THE KUSHAN DYNASTY 30- 325
The Kushan Dynasty that grew into Kushan Empire was basically a Syncretic Empire.
Interesting Kushan Dynasty Facts: 1-5
1. The origins of Kushan Dynasty can be traced back to China. The name for Kushans, in Chinese sources, is Guishuang. It is one of the five tribes of Yuezhi
2. Of the five tribes, Guishuang was to the eastern most side living in Central Asia (present day Xinjiang, Gansu). But Yuezhi was ousted by Xiongnu (Hiung-Nu) during 176-160 BCE time frame.
3. In around 3rd century BCE, China built the Great Wall of China which forced Yuezhi to find place towards the west.
4. They ruthlessly wiped out other tribes for their existence. They expelled the Sakas (who ousted Parthians of Iran and Bactrian Greeks).
5. In 135 BCE, they slowly moved into Bactrian region (now Afghanistan, Uzbekistan) and in around the latter half of 1 century CE, some of the members of Yuezhi entered India.
Interesting Kushan Dynasty Facts: 6-10
6. . Skulls which are artificially deformed are excavated from this area. These evidences convince the archaeologists and historians to say that kushans ruled Bactria and hence Hellenistic influence was seen in their life.
7. The first ever ruler who proclaimed himself as a Kushan ruler was Heraios (1-30 CE).
8. Here, of all tribes, Guishuang tribe became the leader and other tribes formed a confederacy under the leadership of Kujula Kadphises. The name, Guishuang, was changed to Kushans in the west (Afghanistan, Uzbekistan etc.). However, Chinese scriptures name Yuezhi only.
9. Slowly overpowering the Scythians, they conquered Gandhara region. They went on to occupy Kabul and Qandahar port of Afghanistan. They then established twin cities called Kapisa and Pushkalavati.
10. They started minting coins in the lines of Greek rulers and used Greek alphabet to make their own adapted alphabet. They first used Pali (Kharoshti script) and later on when Kanishka I ascended the throne,
Interesting Kushan Dynasty Facts: 11-15
12. The first great emperor of Kushan Dynasty, Vima Kadphises (90-100 CE), was most probably a Saivite (based on the coins that were minted during his reign).
13. Kushans used the Silk route and sea route for trade to the fullest. Their territories extended from Aral Seahe vast empire was flooded with money because of trade and commerce, especially the silk route.
14. There were two capitals of this empire, winter and summer capital. Summer capital was in Begram, a place called Surkh Kotal and winter capital was Mathura. During the reign of Kanishka I, Peshawar was the capital city.
15. Khwarezm (archaeological findings of Russia), Kausambi (Allahabad University excavations), Sanchi, Sarnath (inscriptions), Malwa, Maharashtra, Orissa etc. are also been considered as the parts of the Kushan empire.
Interesting Kushan Dynasty Facts: 16-20
16. important cities of the empire. Some of the cities are Ujjain, Pataliputra, Kausambi etc. So, with all this, it can be said that the Kushans ruled pretty big area and they were really powerful.
17. Kujula Kadphises was the first king who proclaimed himself to be a Kushan king. He expanded his territories to a large extent. He defeated Parthians and occupied Kabul. He controlled Kapisha-Gandhara region as well.
18. the king did expand his kingdom further northwest of Indian sub-continent.
19. Vima Kadphises was the successor of Vima Takto. . He conquered Afghanistan and enlarged his kingdom. He was famous for the coins that he minted. It was he, who introduced gold coins in India. Earlier coins were made of copper and silver.
20. The next successor was Kanishka I. He was the most famous king of Kushana dynasty. He had a very vast empire controlling almost whole of north India, going beyond south of Ujjain and east of Pataliputra.
