Hun invasion of India: Difference between revisions

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'''Skandagupta's war with the invaders''' were a series of invasions by the invading hoardes of Hunas, Kidarites (Kushans) and Sassanians (Pahlavas). They were eventually defeated and repelled by the young King, Skandagupta.
'''Skandagupta's war with the invaders''' were a series of invasions by the invading hoardes of Hunas, Kidarites (Kushans) and Sassanians (Pahlavas). They were eventually defeated and repelled by the young King, Skandagupta.
== Prelude ==
{{See also|Sasanian–Kushan Wars|Hephthalite–Sasanian Wars}}
The [[Kushans]] defeated the [[Sasanian]] monarch [[Shapur II]]. Later, during the years of 388 to 450, the Sasanian-Kidarite Wars have come about.<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 |language=en|page=31}}</ref> After [[Yazdegerd II]] quelled a rebellion. He marched against the [[Hepthalites]], which resulted to his defeat. From their base at [[Herat]] in [[Afghanistan]], the [[Hunas]] ([[Hepthalites]]) had already invaded [[Persia]] and started moving southwards to the northwestern frontiers as they intrude upon the [[Gupta Empire|Gupta Empire's]] territory.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Schmidt |first=Karl J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BqdzCQAAQBAJ&dq=samudragupta+conquered+afghanistan&pg=PA24 |title=An Atlas and Survey of South Asian History |date=2015-05-20 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-47681-8 |language=en|page=24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Prakash |first=Buddha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BqI5AQAAIAAJ |title=Studies in Indian History and Civilization |date=1962 |publisher=Shiva Lal Agarwala |language=en|pages=316–317}}</ref>

Revision as of 12:27, 1 July 2025

Hun invasion of India
Part of Gupta–Hunnic Wars, Sasanian–Gupta conflicts and Gupta–Kushan conflicts
Bhitari pillar inscription of Skandagupta.jpg
Bhitari pillar inscription of Skandagupta
Date450s–460s[1] or 453–459[2]
Location
Northwestern frontiers and Northwest India
Result Gupta victory[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3]
Territorial
changes		 Gupta Empire imposed suzerainty over the Indus basin[lower-alpha 4]
Belligerents
Hepthalites
Kidarites (Kushans)
Sasanians		 Gupta Dynasty Flag.webp Gupta Empire
Commanders and leaders
3 unknown Hepthalite kings (POW) &  Executed (possibly)[7]
Nirmūka		 Gupta Dynasty Flag.webp Kumaragupta I
Gupta Dynasty Flag.webp Skandagupta
Strength
300,000 Hepthalite soldiers (possibly)[8] 200,000 men (possibly)[9]
Casualties and losses
Heavy losses for the Hepthalites[10] unknown

Skandagupta's war with the invaders were a series of invasions by the invading hoardes of Hunas, Kidarites (Kushans) and Sassanians (Pahlavas). They were eventually defeated and repelled by the young King, Skandagupta.

Prelude

See also: Sasanian–Kushan Wars and Hephthalite–Sasanian Wars

The Kushans defeated the Sasanian monarch Shapur II. Later, during the years of 388 to 450, the Sasanian-Kidarite Wars have come about.[11] After Yazdegerd II quelled a rebellion. He marched against the Hepthalites, which resulted to his defeat. From their base at Herat in Afghanistan, the Hunas (Hepthalites) had already invaded Persia and started moving southwards to the northwestern frontiers as they intrude upon the Gupta Empire's territory.[12][13]

  1. ↑ Schmidt, Karl J. (2015-05-20). An Atlas and Survey of South Asian History. Routledge. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-317-47681-8.
  2. ↑ Bakker, Hans T. (2020-03-31). The Alkhan: A Hunnic People in South Asia. Barkhuis. p. 31. ISBN 978-94-93194-06-9.
  3. ↑ R. C. Majumdar 1981, p. 73.
  4. ↑ R N Dandekar (1941), p. [1]100.
  5. ↑ Karl J. Schmidt (2015), p. [2]24.
  6. ↑ S. R. Goyal, p. [3]277.
  7. ↑ "The young son of Mahendrasena led his father's army of two hundred thousand men against the enemy whose soldiers numbered three hundred thousand. The prince however, broke the enemy army and won the battle. On his return his father crown him saying "henceforth rule the kingdom," and himself retired to religious life. For twelve years after this, the new king fought these foreign enemies, and ultimately captured and executed the three kings.' It has been suggested that this story gives an account of the fight between Skanda-Gupta and the Hūṇas (IHIJ. 36)." The History and Culture of the Indian People: The classical age. G. Allen & Unwin. 1951. p. 27.
  8. ↑ "The young son of Mahendrasena led his father's army of two hundred thousand men against the enemy whose soldiers numbered three hundred thousand. The prince however, broke the enemy army and won the battle. On his return his father crown him saying "henceforth rule the kingdom," and himself retired to religious life. For twelve years after this, the new king fought these foreign enemies, and ultimately captured and executed the three kings.' It has been suggested that this story gives an account of the fight between Skanda-Gupta and the Hūṇas (IHIJ. 36)." The History and Culture of the Indian People: The classical age. G. Allen & Unwin. 1951. p. 27.
  9. ↑ "The young son of Mahendrasena led his father's army of two hundred thousand men against the enemy whose soldiers numbered three hundred thousand. The prince however, broke the enemy army and won the battle. On his return his father crown him saying "henceforth rule the kingdom," and himself retired to religious life. For twelve years after this, the new king fought these foreign enemies, and ultimately captured and executed the three kings.' It has been suggested that this story gives an account of the fight between Skanda-Gupta and the Hūṇas (IHIJ. 36)." The History and Culture of the Indian People: The classical age. G. Allen & Unwin. 1951. p. 27.
  10. ↑ " A decisive battle along the river inflicted heavy losses and checked the advance of the "White Huns." " Jaques, Tony (2007). Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: A Guide to 8500 Battles from Antiquity Through the Twenty-first Century. Miegunyiah Press. p. 471. ISBN 978-0-522-85336-0.
  11. ↑ Bakker, Hans T. (2020-03-12). The Alkhan: A Hunnic People in South Asia. Barkhuis. p. 31. ISBN 978-94-93194-00-7.
  12. ↑ Schmidt, Karl J. (2015-05-20). An Atlas and Survey of South Asian History. Routledge. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-317-47681-8.
  13. ↑ Prakash, Buddha (1962). Studies in Indian History and Civilization. Shiva Lal Agarwala. pp. 316–317.


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