| Kidara | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Kidarite king Kidara I, circa 350–386 CE.[1] He wears his characteristic crown with ribbon flying upward. The use of the 3/4 portrait is sometimes attributed to the influence ofthe coinage of Byzantine rulerArcadius (377–408 CE).[2] | |
| Kidarites | |
| Reign | c. 350–390 CE |
| Predecessor | Peroz |
| Successor | Uncertain |
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Ku-shā-ṇa) as it appeared on the bottom left corner of Kidarite coins circa 350 CE.[3]Kidara I (LateBrahmi script:
Ki-da-ra)fl. 350–390 CE) was the first major ruler of theKidarite Kingdom, which replaced theIndo-Sasanians in northwesternIndia, in the areas ofKushanshahr,Gandhara,Kashmir andPunjab.[4]
Kidara himself was a nomadic ruler who invaded the areas ofTukharistan andGandhara hitherto ruled by theIndo-Sasanians. It is thought the Kidarites had initially invadedSogdiana andBactria from the north circa 300 CE.[5] His people may have been pushed out from the northern areas ofBactria by migratingHephthalites.[4]
Kidara's ethnicity is unclear, but he may himself have been aChionite, and he belongs to the general category of theHuns orHuna.[5] Already during the 4th century Sasanian EmperorShapur II had fought against Chionite invaders led by kingGrumbates, and ultimately passed an alliance with them, using their military in the campaign against theRomans in the siege of the fortress ofAmida (nowDiyarbakır,Turkey).[4] Chinese sources explain however that the Kidarites are theLesser Yuezhi, which would make them relatives of theYuezhi, themselves ancestors of theKushans.[5] The most detailed account of Kidara’s reign is provided by the Chinese chronicle, thePei shih [Annals of the Wei Dynasty].[6]
Kidara having established himself in Tukharistan and Gandara, took the title ofKushanshah which until that time had been used by the rulers of the Indo-Sasanian kingdom.[4] He thus founded the eponymous new dynasty of the Kidarites in northwestern India.[5] The Kidarites also claimed to have been successors of theKushans, possibly due to their ethnic proximity.[5]
Kidara struck both Sasanian-style gold and silver coins (imitating his immediate predecessor in the regionVarahran I) and Kushan-style gold coins, before issuing coins in his own name.[7][8]
_I_Balkh_mint_Struck_under_Kidarite_king_Kidara_circa_CE_350-365.jpg)
to the right.Balkh mint.![Coin in the name of Kidara, with legend "βαγο Κιδαρο οοζορκο κοþανοþαο" "Kidara, the great Kushanshah". Type 6A-D. Coin type found in Tepe Maranjan, dated to before 388 CE.[9]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aKidara_coin%2c_4th_century_CE%2c_type_6A-D.jpg)
![A coin of Kidara in the style of Indo-Sassanian ruler Bahram Kushanshah.[10] Crown with ribbon flying upward. Gandhara mint.](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aKidarites_ruler_Kidara_circa_350-385_CE_in_Sasanian_style.jpg)
| Preceded by | Kidarites 350–385 | Succeeded by Lesser Kidarites Alchon Huns |
