Indian campaign of Eucratides I the Great

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Indian campaign of Eucratides I the Great
Part of Greek campaigns in India
Greco-BactrianKingdomMap-es.svg
Greco-Bactrian Kingdom circa 170 BC, under the reign of Eucratides the Great.
Date2nd century BCE
Location
Gandhara, Punjab, India
Result Greco-Bactrian victory
Territorial
changes
Belligerents
Greco-Bactrian Kingdom Indo-Greek Kingdom
• Other Kingdoms in India
Commanders and leaders
Eucratides I the Great X Demetrius II of India †
Strength
300[1] 60,000[2]
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown
According to the Gargi Samhi the cruel Greeks massacred thousands of men in the Central India.[3]

The Indian campaign of Eucratides I the Great[4][5] was an important military endeavor of the Greco-Bactrian king during the mid-2nd century BCE, representing the farthest extent of Hellenistic influence into the Indian subcontinent. Eucratides ascended to the Bactrian throne c. 170 BCE likely by overthrowing the Euthydemid dynasty only to soon find himself faced with many difficulties, including when he was besieged by Demetrius II of India. According to the historian Justin, Eucratides I was besieged by 60,000 enemy combatants with only 300 soldiers at his disposal. He was able to replicate this feat during a five-month siege, winning this battle and commencing his campaign into India.

Eucratides I's military campaigns allowed him to extend his territory into Gandhara and Punjab. Some sources suggest he even advanced as far south as Barigaza (modern Bharuch). The issuing of bilingual coinage in Greek and Prakrit—not just illustrating the breadth of his control but also that he wanted to adopt local customs—confirms his campaigns into Punjab and Gandhara. Unfortunately, Eucratides I met a tragic end to his reign, being assassinated on his return from India reportedly by his own son and, as a result, the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom was left divided as any conflict would leave it.

Background[edit]

Eucratides I rose to power in Bactria, most likely overthrowing the Euthydemid dynasty when its king Demetrius was campaigning in northwestern India. The king he toppled could be Antimachus I.[6] The historian Justin reports that Eucratides seized power at the same time Mithridates I began his reign Mithridates I is well-known to have begun his reign in 171 BC which gives a rough timeline for Eucratides I assumption of power.

Almost at the same time that Mithridates ascended the throne among the Parthians, Eucratides began to reign among the Bactrians – Justin, trans. J. S. Watson[7]

After he established control over Bactria, Eucratides had to deal with an invasion from Parthia. This was when Demetrius I was active in India. Carving into Demetriu' s realm, Mithridates I captured Tapuria and Margiana before striking towards Bactria around 170 BC. Eucratides was able to fend off the Parthian invasion. With his western border secure, he began to move eastward and conduct military actions in parts of India.

Campaign[edit]

Eucratides the Great was able to accomplish considerable military success in India, despite considerable pressures from neighboring powers. As Strabo noted, he was said to rule over "a thousand cities of India." His campaigns may have taken him from north of the Jhelum river, as far south as Barigaza, now Bharuch.[8][9][10][11]

An Indian king named Demetrius probably Demetrius II of India is thought to have taken an army of approximately 60,000 troops back to Bactria to dethrone a usurper. Unfortunately, historical references indicate this campaign ended in failure, and he was ultimately lost in defeat and killed in battle.

Bilingual coin of Eucratides I in the Indian standard, on the obverse Greek inscription reads: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΕΥΚΡΑΤΙΔΟΥ, Basileōs Megalou Eukratidou – "(of) Great King Eucratides"; on the reverse Pali language in Kharoshthi legend reads: Maharajasa Evukratidasa, "of Great King Eucratides".[12]

Eucratides led many wars with great courage, and, while weakened by them, were put under siege by Demetrius, king of the Indians. He made numerous sorties, and managed to vanquish 60,000 enemies with 300 soldiers, and thus liberated after four months, he put India under his rule.[13]

In a rather confused account, Justin (historian) explains that Eucratides was killed on the field by "his son and joint king", who would be his own son, either Eucratides II or Heliocles I (although there are speculations that it could have been his enemy's son. The son drove over Eucratides' bloodied body with his chariot and left him dismembered without a sepulcher:

As Eucratides returned from India, he was killed on the way back by his son, whom he had associated to his rule, and who, without hiding his parricide, as if he didn't kill a father but an enemy, ran with his chariot over the blood of his father, and ordered the corpse to be left without a sepulture.[13]

Aftermath[edit]

Eucratides I's death likely initiated a dynastic struggle. His heirs, especially Heliocles I, appear to have lost Bactria to the Yuezhi. His capital, Ai-Khanoum, and a significant Hellenistic city, was likely destroyed near 145 BC.

The Bactrians, involved in various wars, lost not only their rule but also their freedom, as, exhausted by their wars against the Sogdians, the Arachotes, the Dranges, the Arians and the Indians, they were finally crushed, as if drawn of all their blood, by an enemy weaker than them, the Parthians[13]

The Indo-Greek empire south of the Hindu Kush endured for an additional 150 years but ceased to exist around 10 BC with Tibetan influxes of the Yüeh-chih and Scythians (Sakas) resulting in its collapse. Strato II is remembered as the last Indo-Greek king.

Reference[edit]

  1. ↑ "Justin XLI,6".
  2. ↑ "Justin XLI,6".
  3. ↑ Daniélou, Alain (2003-02-11). A Brief History of India. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-59477-794-3.
  4. ↑ Calcutta Review. University of Calcutta. 1887.
  5. ↑ Calcutta Review. University of Calcutta. 1887.
  6. ↑ Jakobson; Glenn. "New Research on the Bactrian Tax-receipt" (PDF).
  7. ↑ Justin, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus 41.6
  8. ↑ Tarn, William Woodthorpe (2010-06-24). The Greeks in Bactria and India. Cambridge University Press. p. 212. ISBN 978-1-108-00941-6.
  9. ↑ The Cambridge Shorter History of India. CUP Archive. pp. 63–64.
  10. ↑ Sen, Sailendra Nath (1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. p. 180. ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0.
  11. ↑ Allan, John; Haig, Sir Wolseley; Dodwell, Henry (1964). The Cambridge Shorter History of India. S. Chand. p. 51.
  12. ↑ "The COININDIA Coin Galleries: Greek: Eucratides I (Eukratides I)". coinindia.com. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Justin XLI,6". Archived from the original on 2019-11-10. Retrieved 2006-01-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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