The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c12.22.2

v1.c12.22.2

A branch of these settled in Transoxania, and troubled the Sasanids from *c.* 420 to 557 A.D. In the struggles with these tribes Fīrūz I (459-484 A.D.) appears to have lost his life after a terrible battle in 484 A.D.⁴ It was probably soon after this disaster that a section of them pushed through the Hindukush into Afghanistan and India, exactly as the Yueh-chi had done before them about five centuries ago. For a time from their headquarters at Bāmiyān and Herat they appear to have ruled over a wide dominion which extended from the borders of Persia and Khotan to Central India. The capital of this Hun dominion was visited by the Chinese pilgrim, Song-Yun, ambassador of the Wei dynasty, who records that the Ye-tha (Epthalites) received tribute from the forty neighbouring countries.¹ Kan-t'o-lo (Gandhāra) which was also visited by Song-Yun (A.D. 520) was devastated by these Epthalites, who had set up a representative (*tch'e-k'in*=Turkish *tégin*) of theirs to rule over the country.² During this period the *Śāhi* princes who ruled in the South of the Hindukush must have bent before the storm and rendered homage to their Hun overlords. But fortunately the Hunic empire did not last long.