TheKushano-Sasanian Kingdom (orIndo-Sasanians) was a polity established by theSasanian Empire inBactria during the 3rd and 4th centuries. The Sasanian Empire captured the provinces ofSogdia,Bactria andGandhara from the decliningKushan Empirefollowing a series of wars in 225 CE.[1] The local Sasanian governors then went on to take the title ofKushanshah (KΟÞANΟ ÞAΟor Koshano Shao in theBactrian language[2]) or "King of the Kushans", and to mint coins.[1] They are sometimes considered as forming a "sub-kingdom" inside the Sasanian Empire.[3]
This administration continued until 360–370,[1] when the Kushano-Sasanians lost much of their domains to the invadingKidarites; the remainder was incorporated into the Sasanian Empire proper.[4] Later, the Kidarites were in turn displaced by theHephthalites.[5]
The Kushanshahs are mainly known through their coins. Their coins were minted atKabul,Balkh,Herat, andMerv, attesting the extent of their realm.[6]
A rebellion ofHormizd I Kushanshah (277–286 CE), who issued coins with the titleKushan-shahanshah ("King of kings of the Kushans"), seems to have occurred against contemporary emperorBahram II (276–293 CE) of the Sasanian Empire, but failed.[1]
The Sassanids, shortly after victory over theParthians, extended their dominion intoBactria during the reign ofArdashir I around 230 CE, then further to the eastern parts of their empire in westernPakistan during the reign of his sonShapur I (240–270). Thus the Kushans lost their western territory (includingBactria andGandhara) to the rule of Sassanid nobles namedKushanshahs or "Kings of the Kushans". The farthest extent of the Kushano-Sasanians to the east appears to have been Gandhara, and they apparently did not cross theIndus River, since almost none of their coinage has been found in the city ofTaxila just beyond the Indus.[7]
The Kushano-Sasanians underHormizd I Kushanshah seem to have led a rebellion against contemporary emperorBahram II (276-293 CE) of the Sasanian Empire, but failed.[1] According to thePanegyrici Latini (3rd-4th century CE), there was a rebellion of a certain Ormis (Ormisdas) against his brotherBahram II, and Ormis was supported by the people of Saccis (Sakastan).[6] Hormizd I Kushanshah issued coins with the titleKushanshahanshah ("King of kings of the Kushans"),[8] probably in defiance of imperial Sasanian rule.[1]
Around 325,Shapur II was directly in charge of the southern part of the territory, while in the north the Kushanshahs maintained their rule. Important finds of Sasanian coinage beyond the Indus in the city ofTaxila only start with the reigns ofShapur II (r.309-379) andShapur III (r.383-388), suggesting that the expansion of Sasanian control beyond the Indus was the result of the wars of Shapur II "with the Chionites and Kushans" in 350-358 as described byAmmianus Marcellinus.[7] They probably maintained control until the rise of theKidarites under their rulerKidara.[7]
The decline of the Kushans and their defeat by the Kushano-Sasanians and the Sasanians, was followed by the rise of theKidarites and then theHephthalites (Alchon Huns) who in turn conquered Bactria and Gandhara and went as far as central India. They were later followed byTurk Shahi and then theHindu Shahi, until the arrival of Muslims to north-western parts of India.
Coin of the last Kushano-Sasanian rulerBahram Kushanshah (circa 350-365 CE) inKushan style. Obv: Bahram with characteristic headdress. Rev:Shiva withNandi in Kushan style.
