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The '''First Battle of Eran'''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bakker |first=Hans T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uDxTzQEACAAJ |title=The Alkhan: A Hunnic People in South Asia |date=2020-03-12 |publisher=Barkhuis |isbn=978-94-93194-00-7 |page=33 |language=en |quote=Alkhan invasion in Western India in first year of the reign of Mahārājādhirāja Toramāna First Battle of Eran (Betwā Valley), in which [[Mātṛviṣṇu]] is probably killed. His younger brother [[Dhanyaviṣṇu]] installs a Varāhamūrti in Eran (SB X.032).}}</ref> was a key engagement of the First Hunnic War that took place in 498 CE at Airikana ([[Eran]]), [[India]]. It was fought between the [[Gupta Empire]] and the invading army of [[Alchon Huns]]. The battle involved the Emperor [[Budhagupta]], his viceroys, and [[Toramana]], an acclaimed [[Alchon Huns|Hunnic]] king. The confrontation had significant consequences for the political and territorial situation in the region. The conflict concluded with a victory for the [[Alchon Huns]] that influenced subsequent events in the region.<ref>{{Cite book |last=S. R. Goyal |url=https://archive.org/details/goyal-1967_202412 |title=A history of the Imperial Guptas. With a Foreword by R. C. Majumdar. |date=1967 |pages=337–342}}</ref> | The '''First Battle of Eran'''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bakker |first=Hans T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uDxTzQEACAAJ |title=The Alkhan: A Hunnic People in South Asia |date=2020-03-12 |publisher=Barkhuis |isbn=978-94-93194-00-7 |page=33 |language=en |quote=Alkhan invasion in Western India in first year of the reign of Mahārājādhirāja Toramāna First Battle of Eran (Betwā Valley), in which [[Mātṛviṣṇu]] is probably killed. His younger brother [[Dhanyaviṣṇu]] installs a Varāhamūrti in Eran (SB X.032).}}</ref> was a key engagement of the First Hunnic War that took place in 498 CE at Airikana ([[Eran]]), [[India]]. It was fought between the [[Gupta Empire]] and the invading army of [[Alchon Huns]]. The battle involved the Emperor [[Budhagupta]], his viceroys, and [[Toramana]], an acclaimed [[Alchon Huns|Hunnic]] king. The confrontation had significant consequences for the political and territorial situation in the region. The conflict concluded with a victory for the [[Alchon Huns]] that influenced subsequent events in the region.<ref>{{Cite book |last=S. R. Goyal |url=https://archive.org/details/goyal-1967_202412 |title=A history of the Imperial Guptas. With a Foreword by R. C. Majumdar. |date=1967 |pages=337–342}}</ref> | ||
==Prelude== | |||
{{Location map+ | |||
| Hephthalites | |||
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{{Annotation|text-align=center|35|90|[[Sasanian Empire|<span style="color:#4F311CFF">'''SASANIAN<br />EMPIRE'''</span>]]|font-weight=bold|font-style=normal|font-size=8|color=#000000}} | |||
{{Annotation|text-align=center|115|50|[[Hephthalite|<span style="color:#4F311CFF">'''HEPHTHALITES'''</span>]]|font-weight=bold|font-style=normal|font-size=8|color=#000000}} | |||
{{Annotation|text-align=center|145|123|[[Alchon Huns|<span style="color:#4F311CFF">'''ALCHON<br />HUNS'''</span>]]|font-weight=bold|font-style=normal|font-size=8|color=#000000}} | |||
{{Annotation|text-align=center|139|86|[[Nezak|<span style="color:#4F311CFF">'''NEZAK<br>HUNS'''</span>]]|font-weight=bold|font-style=normal|font-size=6|color=#000000}} | |||
{{Annotation|text-align=center|120|15|[[Yueban|<span style="color:#4F311CFF">'''''Yueban'''''</span>]]|font-weight=bold|font-style=normal|font-size=8|color=#000000}} | |||
{{Annotation|text-align=center|40|1|[[Magyars|<span style="color:#4F311CFF">'''''Magyars'''''</span>]]|font-weight=bold|font-style=normal|font-size=8|color=#000000}} | |||
{{Annotation|text-align=center|0|15|[[Oghurs|<span style="color:#4F311CFF">'''''Oghurs'''''</span>]]|font-weight=bold|font-style=normal|font-size=8|color=#000000}} | |||
{{Annotation|text-align=center|205|58|[[Tocharians|<span style="color:#4F311CFF">'''TOCHARIANS'''</span>]]|font-weight=bold|font-style=normal|font-size=6|color=#000000}} | |||
{{Annotation|text-align=center|200|140|[[Gupta Empire|<span style="color:#4F311CFF">'''GUPTA<br />EMPIRE'''</span>]]|font-weight=bold|font-style=normal|font-size=8|color=#000000}} | |||
{{Annotation|text-align=center|200|100|[[Zhangzhung|<span style="color:#4F311CFF">'''ZHANGZHUNG'''</span>]]|font-weight=bold|font-style=normal|font-size=6|color=#000000}} | |||
{{Annotation|text-align=center|160|175|[[Vakatakas|<span style="color:#4F311CFF">'''VAKATAKAS'''</span>]]|font-weight=bold|font-style=normal|font-size=7|color=#000000}} | |||
{{Annotation|text-align=center|255|25|[[Rouran Khaganate|<span style="color:#4F311CFF">'''ROURAN<br>KHAGANATE'''</span>]]|font-weight=bold|font-style=normal|font-size=7|color=#000000}} | |||
{{Annotation|210|02|[[Tiele people|<span style="color:#4F311CFF">'''''Gaoju Turks'''''</span>]]|font-weight=bold|font-style=normal|font-size=8|color=#000000}} | |||
{{Annotation|272|176|[[Template:Continental Asia in 400 CE|<span style="color:#4F311CFF"> ◁ </span>]] [[Template:Asia 576 CE|<span style="color:#4F311CFF"> ▷ </span>]]|text-align=center|font-weight=bold|font-style=normal|font-size=12|color=#000000}} | |||
