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Kidara I

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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 coinageof Byzantine rulerArcadius(377–408 CE).[2]
Kidarites
Reignc.350–390 CE
PredecessorPeroz
SuccessorUncertain
"Kushan" coins of Kidara
Kidaragold coin, circa 350–385 CE, derived from theKushans.VerticalBrahmilegends from right to left:
Kushana(Ku-shā-ṇa)
Kidara(Ki-da-ra)
Kushana(Ku-shā-ṇa)
GoddessArdoxshoon the back.
The word "Kushana" inBrahmi script(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-Sasaniansin northwesternIndia,in the areas ofKushanshahr,Gandhara,KashmirandPunjab.[4]

Reign[edit]

Kidara himself was a nomadic ruler who invaded the areas ofTukharistanandGandharahitherto ruled by theIndo-Sasanians.It is thought the Kidarites had initially invadedSogdianaandBactriafrom the north circa 300 CE.[5]His people may have been pushed out from the northern areas ofBactriaby migratingHephthalites.[4]

Kidara's ethnicity is unclear, but he may himself have been aChionite,and he belongs to the general category of theHunsorHuna.[5]Already during the 4th century Sasanian EmperorShapur IIhad fought against Chionite invaders led by kingGrumbates,and ultimately passed an alliance with them, using their military in the campaign against theRomansin 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]

Kidara having established himself in Tukharistan and Gandara, took the title ofKushanshahwhich 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]

Coinage[edit]

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.[6][7]

  • Coin in the name of Kushano-Sasanian Varahran I struck under Kidara circa CE 350-365. Crown with ribbon flying upward. Kidarite tamgha to the right. Balkh mint.
    Coin in the name of Kushano-SasanianVarahran Istruck under Kidara circa CE 350-365. Crown with ribbon flying upward. Kidaritetamghato the right.Balkhmint.
  • 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.[8]
    Coin in the name of Kidara, with legend "βαγο Κιδαρο οοζορκο κοþανοþαο" "Kidara, the great Kushanshah". Type 6A-D. Coin type found inTepe Maranjan,dated to before 388 CE.[8]
  • A coin of Kidara in the style of Indo-Sassanian ruler Bahram Kushanshah.[9] Crown with ribbon flying upward. Gandhara mint.
    A coin of Kidara in the style ofIndo-SassanianrulerBahram Kushanshah.[9]Crown with ribbon flying upward.Gandharamint.
  • Kidara facing, with a legend in his own name. Brahmi legend: Ki-da-ra Ku-ṣa-ṇa-ṣa "Kidara the Kushana king".
    Kidara facing, with a legend in his own name.Brahmilegend:Ki-da-ra Ku-ṣa-ṇa-ṣa"Kidara theKushanaking ".

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^CNG Coins
  2. ^Lerner, Judith A. (210).Observations on the Typology and Style of Seals and Sealings from Bactria and the Indo-Iranian Borderlands, in Coins, Art and Chronology II. The First Millennium CE in the Indo-Iranian Borderlands.Vienna: ÖAW. p. 246, note 7.
  3. ^Tandon, Pankaj (2009)."An Important New Copper Coin of Gadahara".Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society(200): 19.
  4. ^abcdHistory of Civilizations of Central Asia, Ahmad Hasan Dani, B. A. Litvinsky,Unescop.38 sq
  5. ^abcdeHistory of Civilizations of Central Asia, Ahmad Hasan Dani, B. A. Litvinsky,Unescop.119 sq
  6. ^Sayles, Wayne G. (1999).Ancient Coin Collecting VI: Non-Classical Cultures.Iola, WI: Krause. p.79.ISBN0-87341-753-4.
  7. ^Cribb, Joe (2010)."The Kidarites, the numismatic evidence"(PDF).Coins, Art and Chronology.Vol. 2: The first millennium C.E. in the Indo-Iranian borderlands. Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. pp. 91–146.ISBN978-3-7001-6885-0.
  8. ^Bakker, Hans T.(2017).The Huns in Central and South Asia. How Two Centuries of War against Nomadic Invaders from the Steps are Concluded by a Game of Chess between the Kings of India and Iran.
  9. ^"Kushano-Sasanian Kings of India." Bahram "(Kidara)".CNG Coins.
Preceded by Kidarites
350–385 		Succeeded by
Lesser Kidarites
Alchon Huns
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