: Capital of a pillar with seated lion with upraised paw, and wheel (
dharmachakra).
Brahmi inscription:
Kshaharatasa Kshatrapasa Bhumakasa. The Western Satraps are thought to have started with the rather short-lived
Kshaharata dynasty (also called
Chaharada,
Khaharata or
Khakharata depending on sources). The term
Kshaharata is also known from the 6 CE
Taxila copper plate inscription, in which it qualifies the Indo-Scythian ruler
Liaka Kusulaka. The
Nasik inscription of the 19th year of
Sri Pulamavi also mentions the
Khakharatavasa, or
Kshaharata race. The earliest Kshaharata for whom there is evidence is
Abhiraka, whose rare coins are known. He was succeeded by
Bhumaka, father of
Nahapana, who only used on his coins the title of Satrap, and not that of
Raja or
Raño (king). Nahapana's rule is variously dated to 24-70 CE, 66-71 CE, or 119–124 CE, according to one of his coins, which bear
Buddhist symbols, such as the eight-spoked wheel (
dharmachakra), or the lion seated on a capital, a representation of a pillar of
Ashoka. (whose rule is variously dated to 24-70 CE, 66-71 CE, or 119–124 CE), a direct derivation from
Indo-Greek coinage.
British Museum. -
Prakrit title "RANNIO KSAHARATA" ("ΡΑΝΝΙω ΞΑΗΑΡΑΤΑ(Ϲ)", Prakrit for "King Kshaharata" rendered in corrupted Greek letters) on the obverse of the coinage of Nahapana. Nahapana succeeded him, and became a very powerful ruler. He occupied portions of the
Satavahana Empire in western and central India. Nahapana held sway over
Malwa, Southern
Gujarat, and Northern
Konkan, from
Bharuch to
Sopara and the
Nasik and
Poona districts. At that time, the area northwest of the Western Satraps in
Baluchistan was ruled by the
Paratarajas, an
Indo-Parthian polity, while the
Kushans were expanding their empire in the North. His son-in-law, the Saka
Ushavadata (married to his daughter Dakshamitra), is known from inscriptions in
Nasik and
Karle and
Junnar (
Manmodi Caves, inscription of the year 46) to have been viceroy of Nahapana, ruling over the southern part of his territory. Nahapana established the silver coinage of the Kshatrapas. Circa 120 CE, the Western Satraps are known to have allied with the
Uttamabhadras in order to repulse an attack by the
Malavas, whom they finally crushed. The claim appears in an inscription at the
Nashik Caves, made by the
Nahapana's viceroy
Ushavadata:
Support of Indian religions An important inscription related to
Nahapana in the Great Chaitya at
Karla Caves shows his support of Buddhism and Hinduism: , inscription of Nahapana.
Construction of Buddhist caves The Western Satraps are known for the construction and dedication of numerous Buddhist caves in Central India, particularly in
Maharashtra and
Gujarat. It is thought that Nahapana ruled at least 35 years in the region of
Karla,
Junnar and
Nasik, giving him ample time for construction work there. Numerous inscriptions in the caves are known, which were made by the family of Nahapana: six inscriptions in
Nasik Caves, one inscription at
Karla Caves, and one by Nahapana's minister in the
Manmodi Caves at
Junnar. At the same time, "
Yavanas", Greeks or
Indo-Greeks, also left donative inscriptions at the Nasik Caves, Karla Caves,
Lenyadri and
Manmodi Caves.
Great Chaitya hall at Karla Caves In particular, the
chaitya cave complex of the Karla Caves, the largest in
South Asia, was constructed and dedicated in 120 CE by the Western Satraps ruler Nahapana. File:Karla Amit R Mahadik 01.jpg|Hall of the Great Chaitya Cave at Karla (120 CE)
Cave No.10 of Nasik, the 'Nahapana Vihara' Parts of the Nasik Caves, also called Pandavleni Caves, were also carved during the time of Nahapana. son-in-law and viceroy of Nahapana: inscription No.10. of Nahapana, Cave No.10. , viceroy of
Nahapana, circa 120 CE,
Nasik Caves, cave No10. According to the inscriptions, Ushavadata accomplished various charities and conquests on behalf of his father-in-law. He constructed rest-houses, gardens and tanks at Bharukachchha (
Broach), Dashapura (
Mandasor in
Malwa),
Govardhana (near
Nasik) and Shorparaga (
Sopara in the
Thana district).
