Filters:
Group: Kushano-Sasanid Kingdom
People: Edmund Andros
Topic: Reform War, or War of the Reform
Location: Würzburg Bayern Germany

Kushano-Sasanid Kingdom

Years: 240 - 410

Kushano-Sasanian Kingdom (also called Kushanshas or Indo-Sassanians) is a historiographic term used by modern scholars to refer to a branch of the Sassanid Persians who establish their rule in Bactria and in northwestern Indian subcontinent (present day Pakistan) during the third and fourth centuries at the expense of the declining Kushans.

They capture the provinces of Sogdiana, Bactria and Gandhara from the Kushans in CE 225.

The Sasanians establish governors for the Sasanian Empire, who mint their own coinage and take the title of Kushanshas, i.e. "Kings of the Kushans".

They are sometimes considered as forming a "sub-kingdom" inside the Sasanian Empire.

This administration continues until 360-370, when the Kushano-Sasanians lose much of their domains to the invading Kidarite Huns, while the rest is incorporated into the imperial Sasanian Empire.

Later, the Kidarites will in turn be displaced by the Hephthalites.

The Sasanians are able to re-establish some authority after they destroy the Hephthalites with the help of the Turks in 565, but their rule collapses under Arab attacks in the mid-seventh century.

The Kushanshas are mainly known through their coins.

Their coins are minted at Kabul, Balkh, Herat, and Merv, attesting the extent of their realm.

A rebellion of Hormizd I Kushanshah (277-286 CE), who issues coins with the title Kushanshahanshah ("King of kings of the Kushans"), seems to have occurred against contemporary emperor Bahram II (276-293 CE) of the Sasanian Empire, but fails.