The Shakas (Scythians) in India

After the decline of the Indo-Greeks, the next powerful group to enter India were the Shakas, also known as Scythians. These were nomadic tribes from Central Asia, and once they entered Indian territory, they didn’t face much resistance.
Imagine a massive group of warrior nomads arriving at India’s doorstep, and instead of being repelled, they quietly spread across regions, establishing multiple kingdoms — in the northwest, north, and western parts of India.
How powerful were they?
- They controlled a larger part of India than the Indo-Greeks ever did.
- Their rule spanned several centuries, and they blended into Indian society, just like earlier foreign dynasties.
Key Shaka Rulers and Their Administration
1. Maues (Moga) – c. 50 BCE
- First known Shaka king in India.
- Established rule in Gandhara (present-day north Pakistan).
- His successor Azes defeated the last Indo-Greek king and annexed their territory.
2. Administrative System
- The Shakas followed the Achaemenid (Persian) style of governance, dividing the empire into:
- Provinces under Mahakshatrapas (great satraps).
- Smaller units under Kshatrapas (satraps).
These titles reveal their foreign origin, but also how they adapted to Indian political culture while retaining their administrative legacy.
Five Shaka Branches in India
Think of the Shakas not as a single centralized empire, but five separate power centers across regions:
- Afghanistan – The earliest branch.
- Punjab – Capital at Taxila.
- Mathura – Ruled for around 200 years.
- Western India (Western Kshatrapas) – The most powerful and long-lasting branch.
- Upper Deccan – Established a smaller kingdom.
Western Kshatrapas (c. 1st – 4th century CE)
- The Western Kshatrapas ruled parts of Sindh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Malwa, and Maharashtra.
- Initially challenged by Satavahanas.
- Reached their peak under Rudradaman I.
- Finally defeated by Chandragupta II of the Gupta Empire in the 4th century CE.
Were they Independent?
Though the term Kshatrapa/Satrap originally meant a subordinate or governor, the Western Kshatrapas ruled independently.
Some historians speculate they were feudatories of the Kushanas, but strong evidence is lacking.

Dynasties of the Western Kshatrapas
1. Kshaharata Dynasty
- Notable Kings:
- Abhiraka
- Bhumaka
- Nahapana – the most powerful, but defeated by Gautamiputra Satakarni, who restored Satavahana rule.
2. Kardamaka Dynasty
- Founded by Chashtana (began rule in 78 CE).
- Started using the title ‘Kshatrapa’ and later ‘Mahakshatrapa’.
- His grandson Rudradaman I co-ruled with him and became the greatest Shaka ruler.
Rudradaman I (130–150 CE): The Star Ruler
Achievements:
- Ruled over a vast territory: Sindh, Gujarat, Konkan, Narmada Valley, Malwa, Kathiawar.
- Known for:
- Repairing the Sudarshana Lake (originally built during Mauryan rule).
- Issuing **India’s first long inscription in pure Sanskrit.
Earlier inscriptions in India were usually in Prakrit. This shift to Sanskrit marked a cultural assimilation — a foreign-origin ruler promoting classical Indian language.
Junagadh Rock Inscription
- One of the most important inscriptions in Indian history.
- Written in Brahmi script and Sanskrit language.
- Mentions:
- Construction of Sudarshana Lake during Chandragupta Maurya’s time by his governor Pushyagupta.
- Later destruction by storm and restoration by Rudradaman, using his own resources — without taxing his people.
- Other inscriptions on this rock:
- Ashoka’s Edicts
- Skandagupta’s Inscription
Vikrama Era and the Vikramaditya Title
- Around 58–57 BCE, the king of Ujjain defeated the Shakas, drove them out, and assumed the title Vikramaditya.
- To commemorate this, he started a calendar era called Vikrama Samvat, still used in parts of India and Nepal.
The title “Vikramaditya” became so prestigious that many rulers adopted it later.
Most notably, Chandragupta II of the Gupta Empire, who also defeated the Shakas, became one of the most famous Vikramadityas.
The Parthians in India (c. 20 BCE onward)
- Originated in Iran, entered India after the Shakas.
- Parthians and Shakas ruled simultaneously in northwest India.
- Often referred together as “Shaka-Pahlavas” in Sanskrit texts.
Key Points about Parthians:
- Their territory was smaller than the Greeks or Shakas.
- Over time, they too became Indianized and assimilated into local culture.
- Most famous ruler: Gondophernes
- Believed to have ruled when St. Thomas, the Christian apostle, came to India to preach Christianity.