The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c7.s6.68

v1.c7.s6.68

The Śaka or Scythian subjects of Parthia gave no little trouble to their kings—Mithridates I, Phraates II, and Artabanus I. They were always turbulent, almost independent, and even aggressive. They were never really subject to Parthia until they were conquered by Mithridates II. Under that king Parthia was fortunate to be able to hold back the Śaka hordes, who were desperately in need of lands in to settle, for their own homelands had been occupied by the Yueh-chi. Thus diverted, these Śakas forced themselves into India, where they established a kingdom in the country of the lower Indus—Patalene, Cutch, and Surāṣṭra. By 80 B.C. they had moved up the river Indus under the leadership of Maues, who as early as 70 B.C. had usurped Greek rule west of the Jhelam. Gandhāra and the Western Punjab including Takṣaśilā were under his sway. He adopted the Parthian title ‘king of kings’ on his coins. About the same time Vonones, a Pahlava (Parthian), became the ruler of Arachosia and Seistan. Like Maues, he too assumed the imperial title. The exact relationship between the two is not known. Vonones is distinctly a Parthian name. But names are not sure proofs of nationality because the same family includes both the Śaka and the Pahlava names. However, Azes I appears to have made himself master of the territorial possessions of both Maues and Vonones.² He extended his authority as far east as Mathurā and consolidated the Śaka-Pahlava power in India. He is said to have founded the ‘Vikrama’ era beginning in 58 B.C.³ ‘Almost everything in Asia between the Euphrates and the Jumna which Greeks had once ruled had now passed into the hands of peoples from the northern steppes.’⁴