History of India, c. 150 A.D. to 350 A.D.: Naga–Vakataka Imperial Period c22.5

c22.5

Pápak, son or descendant of Sásán, flourished as a vassal chief near Shíráz whose son Ardashír became the founder of an empire and assumed the title of Sháhánsháh i Érán (emperor of Erán) on April 28th, 224 A.D., on the defeat of the Arsacidan suzerain Ardaván. On the eastern side of his empire he included therein Khorásán, with the result that the Kúshán Sháh, the next neighbour, amongst others, sent his envoy to declare his allegiance. This account is taken from Tabarí, which stands confirmed by the coins of Pápak and his son Sháhpuhr, elder brother of Ardashír I, and of Ardashír I (originally published by Thomas and Cunningham; Paikuli, i, 36). Ardashír’s son, Sháhpuhr I, ruled in 241–272, who called himself ‘Emperor (King of kings) of Érán and non-Érán (anérán)’. The next sovereigns Hormizd I (272–273) and Varhrán I (273–276) were short-lived. Varhrán II (276–293) was greatly harassed (283 A.D.) by the Roman Emperor (M. Aur. Carus) and by the rebellion of his own brother Hormizd in the east (289 A.D.). On the death of Varhrán II a dynastic war broke out (293 A.D.) between Varhrán III (son of Varhrán II) and his grand-uncle, Narseh. Narseh proved successful and reigned from 293 to 302 A.D. in which year he was succeeded by his son Hormizd II (302–309 A.D.).¹ The Paikuli Inscription relates to this dynastic struggle of 293 A.D.