The Western Kshatrapas, or Western Satraps, (35-405 CE) were Saka rulers of the western and central part of India (Saurashtra and Malwa: modern Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh states). They were contemporaneous with the Kushans who ruled the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, and the Satavahana (Andhra) who ruled in Central India.

Altogether, there were 27 independent Kshatrapa rulers during a period of about 350 years. The word Kshatrapa stands for satrap, and its equivalent in Persian Ksatrapavan, which means viceroy or governor of a province.

History

The first Kshatrapas ruled parts of northwestern India as far as Mathura and may have been viceroys of the Kushans. Eventually they became independent as they vanquished the Satavahana empire, but retained the name of Kshatrapas.

The Kshatrapa dynasty became very powerful with the accession of Nahapana to the throne. Nahapana occupied vast portion of the Satavahana empire in western and central India, although he was ultimately defeated by the powerful Satavahana king Gautamiputra Satakarni in 125 CE. Nahapana managed however to build a strong power base in the west, from which his successors would benefit. He also established the Kshatrapa coinage.

The Kshatrapa dynasty seems to have reached a high level of prosperity under the rule of Rudrasen II (256-278 CE), 19th ruler of Kshatrapa The last Kshatrapa ruler was Vishwasen, brother and successor to Bhratadaman and son of Rudrasen II.

A new family took control under Rudrasimha, but was eventually conquered by the Gupta emperor Vikramaditya.

The Kshatrapas established their own calendar, which starts in 78 CE and defines the beginning of the Saka era, and which today the starting year for the official calendar of the Indian Republic.

Coinage

The Kshatrapas have a very rich and interesting coinage. It was based on the coinage of the earlier Indo-Greek Kings, with Greek or pseudo-Greek legend and life-like profiles of royal busts on the obverse. The reverse of the coins however is original and typically depict a thunderbolt and an arrow, and later, a chaitya or three-arched hill and river symbol with a crescent and the sun, within a legend in Brahmi. These coins are very informative, since they record the name of the King, of his father, and the date of issue, and have helped clarify the early history of India.

The coins of the Kshatrapas were also very influencial and imitated by neighbouring or later dynasties, such as the Satavahanas, and the Guptas.

Main rulers

Kshaharata dynasty:

• Abhiraka (Aubhirakes)
• Bhumaka
• Nahapana (119-124 CE)

Kardamaka dynasty:

• Chastana
• Rudradaman (130-150 CE)
• Rudrasen II (256-278 CE)
• Bhratadaman (278 to 295 CE)
• Vishwasen (294-304 CE)

See also

• Indo-Greek Kingdom
• Indo-Scythians
• Indo-Parthians
• Kushan Empire