Silver Drachm, Visvasena (292-304 AD) as Kshatrap
Indo-Sakas in Western India, silver drachm, Visvasena (292-304 AD) as Kshatrap, 298 AD
Bust of Visvasena right, with corrupted Greek legend (Indo-Greek style), date in Brahmi numerals behind (220 Saka Era = 298 AD) / Three-arched hill or Chaitya, with river, crescent and sun, within legend in Brahmi Rajno Mahaksatrapasa Bhartrdamaputrasa Rajno Ksatrapasa Visvasenasa. 16mm, 2.3 grams. "Studies in the Coinage of Western Kshatrapas" #710-711.
The coins of Ksatrapas are important since they are mostly dated - the dates helped to clarify the early history of India. Coins with clear dates, such as this coin are rare - on most specimens the date is struck off flan.
Bust of Visvasena right, with corrupted Greek legend (Indo-Greek style), date in Brahmi numerals behind (220 Saka Era = 298 AD) / Three-arched hill or Chaitya, with river, crescent and sun, within legend in Brahmi Rajno Mahaksatrapasa Bhartrdamaputrasa Rajno Ksatrapasa Visvasenasa. 16mm, 2.3 grams. "Studies in the Coinage of Western Kshatrapas" #710-711.
The coins of Ksatrapas are important since they are mostly dated - the dates helped to clarify the early history of India. Coins with clear dates, such as this coin are rare - on most specimens the date is struck off flan.
The Western Kshatrapas, or Western Satraps, (35-405 CE) were Saka rulers of the western and central part of India (Saurashtra and Malwa: modern Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh states). They were contemporaneous with the Kushans who ruled the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, and the Satavahana (Andhra) who ruled in Central India.
History of the Western Kshatrapas
In the north west of India, there ruled two dynasties of Satrapas (Sakas) with considerable independence on behalf of the Pahlava suzerains. Though they are known as Sakas in the literature, they are commonly referred to as Western Kshatraps due to their reign in the western region of India and Malwa. The shorter lived of the two dynasties is the family Kshaharata of which only the rulers Abhiraka,Bhumaka and Nahapana are known, that too through their coinage. Though there is no concrete evidence other than through their coins, it would seem that Nahapan was probably the last ruler of the dynasty Kshaharata. His territory included Gujarat to Ujjain and Nasik. But soon, he lost his territory to Satavahanas due to the conflict with the kingdoms of the northern Deccan and the Ganges valley.
Another Saka chieftain, Chastana, laid the foundation of his dynasty around 78 AD in the kingdom of Malwa. The dynasty is referred to as Chastana. Here they dramatically burst into the Indian politics in the mid second century under the reign of Rudradaman. With the declining Kushana power, he strengthened his reign and took up the title Mahakshatrapa, but soon had to invite troubles from the Satavahanas. The conflict became so gruelling between Rudradaman and Satavahanas, that in order to contain the conflict, a matrimonial relationship was concluded by giving Rudradaman's daughter to the Satavahana king. But that did not stop Rudradaman from raging a war against Satavahanas and in fact Satavahanas were defeated twice in his hands. Such was the greatest of the Saka ruler and Chastana's grandson Rudradaman-I.
After the death of Rudradaman, the Sakas entered a political quietude until the end of fourth century AD. Damajadasari was the son and successor of Rudradaman-I. However it was Rudrasimha-I, the brother of Rudradaman ascended the throne instead of his sonJivadaman. Rudrasena-I, the son of Rudrasimha-I was the next Saka Satrap. He was followed by many insignificant satraps. Although it is known from the records that Rudrasimha-III, the Saka member was killed by Chandragupta-II (Vikramadhitya) while sacking the Saka capital in 388 AD, It is doubtful that the dynasty was important. The dynasty seems to have ended with the death of Visvasena, the son of Bhartridaman.
History of the Western Kshatrapas
In the north west of India, there ruled two dynasties of Satrapas (Sakas) with considerable independence on behalf of the Pahlava suzerains. Though they are known as Sakas in the literature, they are commonly referred to as Western Kshatraps due to their reign in the western region of India and Malwa. The shorter lived of the two dynasties is the family Kshaharata of which only the rulers Abhiraka,Bhumaka and Nahapana are known, that too through their coinage. Though there is no concrete evidence other than through their coins, it would seem that Nahapan was probably the last ruler of the dynasty Kshaharata. His territory included Gujarat to Ujjain and Nasik. But soon, he lost his territory to Satavahanas due to the conflict with the kingdoms of the northern Deccan and the Ganges valley.
Another Saka chieftain, Chastana, laid the foundation of his dynasty around 78 AD in the kingdom of Malwa. The dynasty is referred to as Chastana. Here they dramatically burst into the Indian politics in the mid second century under the reign of Rudradaman. With the declining Kushana power, he strengthened his reign and took up the title Mahakshatrapa, but soon had to invite troubles from the Satavahanas. The conflict became so gruelling between Rudradaman and Satavahanas, that in order to contain the conflict, a matrimonial relationship was concluded by giving Rudradaman's daughter to the Satavahana king. But that did not stop Rudradaman from raging a war against Satavahanas and in fact Satavahanas were defeated twice in his hands. Such was the greatest of the Saka ruler and Chastana's grandson Rudradaman-I.
After the death of Rudradaman, the Sakas entered a political quietude until the end of fourth century AD. Damajadasari was the son and successor of Rudradaman-I. However it was Rudrasimha-I, the brother of Rudradaman ascended the throne instead of his sonJivadaman. Rudrasena-I, the son of Rudrasimha-I was the next Saka Satrap. He was followed by many insignificant satraps. Although it is known from the records that Rudrasimha-III, the Saka member was killed by Chandragupta-II (Vikramadhitya) while sacking the Saka capital in 388 AD, It is doubtful that the dynasty was important. The dynasty seems to have ended with the death of Visvasena, the son of Bhartridaman.
Western Satraps
- Nahapana (119-124)
- Chastana (c 120), son of Ghsamotika
- Jayadaman, son of Chastana
- Rudradaman I (c 130-150), son of Jayadaman
- Damajadasri I (170-175)
- Jivadaman (175 d 199)
- Rudrasimha I (175-188 d 197)
- Isvaradatta (188-191)
- Rudrasimha I (restored) (191-197)
- Jivadaman (restored) (197-199)
- Rudrasena I (200-222)
- Samghadaman (222-223)
- Damasena (223-232)
- Damajadasri II (232-239) with
- Viradaman (234-238)
- Yasodaman I (239)
- Vijayasena (239-250)
- Damajadasri III (251-255)
- Rudrasena II (255-277)
- Visvasimha (277-282)
- Bhratadarman (282-295)Image:WesternSatrap.JPG
- Visvasena (293-304)
- Rudrasimha II, son of Lord (Svami) Jivadaman (304-348)
- Yasodaman II (317-332)
- Rudradaman II (332-348)
- Rudrasena III (348-380)
- Simhasena (380- ?)
- Rudrasena IV (382-388)
- Rudrasimha III (388-395)
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