Junnar dedication A dedication in the
Lenyadri complex of the
Junnar caves (inscription No. 26 in Cave VI of the Bhimasankar group of caves), mentions a gift by Nahapana's prime minister Ayama in the "year 46": This inscription, the last one of the reign of Nahapana, suggests that Nahapana may have become an independent ruler since he is described as a King. as ruler of the area around
Barigaza: Under the Western Satraps, Barigaza was one of the main centers of
Roman trade with India. The Periplus describes the many goods exchanged: . Goods were also brought down in quantity from
Ujjain, the capital of the Western Satraps: Some ships were also fitted out from Barigaza, to export goods westward across the Indian Ocean:
Pompei Lakshmi An Indian statuette, the
Pompeii Lakshmi, was found in the ruins of
Pompei and is thought to have been the result of
Indo-Roman trade relations in the 1st century CE. There is a possibility that the statuette found its way to the west during the rule of
Western Satrap Nahapana in the
Bhokardan area, and was shipped to
Rome from the port of
Barigaza.
Defeat by Gautamiputra Satakarni -
Palhava" (
Brahmi script: 𑀲𑀓 𑀬𑀯𑀦 𑀧𑀮𑁆𑀳𑀯) defeated by
Gautamiputra Satakarni, mentioned in the
Nasik cave 3 inscription of Queen Gotami Balasiri (end of line 5 of the inscription). struck over a drachm of Nahapana. Circa 167-196 CE.
Ujjain symbol and three arched mountain symbol struck respectively on the obverse and reverse of a drachm of Nahapana. Nahapana and Ushavadata were ultimately defeated by the powerful Satavahana king
Gautamiputra Satakarni. Gautamiputra drove the Sakas from Malwa and Western Maharashtra, forcing Nahapana west to Gujarat. His victory is known from the fact that Gautamiputra restruck many of Nahapana's coins (such a hoard was found in Jogalthambi,
Nashik District),) and that he claimed victory on them in an inscription at
Cave No. 3 of the
Pandavleni Caves in
Nashik:
Colonization of Java and Sumatra It seems that the Indian colonisation of the islands of
Java and
Sumatra took place during the time of the Western Satraps. ===
Kardamaka dynasty, family of Castana (1st–4th century)=== ().
Obv: King in profile. The legend typically reads "PANNIΩ IATPAΠAC CIASTANCA" (corrupted Greek script), transliteration of the Prakrit
Raño Kshatrapasa Castana: "King and Satrap Castana". A new dynasty, called the Bhadramukhas or
Kardamaka dynasty, was established by the "Satrap"
Castana. The date of Castana is not certain, but many believe his reign started in the year 78 CE, thus making him the founder of the
Saka era. This is consistent with the fact that his descendants (who we know used the Saka era on their coins and inscriptions) would use the date of their founder as their era. Castana was satrap of
Ujjain during that period. A statue found in Mathura together with statues of the
Kushan king
Kanishka and
Vima Taktu, and bearing the name "Shastana" is often attributed to Castana himself, and suggests Castana may have been a feudatory of the Kushans. Conversely, the
Rabatak inscription also claims Kushan dominion over Western Satrap territory (by mentioning Kushan control over the capital
Ujjain) during the reign of
Kanishka (–150 CE).
Territory under Chastana /
anguipeds, the coat has a highly ornate hem. Inscription "Shastana" (
Middle Brahmi script:
Ṣa-sta-na). The territory of the Western Satraps at the time of Chastana is described extensively by the geographer
Ptolemy in his "Geographia", where he qualifies them as "Indo-Scythians". He describes this territory as starting from
Patalene in the West, to
Ujjain in the east ("Ozena-Regia Tiastani", "Ozene/Ujjain, capital of king
Chastana"), and beyond
Barigaza in the south.
Rudradaman I (130-150 CE) Victory against the Satavahanas (130–150).
Obv: Bust of Rudradaman, with corrupted Greek legend "OVONIΛOOCVΛCHΛNO".
Rev: Three-arched hill or
Chaitya with river, crescent and sun.
Brahmi legend:
Rajno Ksatrapasa Jayadamasaputrasa Rajno Mahaksatrapasa Rudradamasa: "King and Great Satrap Rudradaman, son of King and Satrap
Jayadaman" 16mm, 2.0 grams. rock contains inscriptions of
Ashoka (fourteen of the
Edicts of Ashoka),
Rudradaman I (the
Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman) and
Skandagupta. Around 130 CE,
Rudradaman I, grandson of
Chastana, took the title "Mahakshatrapa" ("Great Satrap"), and defended his kingdom from the
Satavahanas. The conflict between Rudradaman and Satavahanas became so gruelling, that in order to contain the conflict, a matrimonial relationship was concluded by giving Rudradaman's daughter to the Satavahana king
Vashishtiputra Satakarni. The inscription relating the marriage between Rudradaman's daughter and
Vashishtiputra Satakarni appears in a cave at
Kanheri: The Satavahanas and the Western Satraps remained at war however, and Rudradaman I defeated the Satavahanas twice in these conflicts, only sparing the life of Vashishtiputra Satakarni due to their family alliance: Rudradaman regained all the previous territories held by Nahapana, probably with the exception of the southern areas of
Poona and
Nasik (epigraphical remains in these two areas at that time are exclusively Satavahana):
Victory against the Yaudheyas Later, the Junagadh rock inscription () of
Rudradaman I acknowledged the military might of the
Yaudheyas "who would not submit because they were proud of their title 'heroes among the Kshatriyas'", before explaining that they were ultimately vanquished by Rudradaman I. Recently discovered pillar inscriptions describe the presence of a Western Satrap named
Rupiamma in the
Bhandara district of the area of
Vidarbha, in the extreme northeastern area of
Maharashtra, where he erected the pillars. Rudradarman is known for his sponsoring of the arts. He is known to have written poetry in the purest of Sanskrit, and made it his court language. His name is forever attached to the inscription by Sudharshini lake. He had at his court a Greek writer named
Yavanesvara ("Lord of the Greeks"), who translated from Greek to Sanskrit the
Yavanajataka ("Saying of the Greeks"), an astrological treatise and India's earliest Sanskrit work in horoscopy.