Interesting Kushan Dynasty Facts: 21-25
21. He had two capitals – the first one is Purushapura (Peshawar, Pakistan) and the second one is Mathura (India).
22. he followed Buddhism, he was tolerant towards other religions. Fourth Buddhist council was conducted during his reign. Buddhism reach penetrated into China because of his support
23. After the death of Kanishka I, Vasiska ruled for a very short time. After the reign of Vasiska, Huvishka came to power and ruled for about 40 years.
24. Huvishka concentrated on consolidating the empire instead of “conquest and conquer” policy. He further increased his control over Indian cities like Mathura.
25. Vasudeva I was the last great ruler of Kushana dynasty. The great dynasty collapsed with the invasions of Sassanids and the formation of Indo-Sassanids who were also called as Kushanshahs.
Kujula Kadphises (c. 30 – c. 80)
...the prince [elavoor] of Guishuang, named thilac [Kujula Kadphises], attacked and exterminated the four other xihou. He established himself as king, and his dynasty was called that of the Guishuang [Kushan] King. He invaded Anxi [Indo-Parthia] and took the Gaofu [Kabul] region. was more than eighty years old when he died."
Vima Taktu or Sadashkana (c. 80 – c. 95)
Vima Takto (Ancient Chinese: 閻膏珍 Yangaozhen) is mentioned in the Rabatak inscription (another son, Sadashkana, is mentioned in an inscription of Senavarman,Hanshu says:
. He defeated Tianzhu [North-western India] and installed Generals to supervise and lead it. The Yuezhi then became extremely rich. All the kingdoms call [their king] the Guishuang [Kushan] king, but the Han call them by their original name, Da Yuezhi."
Vima Kadphises (c. 95 – c. 127)
Vima Kadphises (Kushan language: Οοημο Καδφισης) was a Kushan emperor from around 90–100 CE,
Vima Kadphises added to the Kushan territory by his conquests in Afghanistan and north-west Pakistan. He issued an extensive series of coins and inscriptions. He issued gold coins in addition to the existing copper and silver coinage.
Kanishka I (c. 127 – c. 140)
Main article: Kanishka
Kanishka, Mathura art, Mathura Museum
The rule of Kanishka the Great, fifth Kushan king, lasted for about 13 years from c. 127. Upon his accession, Kanishka ruled a huge territory (virtually all of northern India), south to Ujjain and Kundina and east beyond Pataliputra, according to the
, Kanishka was the son of Vima Kadphises, the grandson of Sadashkana, and the great-grandson of Kujula Kadphises. Kanishka's era is now generally accepted to have begun in 127 on the basis of Harry Falk's ground-breaking research.[46][47] Kanishka's era was used as a calendar reference by the Kushans for about a century, until the decline of the Kushan realm.
Vāsishka (c. 140 – c. 160)
Vāsishka was a Kushan emperor who seems to have had a 20-year reign following Kanishka. His rule is recorded as far south as Sanchi (near Vidisa), where several inscriptions in his name have been found, dated to the year 22 (the Sanchi inscription of "Vaksushana" – i.e., Vasishka Kushana) and year 28 (the Sanchi inscription of Vasaska – i.e., Vasishka) of the Kanishka era.
Huvishka (c. 160 – c. 190)
Huvishka (Kushan: Οοηϸκι, "Ooishki") was a Kushan emperor from about 20 years after the death of Kanishka (assumed on the best evidence available to be in 140) until the succession of Vasudeva I about thirty years later. His rule was a period of retrenchment and consolidation for the Empire. In particular he devoted time and effort early in his reign to the exertion of greater control over the city of Mathura.
Vasudeva I (c. 190 – c. 230)
Vasudeva I (Kushan: Βαζοδηο "Bazodeo", Chinese: 波調 "Bodiao") was the last of the "Great Kushans". . He was the last great Kushan emperor, and the end of his rule coincides with the invasion of the Sasanians as far as northwestern India, and the establishment of the Indo-Sasanians or Kushanshahs in what is nowadays Afghanistan, Pakistan and northwestern India from around 240 AD.
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