History of India, c. 150 A.D. to 350 A.D.: Naga–Vakataka Imperial Period c22.44

c22.44

The rise of Ardashīr, the first Sassanian king (224-241), falls in the Bhāraśiva period. Before his rise the Bhāraśivas had already driven the Kushans from the Gaṅgā-Yamunā Doab, that is, Ardashīr found the Kushan emperor weakened and he took advantage of it. According to Tabarī, Ardashīr took away Khorāsān but according to the Armenian historian whom Nöldeke prefers, his empire did not include Balkh. In any case, he did reach the borders of the Kushan home-province and exercised some sort of superiority over it. He seems to have threatened to invade the Indian dominions of Junāh who opened negotiations from Sirhind (§38, p. 50). But it is not until the time of Hormizd I (272-275) that the Sassanian king calls himself GREAT (Vazurk) KUSHANSHAH in addition to SHAHANSHAH, which is repeated by Varhrān I (273-276) and Varhrān II (276-293). This title is given up by Narseh (293-302), though temporarily revived by Péróz some time after 294 A.D. The title denoted over-lordship on the Kushans. In 302-309 A.D., Hormizd II married the daughter of the Kushan king (Kábul Sháh) and the Kushan position improved.