Jivadaman (178-181 CE, 197-198 CE) , in the year 100 () of the
Saka Era (corresponding to 178 CE). King
Jivadaman became king for the centenary of the
Saka Era, in the year 100 (corresponding to 178 CE). His reign is otherwise undocumented, but he is the first Western Satrap ruler who started to print the minting date on his coins, using the
Brāhmī numerals of the
Brāhmī script behind the king's head. This is of immense value to date precisely Western Satrap rulers, and to clarify perfectly the chronology and succession between them, as they also mention their predecessor on their coins. According to his coins, Jivadaman seems to have ruled two times, once between
Saka Era 100 and 103 (178-181 CE), before the rule of
Rudrasimha I, and once between Saka Era 119 and 120 (197-198 CE).
Rudrasimha I (180-197) (178–197).
Obv: Bust of Rudrasimha, with corrupted Greek legend "..OHIIOIH.." (
Indo-Greek style).
Rev: Three-arched hill or
Chaitya, with river, crescent and sun, within
Prakrit legend in
Brahmi script: An inscription of
Rudrasimha I (178–197) was recently found at Setkhedi in
Shajapur district, dated to 107
Saka Era, that is 185 CE, confirming the expansion of the Western Satraps to the east at that date. There is also an earlier inscription related to Saka rule in
Ujjain, and is dated to the 2nd century CE. Although this Great Satrap is not otherwise known from coinage, this memorial pillar is thought to mark the southern extent of the conquests of the Western Satraps, much beyond the traditionally held boundary of the
Narmada River.
Loss of southern territories to the Satavahanas (end of 2nd century CE) The south Indian ruler
Yajna Sri Satakarni (170-199 CE) of the
Satavahana dynasty defeated the Western Satraps in the late 2nd century CE, thereby reconquering their southern regions in western and central India, which led to the decline of the Western Satraps. Yajna Sri Satakarni left inscriptions in
Nasik Caves,
Kanheri and
Guntur, testifying to the renewed extent of Satavahana territory. There are two inscriptions of Yajna Sri Satakarni at
Kanheri, in cave No. 81, and in the Chaitya cave No. 3. In the
Nasik Caves, there is one inscription of
Sri Yajna Satakarni, in the 7th year of his reign. There is a possibility, however, that the areas of
Poona and
Nasik had remained in the hands of the Satavahanas since the time of
Gautamiputra Satakarni after his victory over
Nahapana, as there are no epigraphical records of the Kardamakas in this area. The Kshatrapa dynasty seems to have reached a high level of prosperity under the rule of
Rudrasena II (256–278), 19th ruler of Kshatrapa. A marital alliance between the
Andhra Ikshvaku and the Western Satraps seems to have occurred during the time of Rudrasena II, as the Andhra Ikshvaku ruler Māṭharīputra Vīrapuruṣadatta (250-275 CE) seems to have had as one of his wives Rudradhara-bhattarika, the daughter of "the ruler of
Ujjain", possibly king Rudrasena II. According to an inscription at Nagarjunakonda, Iksvaku king Virapurushadatta had multiple wives, including Rudradhara-bhattarika, the daughter of the ruler of
Ujjain (
Uj(e)nika mahara(ja) balika). The region of
Sanchi-
Vidisha was again captured from the Satavahanas during the rule of Rudrasena II (255-278 CE), as shown by finds of Rudrasena II's coinage in the area.
