From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (October 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Coin of Hormizd I, issued in Afghanistan, and derived from earlier Kushan designs.

Coin of the Indo-Sassanid kushansha Varhran I (early 4th century).
Obv: King Varhran I with characteristic head-dress.
Rev: Shiva and bull.

The Indo-Sassanids, Kushano-Sassanids or Kushanshas (also Indo-Sassanians) are a branch of the Sassanids who established their rule in the northwestern Indian subcontinent during the third and fourth centuries CE at the expense of the declining Kushans, until they were in turn displaced by the invasions of the Indo-Hephthalites. They may also have rule for a short time later in the 6th century CE.

Indo-Sassanid trade routes

The Sassanids, shortly after their victory over the Parthians, extended their dominion into Bactria around 230 CE during the reign of Ardashir I, and then into Kushan territory (what is today Pakistan and northwestern India) during the reign of his son Shapur I (240-270). The declining Kushans thus lost the western part of their territory to them, and Bactria and Gandhara came under the rule of Sassanid nobles named Kushanshahs ("Kings of the Kushans").

Kartir, a high-priest that served as advisor to at least three of the early kings, instigated the persecution of non-Zoroastrians, that is, Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Hindus and - in particular - the Manichaeans, who were primarily in and from the eastern territories. The persecution ceased during the reign of Narseh (r. 293–302).

Around 325, Shapur II was directly in charge of the southern part of the territory, while in the north the Kushanshahs maintained their rule until the rise of the Kidarites.

The decline of the Kushans and their replacement by the Sassanids led to the rise to power of an indigenous Indian dynasty, the Guptas, in the fourth century. In 410, Bactria and then Gandhara were invaded by the Hephthalites (who became known as the Indo-Hephthalites), thus temporarily replacing the Indo-Sassanids.

Indo-Sassanid coin.

A gold Indo-Sassanid coin.

The Hephthalites ruled until they were defeated around 565 by a coalition of Sasanians and Western Turks, who were able to reassert some Indo-Sassanid authority in the Northwestern parts of the subcontinent.

The prophet Mani (210-276), founder of Manichaeism, followed the Sassanids' expansion to the east, which exposed him to the thriving Buddhist culture of Gandhara. He is said to have visited Bamiyan, where several religious painting are attributed to him, and is believed to have lived and taught for some time. He is also related to have sailed to the Indus valley area of India in 240 or 241, and to have converted a Buddhist King, the Turan Shah of India.

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 Buddhist sangha" (Richard Foltz, Religions of the Silk Road).

The Indo-Sassanids traded goods such as silverware and textiles depicting the Sassanid emperors engaged in hunting or administering justice. The example of Sassanid art was influential on Kushan art, and this influence remained active for several centuries in the northwest Indian subcontinent.

The Indo-Sassanids created an extensive coinage with legend in Brahmi, Pahlavi or Bactrian, 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 the zoroastrian fire altar or Shiva and his bull Nandi.

• Ardashir I, Sassanid king and "Kushanshah" (circa 230 - 250)
• Peroz I, "Kushanshah" (circa 250 - 265)
• Hormizd I, "Kushanshah" (circa 265 - 295)
• Hormizd II, "Kushanshah" (circa 295 - 300)
• Peroz II, "Kushanshah" (circa 300 - 325)
• Shapur II Sassanid king and "Sakanshah" (circa 325)
• Varhran I, Varhran II, Varhran III "Kushanshahs" (circa 325 - 350; lasted until the Hephthalites invasion)
• Peroz III "Kushanshah" (circa 350 - 360; in Gandhara)

• Indo-Parthian

• Coins of the Kushano-Sassanids

Provinces of the Sassanid Empire
Abarshahr | Adiabene | Albania | Arabistan | Aria | Armenia | Asuristan | Atropatene | Balasagan | Carmania | Hyrcania | Iberia | India | Kushanshahr | Machelonia | Maishan | Margiana | Mazun | Media | Mokran | Paratan | Parthia | Patishkhwagar | Persis | Sakastan | Susiana | Turan
	This box: view • talk • edit