|caption={{center|Territory of the Hepthalite Empire, circa 500}} | |||
}} | |||
The invasion of the [[Hepthalites]] followed a geographical trajectory similar to that of the [[Indo-Greeks]] during the post-[[Maurya period]] and was later mirrored by the [[Turkic peoples|Turks]]. Like the Indo-Greeks and the Turks, the Hunas initially consolidated their power in the [[Punjab]] region. After their defeat by [[Skandagupta]], they shifted their focus back to [[Persia]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/history-of-ancient-and-early-medeival-india-from-the-stone-age-to-the-12th-century-pdfdrive/page/n1084/mode/1up |title=History Of Ancient And Early Medieval India From The Stone Age To The 12th Century |page=1085}}</ref> In 456 CE, [[Yazdegerd II]] continued his struggle against them. Following his death in 457 CE, the [[Sassanian Empire]] came under the rule of [[Peroz I]], who was defeated by the [[Hephthalite]] king Akun (or [[Akhshunwar]]) and forced to pay tribute.<ref>{{Cite book |last=S. R. Goyal |url=https://archive.org/details/goyal-1967_202412 |title=A history of the Imperial Guptas. With a Foreword by R. C. Majumdar. |date=1967 |page=337}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Keay |first=John |url=https://archive.org/details/indiahistory0000keay/mode/1up |title=India : a history |date=1999 |publisher=London : HarperCollins |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-00-255717-7 |page=144}}</ref> | |||
In 484 CE, [[Peroz I]] launched an offensive against the [[Hephthalites]] but was defeated and killed. According to [[Édouard Chavannes|Chavannes]], based on [[Chinese language|Chinese]] historical accounts, by around 500 CE, the [[Hepthalites|Huna Empire]] included [[Tokharistan]], [[Kabulistan]], and [[Zabulistan]], with [[Gandhara]] and [[Chitral]] being the only regions of "[[Greater India|India proper]]" under their control. The Chinese traveler [[Song Yun]], who visited Gandhara in 520 CE, provided further details on the state of the region during that time: | |||
{{Quote|text=This is the country which the Ye-thas destroyed, and afterwards set up a | |||
Tch'e-le (a tegin, prince or the member of the royal family) to be the king over the country; since which event two generations have passed.<ref>{{Cite book |last=S. R. Goyal |url=https://archive.org/details/goyal-1967_202412 |title=A history of the Imperial Guptas. With a Foreword by R. C. Majumdar. |date=1967 |page=337}}</ref>|author=[[Song Yun]]|title=The Chinese traveler}} | |||
[[Song Yun]]'s account suggests that the power of [[Toramana|Jaūvla]] extended to [[Gandhara]] approximately two generations before his visit in 520 CE. The identity of the Huna king who led the conquest of Gandhara remains uncertain. However, it is plausible that King Ramanila, known only from his coins, preceded [[Toramana]] and played a key role in the Huna conquest of the region.<ref>{{Cite book |author=R. C. Majumdar |url=https://archive.org/details/classicalage03bhar/page/36/mode/1up |title=History and Culture of the Indian People, Volume 03, The Classical Age |date=1970 |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan |others=Public Resource |page=36}}</ref> Nevertheless, it cannot be ruled out that Ramanila belonged to a different dynasty than that of Toramana.<ref>{{Cite book |last=S. R. Goyal |url=https://archive.org/details/goyal-1967_202412 |title=A history of the Imperial Guptas. With a Foreword by R. C. Majumdar. |date=1967 |page=338}}</ref>[[File:Toramana portrait and initials Tora.jpg|190px|center|thumb|{{center|Portrait of Toramana and [[Gupta script]] initials [[File:Gupta allahabad to.jpg|12px]][[File:Gupta_ashoka_r.svg|25px]] ''Tora'', from his bronze coinage.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=ALRAM |first1=MICHAEL |title=Three Hunnic Bullae from Northwest India |journal=Bulletin of the Asia Institute |date=2003 |volume=17 |page=180, Figure 11 |jstor=24049314 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/24049314.pdf |issn=0890-4464}}</ref>]]}} | |||
[[Toramana]], a prominent ruler of the [[Alchon Huns|Alchon dynasty]], successfully established political and cultural dominance in the [[Punjab]], which fostered his imperial ambitions. During this time, the [[Sasanian Empire]] was in turmoil following a coup against [[Kawad I]] in 496 CE. Although [[Kawad I]] regained power in 498 CE, his authority remained heavily reliant on the [[Hephthalites]], the [[Huns|Hunnic]] rulers north of the [[Hindu Kush]].<ref name=":4" /> | |||
[[File:India 500 AD.jpg|{{center|Charles Joppen's construction in 1907 of possible Indian map in 500 AD}}|250px|thumb]] | |||
Capitalizing on this opportunity, Toramana launched an invasion of northern and western India from the Punjab, possibly from a stronghold on the banks of the [[Chenab River|Candrabhaga River]]. Within a year, he assumed the title of [[Maharajadhiraja]], or Emperor, as evidenced by the inscription on the [[Eran boar inscription of Toramana|Boar of Eran]], which describes him as 'the glorious Toramana, of great fame and great lustre.'<ref name=":4" /> | |||