Rudrasimha II dynasty (c. 304–396 CE) ,
Gujarat (375–400). Derived from the
Greco-Buddhist art of
Gandhara, an example of the Western Indian art of the Western Satraps. A new family took over, started by the rule of
Rudrasimha II (r. 304–348 CE). He declared on his coins to be the son of a Lord (Svami) Jivadaman. His rule is partly coeval with that of other rulers, who were his sons as written on their coins and may have been sub-kings:
Yasodaman II (r. 317–332 CE) and
Rudradaman II (r. 332–348 CE). ;Contributions to Buddhism Under Rudrasimha II, the Western Satraps are known to have maintained their presence in the
Central Indian areas of
Vidisha/
Sanchi/
Eran well into the 4th century: during his rule, in 319 CE, a Saka ruler inscribed the
Kanakerha inscription, on the hill of
Sanchi mentioning the construction of a well by the Saka chief and "righteous conqueror" (
dharmaviyagi mahadandanayaka)
Sridharavarman (339-368 CE). The Buddha images in Devnimori clearly show the influence of the
Greco-Buddhist art of
Gandhara, and have been described as examples of the Western Indian art of the Western Satraps.
Sasanian expansion in the northwest , circa 400 CE, in relation with the other polities of the time. After a period of control of the areas as far as
Gandhara by the
Kushano-Sasanians, the
Sasanian Empire further expanded into the northwest of the subcontinent, particularly in the regions of Gandhara and
Punjab, from the time of
Shapur II circa 350 CE. Further south, as far as the mouth of the
Indus river, the Sasanians exerted some sort of control or influence, as suggested by the
Sasanian coinage of Sindh. It is probable that the Sasanian expansion in India, which put an end to the remnants of
Kushan rule, was also made in part at the expense of the Western Satraps.
Conquered by the Guptas (c. 335–415 CE) =====Central India conquered by
Samudragupta (r. 336–380 CE)===== The Central Indian region around
Vidisha/
Sanchi and
Eran had been occupied by a Saka ruler named
Sridharavarman, who his known from the
Kanakerha inscription at Sanchi, and another inscription with his Naga general at Eran. At
Eran, it seems that Sridharavarman's inscription is succeeded by a monument and an inscription by
Gupta Empire Samudragupta (r.336-380 CE), established "for the sake of augmenting his fame", who may therefore have ousted Sridharavarman's Sakas in his campaigns to the West. Sridharavarman is probably the "Saka" ruler mentioned in the
Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta, as having "paid homage" to the Gupta Emperor, forced to "self-surrender, offering (their own) daughters in marriage and a request for the administration of their own districts and provinces". ===== Gujarat campaign of
Ramagupta ===== (388–395).
Rudrasimha III seems to have been the last of the Western Satrap rulers. A fragment from the
Natya-darpana mentions that the
Gupta king
Ramagupta, the elder brother of
Chandragupta II, decided to expand his kingdom by attacking the Western Satraps in
Gujarat. The campaign soon took a turn for the worse and the Gupta army was trapped. The Saka king, Rudrasimha III, demanded that Ramagupta hand over his wife Dhruvadevi in exchange for peace. To avoid the ignominy, the Guptas decided to send Madhavasena, a courtesan and a beloved of Chandragupta, disguised as the queen. However, Chandragupta changed the plan and himself went to the Saka King disguised as the queen. He then killed Rudrasimha and later his own brother, Ramagupta. Dhruvadevi was then married to Chandragupta. =====Conquests of
Chandragupta II (r. 380–415 CE)===== (412-413 CE). The Western Satraps were eventually conquered by emperor Chandragupta II. Inscriptions of a victorious
Chandragupta II in the year 412-413 CE can be found on the railing near the Eastern Gateway of the Great Stupa in
Sanchi. The Gupta ruler
Skandagupta (455-467 CE) is known for a long inscription where he describes himself as "the ruler of the earth" on a large rock at
Junagadh, in
Gujarat, next to the older inscriptions of
Ashoka and
Rudradaman I, confirming the Gupta hold on the western regions. Following these conquests, the silver coins of the Gupta kings
Chandragupta II and his son
Kumaragupta I adopted the Western Satrap design (itself derived from the
Indo-Greeks) with bust of the ruler and pseudo-Greek inscription on the obverse, and a royal eagle (
Garuda, the dynastic symbol of the Guptas) replacing the
chaitya hill with star and crescent on the reverse. File:Silver_Coin_of_Chandragupta_II.jpg|Coin of Gupta ruler
Chandragupta II (r.380–415) in the style of the Western Satraps. File:Silver Coin of Kumaragupta I.jpg|Coin of Gupta ruler
Kumaragupta I (r.414–455) (Western territories). File:Gupta Kings. Skandagupta. AD 455-467.jpg | Coin of Gupta ruler
Skandagupta (r.455-467), in the style of the Western Satraps. The campaigns of Chandragupta II brought an end to nearly four centuries of Saka rule on the subcontinent. This period also corresponds to the wane of the very last
Kushan rulers in the
Punjab and the arrival of the
Kidarite Huns, the first
Huna invaders from the steppes of
Central Asia. Less than a century later, the
Alchon Huns in turn invaded northern India, bringing an end to the
Gupta Empire and the Classical period of India. ==Coinage==