The prophetMani (210–276), founder ofManichaeism, followed the Sasanian expansion to the east, which exposed him to the thrivingBuddhist culture ofGandhara. He is said to have visitedBamiyan, where several religious paintings are attributed to him, and is believed to have lived and taught for some time. He is also related to have sailed to theIndus Valley area in 240 or 241 and converted a Buddhist king, theTuran Shah of India.[9]
On that occasion, various Buddhist influences seem to have permeated Manichaeism: "Buddhist influences were significant in the formation of Mani's religious thought. The transmigration of souls became a Manichaean belief, and the quadripartite structure of the Manichaean community, divided between male and female monks (the 'elect') and lay follower (the 'hearers') who supported them, appears to be based on that of the Buddhistsangha".[9]
The Kushano-Sassanids created an extensive coinage with legend inBrahmi,Pahlavi orBactrian, sometimes inspired from Kushan coinage, and sometimes more clearly Sassanid.
The obverse of the coin usually depicts the ruler with elaborate headdress and on the reverse either afire temple or Shiva with Nandi.
Terracotta head of a male figure, Kushano-Sasanian period, Gandhara region, 4th-5th century CE
A probable Kushano-Sasanian plate with hunting scene, found in the 504 CE tomb ofFeng Hetu inChina.Shanxi Museum. It is dated the 3rd-4th century CE, and was probably manufactured in northern Afghanistan.[15][16][17]
The example of Sassanid art was influential onKushan art, and this influence remained active for several centuries in the northwest South Asia. Plates seemingly belonging to the art of the Kushano-Sasanians have also been found inNorthern Wei tombs inChina, such asa plate depicting a boar hunt found in the 504 CE tomb ofFeng Hetu.[15]
^abCarter, M.L."Encyclopaedia Iranica".iranicaonline.org.A gilt silver plate depicting a princely boar hunt, excavated from a tomb near Datong dated to 504 CE, is close to early Sasanian royal hunting plates in style and technical aspects, but diverges enough to suggest a Bactrian origin dating from the era of the Kushano-Sasanian rule (ca. 275-350 CE)
^"a Sasanian prince is represented adoring before the Indian god Vishnu" inHerzfeld, Ernst (1930).Kushano-Sasanian Coins. Government of India central publication branch. p. 16.
^"South Asia Bulletin: Volume 27, Issue 2".South Asia Bulletin. University of California, Los Angeles. 2007. p. 478:A seal inscribed in Bactrian , fourth to fifth century AD , shows a Kushano - Sasanian or Kidarite official worshipping Vishnu : Pierfrancesco Callieri , Seals and Sealings from the North - West of the Indian Subcontinent and Afghanistan.
Daryaee, Touraj; Rezakhani, Khodadad (2017a)."The Sasanian Empire". In Daryaee, Touraj (ed.).King of the Seven Climes: A History of the Ancient Iranian World (3000 BCE - 651 CE). UCI Jordan Center for Persian Studies. pp. 1–236.ISBN978-0-692-86440-1.
![Ardashir I Kushanshah in the name of Kushan ruler Vasudeva I, circa 230-245 CE.[10]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aArdashir_I_Kushanshah_in_the_name_of_Vasudeva_circa_230-245_CE.jpg)
![Hormizd I Kushanshah with mention of Mazda and Anahita. Merv mint.[8]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aHormizd_I_Kushanshah_Merv_mint.jpg)
![Kushano-Sasanian footed cup with medallion, 3rd-4th century CE, Bactria, Metropolitan Museum of Art.[11]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aKushano-Sasanian_footed_cup_with_medallion_3rd-4th_century_CE_Bactria_Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art.jpg)
![Possible Kushano-Sasanian plate, excavated in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, 350-400 CE.[12] British Museum 124093.[13][14]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aSilverplate_with_investiture_scene._Sasanian_4th_century_CE%2c_possibly_Afghanistan._Middle_East%2c_52_Ancient_Iran_-_28174064678.jpg)
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![A probable Kushano-Sasanian plate with hunting scene, found in the 504 CE tomb of Feng Hetu in China. Shanxi Museum. It is dated the 3rd-4th century CE, and was probably manufactured in northern Afghanistan.[15][16][17]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aSasanian_Gilt_Silver_Plate%2c_from_Northern_Wei_504_CE_tomb.jpg)
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