Indo-Greek Kingdom

The Indo- Greek Kingdom was the successor of the Greco- Bactrian kingdom with emphasis in Gandhara. It was in the 2nd and 1st century BC The chronology of the rulers and of individual events is very uncertain and controversial, as the partially strong hypotheses based on reconstruction of the history of this extreme outpost of Hellenism largely on the coin finds that the only sources represent for most known kings, and a few scattered statements in the written sources is based.

Remarkably, however, the beautifully designed coins and the ethnic and cultural diversity of the empire (eg Graeco- Buddhism). Nevertheless, the impact on the Indian culture and history is classified as a secondary consideration, even if just in the field of coinage ran out decisive impulses.

History

The Greco -Bactrian king Demetrius I from (ca. 200-182 BC; rule information are estimates only, which also in modern research partly vary greatly ) had their power extended south of the Hindu Kush. They took over Gandhara and adjacent areas. After that, their state divided up and the old heartland of Bactria was conquered by 135 BC by the Yüe -chi. Thus Greek dominions were now only south of the Hindu Kush.

Menander (ca. 165/55-130 BC ), a man with an unclear reign and of questionable origin ( so it is unclear whether he was possibly related to Demetrios ), led this residual range to a new power peak. He had certainly been a General Demetrios I of Bactria and married to his daughter Agathokleia. He apparently came young to power, his power base was Gandhara. From there, the Greeks tried one last time at the conquest of India, but after the conquest of Pataliputra in conjunction with two Indian princes broke dispute and the Greeks had the swing area evacuate. Nevertheless, both Menander was the hero of Greek ( Plutarch ) and Indian Testimonies - the Milinda of the Buddhist Milindapanha.

Based on the coins out of the room Peshawar, Taxila and Gardes and despite meager resources a fundamental sequence of rulers in the Indian region is set: Apollodotos I. - Menander - Antialkidas - Straton and Archebios. Antialkidas for example, was considered a faithful Hindu, and is in an inscription of the Shunga king Bhagabhadra ( = Bhagavata? ) Noted. Strato held various government time and place, as a minor, together with his mother Agathokleia. He was supported by Heliokles ( II, perhaps from Bactria ) sold and later broke his hand from Amyntas, which is estimated to be worth mentioning because of its large coins.

Generally speaking, the Greeks put out in destructive battles between about 35 rulers are mutually exclusive. These fights took after Menander's death apparently from strength to strength. It is apparent that several kings, the coins of other overprinted.

The power struggles were exploited by the Sakas. These were by the pressure of Yüe -chi to present-day Afghanistan ( Sakastana = Sistan to 139 BC) were driven. There they were probably first as allies or mercenaries of the Greeks (eg Zoilos I. ). Under their king Maues they took by 70 BC the remains of the Greek Empire and later attacked by India, where they dissolve quickly. One last Greek king named Hermaios (ca. 50-30 BC) renewed the Greek rule, but ultimately failed, which watched the founder of the Kushan empire as his successor later.