Sylvester41C: /* Sources */ Fix problems in Category:Succession box misuse tracking., replaced: {{s-bef|before=Unknown}} → {{s-break}} {{s-vac|unknown}}

2025-04-17T19:08:56Z

Sources: Fix problems in Category:Succession box misuse tracking., replaced: {{s-bef|before=Unknown}} → {{s-break}} {{s-vac|unknown}}

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{{Infobox royalty
| name = Vonones
| title = [[King of Kings]]
| image = Vonones with Spalahores.jpg
| image_size = 300
| caption = Silver [[tetradrachm]] minted under Vonones, with the legend of his name and his commander [[Spalahores]]. Obverse with Greek legend: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΟΝΩΝΟΥ, "Of the King of Kings the Great Vonones".
| succession = King of [[Sakastan]]
| reign = 75–57 BCE
| coronation =
| full name =
| predecessor = Unknown
| successor = [[Spalahores]]
| spouse =
| issue =
| royal house =
| dynasty =
| father =
| mother =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date = 57 BCE
| death_place =
| religion =
}}
'''Vonones''', also spelled '''Vovones''' ([[Greek alphabet|Greek]]: ΟΝΩΝΟΥ ''Onōnou''<ref>Gardner, Percy, ''The Coins of the Greek and Scythic Kings of Bactria and India in the British Museum'', p. 99</ref>) was an [[Iranian peoples|Iranian]] king, who ruled [[Sakastan]] from 75 BCE to 57 BCE.{{sfn|Gazerani|2015|p=15}} During the latter part of his reign, he extended his rule as far as [[Taxila]] in north [[Indian Subcontinent|India]], minting coins with the title of [[King of Kings]].{{sfn|Gazerani|2015|p=15}} Vonones was a rival of the first [[Indo-Scythian]] monarch [[Maues]] ({{reign|98/85|60/57|era=BC}}), who also claimed the title of King of Kings.{{sfn|Rezakhani|2017|p=33}}{{sfn|Gazerani|2015|p=17}} Both of them fought for power over the regions of [[Arachosia]], the [[Kabulistan|Kabul Valley]], Ghadhara and Taxila.{{sfn|Gazerani|2015|p=16}}

Vonones' origins are uncertain.{{sfn|Gazerani|2015|p=16}} His name (lit. meaning "victor") was of [[Parthian language|Parthian]] origin, used by the royal [[Parthian Empire|Arsacid]] family of [[Iran]].{{sfn|Gazerani|2015|p=15}}{{sfn|Rezakhani|2017|p=33}} Because of this, arguments have been made in favour of a Parthian [[House of Suren|Surenid]] origin.{{sfn|Gazerani|2015|p=16}} According to the [[Iranologist]] [[Khodadad Rezakhani]], Vonones belonged to the royal Arsacid family.{{sfn|Rezakhani|2017|p=34 (note 20)}} Others, however, claim that he was an Indo-Scythian, regardless of his Parthian name.{{sfn|Gazerani|2015|p=16}} The legend of Vonones' coins also had the name of two of his commanders [[Spalahores]] and [[Spalirisos]], who are referred to as "brother of the king".{{sfn|Gazerani|2015|p=15}} Scholars such as R.C. Senior and Rezakhani consider the two figures to indeed be Vonones' brothers,{{sfn|Gazerani|2015|pp=15–16}}{{sfn|Rezakhani|2017|p=34 (see also note 20)}} while others such as K.W. Dobbins argue that it was an honorific title given to them, whom he considered to be [[Saka]] [[satrap]]s.{{sfn|Gazerani|2015|p=16 (see also note 18)}}{{efn|Rezakhani has additionally suggested that Spalahores may simply have been a military title used by Vonones.{{sfn|Rezakhani|2017|p=34 (note 20)}}}}

A major argument against the proposal of a blood relationship between Vonones and the two commanders was due to both of them having [[Saka language|Saka]] names, contrary to Vonones' Parthian name.{{sfn|Gazerani|2015|p=16}} Saghi Gazerani has suggested that after the Arsacid re-conquest of Sakastan (sometime between 124 BCE and 115 BCE), which was given as a fiefdom to the Surenid general that led the expedition, the Surenids (who became independent after 88 BCE) and the Sakas became closely connected, presumably through alliances and intermarriages.{{sfn|Gazerani|2015|p=16–17}} Indeed, the Parthians and Sakas are often confused in [[Indian literature]].{{sfn|Gazerani|2015|p=17}} The mythological Iranian hero [[Rostam]] (who was from Sakastan), is mentioned in Iranian traditions as both Parthian and Saka, thus supporting this dual-identity.{{sfn|Gazerani|2015|p=17}}

Vonones was succeeded by Spalahores.{{sfn|Rezakhani|2017|p=34}} The latter's son and successor, [[Spalagadames]], has been suggested by Rezakhani to be the same figure as the first [[Indo-Parthian]] king, [[Gondophares]] ({{reign|19|46|era=CE}}).{{sfn|Rezakhani|2017|pp=34, 37}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

== Sources ==
* {{cite book | title = The Sistani Cycle of Epics and Iran's National History: On the Margins of Historiography | year = 2015 | publisher = BRILL | last = Gazerani| first = Saghi | pages = 1–250 | isbn = 9789004282964 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=92zsCgAAQBAJ&q=false}}
* {{cite book | title = ReOrienting the Sasanians: East Iran in Late Antiquity | year = 2017 | publisher = Edinburgh University Press | last = Rezakhani | first = Khodadad | author-link = Khodadad Rezakhani | chapter = East Iran in Late Antiquity| pages = 1–256 | isbn = 9781474400305 | jstor = 10.3366/j.ctt1g04zr8 }} {{registration required}}

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[[Category:Indo-Scythian kings]]
[[Category:1st-century BC Iranian monarchs]]
[[Category:1st-century BC Iranian people]]

Vonones of Sakastan - Revision history

Sylvester41C: /* Sources */ Fix problems in Category:Succession box misuse tracking., replaced: {{s-bef|before=Unknown}} → {{s-break}} {{s-vac|unknown}}